Nakayama Racecourse 58th Arima Kinen Turf, right-handed, 2,500 m Weather: clear Turf: firm Post time: 15:25
"The tenth race of the day, the 58th Arima Kinen, is now loading."
"All sixteen of the nation's top racehorses have completed their final preparations."
"Two and a half minutes of dreams-who will be crowned the nation's strongest racehorse this year?!"
Before loading, Epiphaneia had another spat with Gold Ship, but the stablehands quickly pulled them apart.
Although both wore hoods today, they still sensed each other's presence.
Seeing Epiphaneia up ahead enter the starting stall smoothly, Koichi breathed a sigh of relief.
Gold Ship, on the other hand, resisted for a while before slowly walking toward the starting stall.
"It's all right. The race is about to start."
There was no denying that Gold Ship had drawn a truly unlucky gate this time.
He had landed a gate far out on the outside.
But Japan Jordan, drawn in gate sixteen, definitely had it worst. He was suited to pressing the pace, yet had drawn the outermost gate this time.
Gate fifteen belonged to Nakayama Knight, another of Stay Gold's offspring.
After putting on his goggles, Koichi gave the other jockey a brief greeting.
The other jockey had not missed a single major race.
Snort-
Gold Ship tossed his head, then looked from side to side.
There had just been one annoying horse, and now there was another.
Meanwhile, Kenichi Ikezoe kept soothing Epiphaneia.
His anger was plain to see.
Still, Ikezoe hoped it would not affect the race to come.
Whatever happened, they had to secure a forward position this time and hold it.
Amid the cheers of tens of thousands of spectators, the familiar fanfare rang out once more.
Gold Ship's farewell race was about to begin.
The gates opened!