Recaps

Koichi Sasaki won the Japan Cup aboard Japan Jordan, then chose Golden Masterpiece for the Arima Kinen and signed with Saki Ikegami as his agent. The arc ended as the thirteen-horse Arima Kinen began, with Golden Masterpiece held at the rear and Japan Jordan running third.

• Koichi returned to Hokkai Ranch, where Megumi Mitsumori had brought back Kitasan Black as a broodmare named Sweetie, and he agreed to arrange a Dream Journey breeding.
• Koichi learned that Sunday Club was considering him, while Ayano Aoe promised to find him rides and left him to hear about the club offer himself.
• Koichi rode Japan Jordan in the Japan Cup, used Windmill Whip and Mighty Arm in the final stretch, and won by a nose over Lovely Scenery.
• Shimakawa asked Ayano Aoe to let Koichi ride Japan Jordan in the Arima Kinen, but Ayano backed Golden Masterpiece, and Koichi decided to ride Golden Masterpiece.
• Saki Ikegami told Koichi that she had recommended him to Sunday Club, offered to act as his Rider Assistant, and signed him as her client after the Assistant reviewed the contract.
• Koichi visited Golden Masterpiece at Nakayama Racecourse, took new rides arranged by Saki Ikegami, and won his first race while finishing third in his second.
• Koichi and Golden Masterpiece entered the Arima Kinen, where the horses crowded the favorite toward the rear, while Heart's Sincere led and Japan Jordan settled in third.

Koichi Sasaki won the Arima Kinen with Golden Masterpiece, received Best Newcomer, and returned to racing in Kyoto after preparing horses and plans for the new season. The stretch ended with his victory aboard Gentildonna in the Shinsan Memorial and his agreement to ride her again as she aimed for the Classics.

• Koichi moved Golden Masterpiece forward at the third turn and won the Arima Kinen, celebrating with Li Muhua as Japan Jordan’s fifth place ended his Autumn Triple Crown hopes.
• Koichi received Best Newcomer at the year-end awards, while Ayano Aoe accepted Horse of the Year and Best Three-Year-Old Colt for Golden Masterpiece and announced his Arc plans.
• Koichi returned to Hokkai Ranch, directed his father’s money toward its operations, and checked on Gold Ship, Epiphaneia, Japan Jordan, and the pregnant Sweetie before leaving for Kyoto with Saki Ikegami.
• In Kyoto, Koichi rode Gentildonna in training, calmed her when she resisted, and told her training assistant he expected no problems in her first race.
• Koichi won a maiden race aboard New Dynamic, then rode Gentildonna in the Shinsan Memorial after she resisted mounting and entering the starting gate.
• Koichi guided Gentildonna through a gap and used Mighty Arm to win the Shinsan Memorial ahead of Microcrystal, with High Blue third.
• Yoshino and Trainer Ishizaka asked Koichi to ride Gentildonna again, and he accepted as Saki Ikegami outlined her targets of the Tulip Sho and Oka Sho.

Koichi guided Gold Ship to victory in the Kyodo News Hai and turned his attention to the Satsuki Sho, while balancing other mounts and Hokkai Ranch duties. After Gentildonna finished third despite her recent illness, Koichi returned to Hokkai Ranch, where Sweetie’s foal was born and he resumed training Epiphaneia.

• Koichi prepared Gold Ship for the Kyodo News Hai, passed up a Kyoto Kinen ride, and promised extra feed if Gold Ship won.
• Koichi guided Gold Ship through the race as he overcame Gorgeous Glory and won, then confirmed they would head straight to the Satsuki Sho.
• Koichi completed the post-race interviews and photos, celebrated with his companions, and returned to work while Gold Ship rested.
• Koichi checked Golden Masterpiece’s condition and warned Ayano Aoe that the horse might struggle to run both the Hanshin Daishoten and Spring Tenno Sho.
• Koichi rode the recovering Gentildonna in the Tulip Sho, guided her through a boxed-in field, and finished third before setting his sights on the Oka Sho.
• Koichi returned to Hokkai Ranch, learned that Sweetie and her foal were healthy, named the foal Black North, and asked Haruki Kuchiki to watch over them.
• Koichi rode Epiphaneia in a controlled workout, then bathed him and returned him to the stable.

Koichi guided Golden Masterpiece through a dramatic Hanshin Daishoten win and a required reassessment, then rode Gentildonna to victory in the Oka Sho. The story left Koichi preparing Gold Ship for the Satsuki Sho as his move toward freelance jockeying continued.

• Koichi and Ayano Aoe agreed to enter Golden Masterpiece in the Hanshin Daishoten, despite Koichi’s concern about the distance and the horse’s condition.
• Golden Masterpiece surged into the lead, veered and slowed, then recovered to overtake Gustav and win the Hanshin Daishoten.
• The JRA required Golden Masterpiece to pass another assessment before the Spring Tenno Sho, and Koichi took him to retake the dirt-track test, which they passed.
• Koichi brought Gentildonna to the Oka Sho after her condition improved, and she won the race to claim the first leg of the Fillies' Triple Crown.
• Koichi told Tadashi Ishisaka that he was preparing to become a freelance jockey, while Gentildonna’s camp planned her rest before the Japanese Oaks.
• Koichi returned to Tokyo and trained Gold Ship against One-Way Passage, with Gold Ship finishing half a length ahead.