Recaps

Koichi Sasaki trusted Golden Masterpiece through the rain and won the Tokyo Yushun, then prepared Gold Ship for a debut against Yutaka Take. Gold Ship won the Newcomer Race, leaving Koichi and Megumi Mitsumori looking ahead to her future and the Triple Crown.

• Despite warnings about the heavy rain and Koichi Sasaki’s inexperience, Ayano Aoe kept him aboard Golden Masterpiece for the Tokyo Yushun, and Koichi adjusted the horse’s training for the wet track.
• Koichi rode Golden Masterpiece near the rear through the muddy race, then sent him surging down the outside on the final straight.
• Golden Masterpiece won the Tokyo Yushun by eight lengths, and Koichi thanked him before celebrating with Ayano Aoe and the ranch staff.
• After the victory, Koichi prepared Gold Ship for his July Newcomer Race, while Megumi Mitsumori faced online criticism and difficulties finding horses for her stable.
• Koichi and Megumi brought Gold Ship to Hakodate, where he trained on the turf and along the shore as Koichi prepared to face Yutaka Take.
• At Gold Ship’s debut, Koichi kept him near the lead, then urged him to break away from Hideo Sato as the race entered its final phase.
• Gold Ship accelerated down the straight and won, and Megumi joined Koichi for the winner’s photo.
• In his interview, Koichi praised Gold Ship’s talent and said he believed the horse could shine at three and pursue the Triple Crown.

Koichi bought and began developing Epiphaneia while preparing Gold Ship for the Autumn Eishō, where the colt overcame a poor start to win. The story left Koichi in Osaka reunited with Golden Masterpiece and preparing for the Kobe Shimbun Hai.

• Ayano Aoe offered Koichi Sasaki a loan for the horse auction, and Koichi agreed to discuss it with Kotomi.
• Koichi and Megumi Mitsumori attended the Select Sale, where Megumi bid fifty-five million yen for the colt Koichi recognized as Cesario 2010.
• Koichi named the colt Epiphaneia and arranged for Megumi to train him as a stalker or closer.
• Tetsuya Futawatari asked Koichi to consider riding Japan Jordan in the Autumn Emperor's Cup, and Koichi later test-rode the horse over 2,400 meters.
• Gold Ship acted restlessly before the Autumn Eishō, but Koichi calmed him and guided him into the starting gate.
• Gold Ship started slowly, steadily advanced through the field, and passed Victory Tucks to win the Autumn Eishō.
• Koichi celebrated with Megumi, Ayumu Kusakawa, and Yamana Takuto, and noted the win would let him repay much of his loan.
• Koichi flew to Osaka, visited Golden Masterpiece, and began training with him for the Kobe Shimbun Hai.

Koichi guided Golden Masterpiece and Gold Ship to major wins while preparing for the Kikuka Sho and Autumn Tenno Sho. He left Gold Ship to rest at the ranch and traveled to Kyoto to resume work with Golden Masterpiece and prepare for his next ride.

• Koichi trained Golden Masterpiece for the Kikuka Sho, discussed the horse’s prospects with Ayano Aoe, and joined her for an interview about their Triple Crown ambitions and possible overseas campaign.
• Koichi rode Golden Masterpiece to victory in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, with Triumph Ballet second, and learned that the post-race interview would delay his return to Sapporo.
• Koichi returned to Sapporo and prepared Gold Ship for the Sapporo Two-Year-Old Stakes despite overnight rain and an unfamiliar yielding track.
• Gold Ship recovered from a slow start, charged through the field, and won the Sapporo Two-Year-Old Stakes by a length over Grand Colt.
• Koichi decided Gold Ship would race no more that year and arranged for him to train with Epiphaneia, whose strong rivalry and difficult response to being overtaken complicated their training.
• Koichi prepared Epiphaneia for future races, then traveled to Kyoto after Ayano confirmed Golden Masterpiece’s stronger hind legs and reminded him that the Kikuka Sho would determine their Triple Crown bid.
• Koichi checked Golden Masterpiece’s condition in Kyoto, discussed his increased training and weight with Hitachi Yosuke, and prepared for his ride on Japan Jordan in the Autumn Tenno Sho.

Koichi led Golden Masterpiece to the Kikuka Sho and completed the Triple Crown, then rode Japan Jordan to a record-breaking Autumn Tenno Sho victory. The story left Koichi preparing for the Japan Cup as Megumi bought the broodmare he had chosen.

• Koichi and Golden Masterpiece prepared for the Kikuka Sho while Ayano Aoe promised Koichi a surprise if they won the Triple Crown.
• Yutaka Take, Katsumi Ando, Masayoshi Ubaname, and Yasuo Iwata formed a temporary alliance against Golden Masterpiece, but Koichi planned how to avoid being boxed in.
• Koichi guided Golden Masterpiece through the Kikuka Sho field, found an opening on the final turn, and held off Triumph Ballet to win the Triple Crown.
• Koichi thanked Golden Masterpiece and his supporters, then Ayano Aoe gave him custom jockey equipment engraved with his name.
• Koichi prepared Japan Jordan for the Autumn Tenno Sho and drew on his new Windmill Whip skill while considering the strong field and race strategy.
• Koichi guided Japan Jordan around Yutaka Take’s attempt to pin them against the rail, then used Windmill Whip to win the Autumn Tenno Sho in a new track-record time.
• Owner Shimakawa confirmed Koichi would ride Japan Jordan in the Japan Cup, and Koichi planned to return home before preparing for the race.
• Megumi traveled to buy Koichi’s chosen broodmare, and Koichi approved the seven-million-yen price for the mare and her unborn foal by Kuroshio.