Training Center.
Neigh-!
Gold Ship's training group now had Man o' War alongside Gold Ship and One-Way Passage.
Their training routines differed, though Man o' War also trained with them.
"Shortening the distance really does seem more suitable."
Tetsuya Futawatari sighed as he watched One-Way Passage train.
After this stretch of training, he had clearly noticed that One-Way Passage performed better over two thousand meters.
Somewhere between eighteen hundred and two thousand meters.
That was why they had decided on this year's Autumn Emperor's Cup.
"It looks like Sasaki was right. This distance range suits One-Way Passage better."
Megumi Mitsumori nodded as well.
Judging by the recent training sessions with Man o' War, One-Way Passage's form had been steadily improving.
"There wasn't much we could do. It's taken us all this time to finally figure something out."
Tetsuya Futawatari sounded a little resigned.
That was precisely what a horse trainer's job involved. Discovering which distance, or even which surface, suited a racehorse took a great deal of effort.
The second half of the horse's four-year-old season still wasn't too late.
Late-blooming racehorses were hardly unheard of, and One-Way Passage had always been inconsistent anyway.
"Entering the Autumn Emperor's Cup this time means facing Sasaki and Gentildonna."
Megumi Mitsumori smiled as she spoke.
They had beaten that pair in a Grade 1 race. Even if it had only happened once, it was still something worth boasting about.
Besides, Gold Ship wasn't the kind of racehorse who needed a warm-up race.
Going straight to the Japan Cup this time wouldn't be a problem.
"That's exactly what's giving me a headache. Gentildonna and Sasaki make a formidable pair. Beating them will be very difficult."
Tetsuya Futawatari spoke.
However he looked at it, Gentildonna had already won two Grade 1 races at Tokyo Racecourse.