"We got lucky this time. Stall three."
Koichi was a little surprised when the stall numbers were announced.
He had to admit that drawing this stall for a three-thousand-meter race was quite good.
As long as they broke well from stall three, they could secure an excellent position, leaving them with no trouble choosing where to settle afterward.
They might have to expend more energy early on, but over three thousand meters, they could gradually ease the pace through the middle stages and give the horse a breather.
He had plenty of experience with the Kikuka Sho, too.
"Looks like Lady Luck is on our side as well. That gives us an even better chance of winning."
Megumi Mitsumori nodded in satisfaction.
It was rare for them to draw such a good position.
That would make planning their tactics much simpler.
As for Epiphaneia, today's workout gallop had produced an excellent time.
The horse had already performed well in the Kobe Shimbun Hai. Now, with further improvement and a favorable draw, everything was coming together perfectly.
"I remember someone announcing they were going to open up a big lead today?"
Koichi looked over the eighteen horses entered in this year's Kikuka Sho.
"You mean number ten? I think it'll lead at a slow pace at most. It's unlikely to try to open up a huge gap. After all, it's very well suited to setting the pace, and even when it's taking the wind head-on, its finishing kick is quite good. It's also the third favorite this time."
Megumi Mitsumori checked her notes.
She had kept records on both the favorites and the horses that had suddenly emerged.
Horse number ten, Band, was foreign-bred.
A horse from Wangzhu's line.
"Right, that gives me a pretty good idea."
Koichi nodded.
He doubted