Gold Ship, Gate Seven.
Desperado, Gate Six.
Gentle Impact, Gate Eight.
The three favorites were all starting from outside gates this time.
"The jockeys are ready to enter, and the lead horses are waiting nearby."
As the camera turned toward the Jockey Waiting Room, the commentators began preparing to introduce the entrants.
They naturally had to remember every horse in the race and the jockey in its saddle. If they really couldn't remember, they could identify them by their cap colors. After all, they had to help the audience tell them apart.
Their commentary also had to be engaging, so it wasn't an easy job.
After finishing the entrance preparations with Yutaka Take and the others, Koichi jogged over to Gold Ship.
Finding Gold Ship in the Parade Ring was certainly easy.
That gray coat really stood out.
Neigh-
Gold Ship checked the weight on his back.
Yep.
The same old Carrot Dispenser.
Koichi reached out and stroked the side of Gold Ship's face.
"Sasaki, all we need to do this time is perform as usual."
Megumi Mitsumori said this after Koichi mounted.
Although everyone felt they couldn't lose, Megumi Mitsumori remained wary of Gold Ship.
He was a veteran troublemaker.
Trusting Gold Ship completely was a sure recipe for disaster.
"Yeah, it'd be pretty hard to lose this race."
Koichi nodded.
Still, despite saying that, he would certainly take the race seriously.
Gold Ship looked at the lead horse nearby and twitched his ears.
Hard to lose?
Got it.
"You still need to be careful. Remember the lesson we learned."
Megumi Mitsumori was naturally referring to what had happened last year.
No one had thought Golden Masterpiece would lose last year either, but he had ultimately won by only a nose.
Still, based on their earlier tactical plan, they