Sunday.
Kyoto Racecourse.
Koichi had ridden in quite a few dirt races yesterday, but that number had dropped sharply today.
Saki Ikegami's main idea was to save his strength for this afternoon's main event.
All of today's other races put together could not compare to the Kikuka Sho.
Koichi felt he had recovered his form quite well yesterday, so he had no problem riding in fewer races today.
In fact, he also felt that his agent was right. Today's race was extremely important to both him and the team.
For Gold Ship, it was just another contest.
Two races in the morning, three in the afternoon.
The rest of the time, Koichi stayed in the jockeys' room, watching the races and chatting with the other jockeys.
Megumi Mitsumori and Ayano Aoe, of course, went to the stable to see Gold Ship.
With the race coming up that afternoon, they naturally wanted to check Gold Ship's condition in the morning. It had also been a long time since Ayano Aoe had visited him.
She had been busy with matters concerning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and had missed the Kobe Shimbun Hai as well.
"Ship, do you remember me?"
Seeing Gold Ship standing at the entrance, Ayano Aoe stepped forward to greet him.
After some time apart, she felt that Gold Ship had grown even more handsome.
Of course, Gold Ship would also become Golden Masterpiece's biggest rival in the second half of this year.
Gold Ship merely twitched his ears at her greeting.
Feed me carrots and I know you; no carrots, no recognition.
Clearly, her standing was not even as high as Carrot Dispenser's. After all, he and Gold Ship had spent more time together.
"Haha, looks like you've forgotten me again. I can't give you any carrots