Chapter Summaries

Aoe Ranch stood by Koichi Sasaki as Golden Masterpiece’s jockey for the Takarazuka Kinen despite fierce online criticism. Koichi returned to the ranch and discussed Gold Ship’s future while Mirai and Yamana Takuto followed the backlash and Gold Ship’s care.

• Online commenters criticized Aoe Ranch for choosing Koichi Sasaki to ride Golden Masterpiece again, while his supporters defended him.
• Aoe Ranch confirmed that Koichi would ride Golden Masterpiece in the Takarazuka Kinen and said the team trusted his ability to help the horse rebound against Thunderbolt Steed.
• Koichi returned to the ranch, checked on Gold Ship and One-Way Passage, and said he would discuss a possible overseas campaign for Gold Ship with his trainer later.
• Saki Ikegami returned to Sapporo to monitor the online dispute and speak with Aoe Ranch, while reassuring Koichi that the team believed in him.
• Mirai read the online comments, and Yamana Takuto advised her not to argue with people who did not understand the situation before updating her on Gold Ship.

Koichi Sasaki trained in Osaka while Saki Ikegami arranged his application to study abroad and looked into overseas stables and racecourses. As Koichi prepared for the Takarazuka Kinen, Ayano Aoe arranged to invite him to dinner and reflected on Golden Masterpiece’s upcoming race.

• Koichi trained to regain his form while Saki noted that the online attacks had decreased and that his overseas study application was under review.
• Koichi told Saki he had a lead on a stable abroad, and they agreed to research options and prioritize Shoryu Racecourse.
• Koichi resumed training, focusing on Hanshin Racecourse and the upcoming Takarazuka Kinen.
• Ayano Aoe learned that Koichi had returned to Osaka and asked her assistant to contact his agent about dinner.
• Ayano considered Koichi’s overseas plans and looked ahead to Golden Masterpiece’s final tune-up and next race.

Koichi discussed his plans to race in Europe and his confidence in Golden Masterpiece ahead of the Takarazuka Kinen. At Hanshin Racecourse, he studied the track and sought advice from senior jockeys as he prepared for the race.

• Koichi told Ayano Aoe that his overseas stable arrangements were settled, pending approval from the Authorities, and they discussed his summer plans and the Takarazuka Kinen.
• Koichi said Golden Masterpiece suited Hanshin Racecourse and planned to assess the horse's progress during their final workout the following week.
• Koichi began his second week of racing at Hanshin and used a Track Card after riding in two races.
• Koichi asked Ryuji Wada about Hanshin Racecourse, and Wada shared general advice about riding there.
• Kenichi Ikezoe offered to share his racing experience with Koichi in exchange for joining the dinner Koichi had promised Wada.

A crew filmed a special interview with Gold Ship and Mirai at Hokkai Ranch, asking about the horse’s personality and her work caring for him. Once filming ended, Gold Ship and One-Way Passage eagerly headed out to pasture together.

• Haruki Kuchiki told Mirai that officials had arranged an interview with Gold Ship and that the crew would also film the ranch.
• Mirai gave Gold Ship half a carrot to encourage him to wait while the crew prepared to film.
• Mirai answered questions about Gold Ship and his close friendship with One-Way Passage as the two horses played behind her.
• Gold Ship charged out of the stable after filming ended, and One-Way Passage hurried after him as they went to pasture.

Koichi visited Golden Masterpiece and watched Kenichi Ikezoe struggle to control Epiphaneia during training. Before Koichi left for Europe, Ikezoe agreed to keep working with Epiphaneia, while the jockey for Gold Ship's Kobe Shimbun Hai remained undecided.

• Koichi visited Golden Masterpiece after training, dodged the horse's kick, and let it return for a bath and carrots.
• Koichi and Megumi Mitsumori watched Kenichi Ikezoe train Epiphaneia, who accelerated whenever another horse tried to pass.
• Epiphaneia won the training run despite Ikezoe's struggle to control the horse, then went back with Kuga Kai to rest.
• Koichi, Megumi, and Ikezoe discussed Epiphaneia's unruly behavior and agreed the horse needed firmer restrictions and more time with its jockey.
• Ikezoe volunteered to keep training with Epiphaneia while Koichi was away in Europe, as Gold Ship's Kobe Shimbun Hai jockey still needed to be chosen.

Koichi and Hitachi Yosuke continued preparing Golden Masterpiece for the Takarazuka Kinen, while Koichi saw Kenichi Ikezoe working with Epiphaneia. Saki Ikegami and Megumi Mitsumori invited Koichi to visit Nara’s deer the following week, and they agreed to leave the racehorses with the assistants.

• Koichi finished Golden Masterpiece’s training report and joined Hitachi Yosuke to take the horse back for a wash.
• Koichi learned that Mirai had appeared in a TV interview about Gold Ship and Hokkai Ranch.
• Saki Ikegami told Koichi that Kenichi Ikezoe had been visiting to work with Epiphaneia, who was playing tug-of-war during training.
• Saki Ikegami suggested that she and Koichi visit the deer in Nara the following week, and Megumi Mitsumori joined the plan.
• Koichi and Megumi Mitsumori agreed to leave the racehorses with the assistants while they took time off.

On Takarazuka Kinen race day at Hanshin Racecourse, Koichi Sasaki prepared for his afternoon races while his application to train abroad was approved. Ayano Aoe checked Golden Masterpiece at the stables and looked forward to the afternoon race, where the horse would seek to bounce back from his previous defeat.

• Koichi Sasaki reassured Kenichi Ikezoe that his application to train abroad had been approved and said he was making progress contacting foreign stables.
• Yuichi Fukunaga and Ryuji Wada encouraged Koichi to gain experience abroad, while Kenichi Ikezoe urged everyone to work harder as their junior improved.
• Ayano Aoe visited the stables and heard from Hitachi Yosuke that Golden Masterpiece was in excellent condition ahead of the Takarazuka Kinen.
• Ayano Aoe told Golden Masterpiece to perform well before his planned vacation, and he felt confident about the race after losing his previous one while out of form.
• Fujitani Kotomi told Ayano Aoe that the VIP room was ready, and Ayano planned to watch Koichi Sasaki race before the afternoon's Takarazuka Kinen.

Golden Masterpiece returned to the Takarazuka Kinen as the favorite, facing rivals including Triumph Ballet and Dominant Position. Koichi Sasaki prepared to ride Golden Masterpiece, confident the horse would not lose to Triumph Ballet again.

• Golden Masterpiece entered the racecourse first, drawing cheers as spectators assessed the horse’s improved form and hopes for a revival.
• Triumph Ballet entered with Yasuo Iwata, setting up another confrontation with Golden Masterpiece and Koichi Sasaki.
• Thunderbolt Steed entered as the new long-distance king, though few expected its previous front-running tactics to work again.
• Koichi Sasaki changed into his racing silks and spoke with Kenichi Ikezoe and other jockeys before the race.
• Yuichi Fukunaga told Koichi Sasaki he would not go easy on him, while Yuga Kawada discussed his weight advantage as the youngest runner.
• Koichi Sasaki glanced at Yasuo Iwata and remained confident that Golden Masterpiece would beat Triumph Ballet this time.

Koichi and Golden Masterpiece prepared for their comeback race at Hanshin, with strong rivals including Dominant Position and Triumph Ballet. Ayano Aoe and Megumi Mitsumori watched from the VIP Room and focused on winning as a step toward the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

• Koichi greeted Hitachi Yosuke and Keigo Kudo before mounting Golden Masterpiece for the race.
• Golden Masterpiece spotted familiar rivals Triumph Ballet and Dominant Position as the horses made their way to the course.
• The commentators reviewed the contenders’ records and recent form as Golden Masterpiece received loud support from the spectators.
• Megumi Mitsumori told Ayano Aoe that Golden Masterpiece’s stamina and stall No. 11 gave him a strong chance at Hanshin.
• Ayano Aoe reaffirmed that winning the race was important to their goal of competing in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Koichi and Golden Masterpiece entered the 53rd Takarazuka Kinen as the favorite, but the early pace left them boxed in among the other horses. A runaway leader began stretching the field, and Golden Masterpiece finally found space as a horse beside him dropped back.

• Golden Masterpiece loaded into stall eleven as Koichi prepared for the start of the race.
• Golden Masterpiece broke quickly, and Koichi settled him behind the horses moving toward the inside rail.
• Smile Jack took the lead while Cat Impact charged forward from the widest stall, and Thunderbolt Steed pressed the pace behind them.
• Dominant Position secured a position along the inside rail while Golden Masterpiece and Triumph Ballet ran in the middle of the pack.
• Koichi kept Golden Masterpiece patient as the horses around him boxed him in.
• Cat Impact increased the pace, and Golden Masterpiece gained room when the horse blocking him on the left began to fall back.

Koichi Sasaki guided Golden Masterpiece through an opening on the inside as the field rounded the final turn at the Takarazuka Kinen. Golden Masterpiece surged into the charge for the long straight, with Dominant Position closing alongside.

• Golden Masterpiece settled behind Toward Glory and escaped the pocket as the pace increased.
• Cat Impact and Smile Jack faded after leading the field at a fast pace.
• Koichi made an early move through the third turn as Golden Masterpiece picked up speed.
• Koichi found an opening between Yuga Kawada and Ishibashi and drove Golden Masterpiece through on the inside.
• Golden Masterpiece surged ahead while Dominant Position began catching up alongside.

Golden Masterpiece stormed past the field to win the Takarazuka Kinen by two and a half lengths, with Koichi Sasaki guiding the horse to a dominant comeback. After celebrating with the cheering crowd, Golden Masterpiece was set to rest before heading abroad for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

• Golden Masterpiece burst through an inside gap during the turn while Shasta Mountain led and Dominant Position and Triumph Ballet pursued from the outside.
• Koichi Sasaki drove Golden Masterpiece into the straight, and the horse surged from second place into the lead.
• Golden Masterpiece pulled clear of Dominant Position and crossed the finish line two and a half lengths ahead to win the Takarazuka Kinen.
• Koichi celebrated the victory, then slowed Golden Masterpiece and patted its neck.
• Koichi and Golden Masterpiece returned to cheers from spectators who praised both the horse and its jockey.

Koichi Sasaki and Golden Masterpiece made a triumphant comeback by winning the Takarazuka Kinen, restoring the team’s confidence. As Golden Masterpiece’s overseas campaign approached, Saki Ikegami realized Koichi would eventually face him as Gold Ship’s jockey.

• Koichi reunited with Hitachi Yosuke and celebrated Golden Masterpiece’s decisive Takarazuka Kinen victory with Ayano Aoe and Saki Ikegami.
• Koichi told reporters that he had waited through the early pace, then seized an opening along the inside, and said Golden Masterpiece had returned to his Arima Kinen form.
• Koichi thanked the fans and said they could look forward to Golden Masterpiece’s upcoming overseas campaign at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
• Koichi joined the team for victory photos beside Golden Masterpiece and Saki Ikegami.
• Saki recognized that Koichi would someday oppose Golden Masterpiece while riding Gold Ship in a major second-half-of-the-year showdown.

After the Takarazuka Kinen, Koichi began his vacation and discussed buying an apartment with Saki Ikegami while preparing for their trip to Europe. At Hokkai Ranch, Mirai and Yamana Takuto inspected the stables and considered improving Black North’s stall, leaving the decision for Koichi when he returned.

• Koichi told Saki Ikegami he wanted to buy a place for around forty to fifty million yen, and she agreed to look for one after their trip.
• Saki Ikegami said their European travel paperwork was complete and that they would fly to France, where Koichi would race through the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
• Koichi decided not to travel to Osaka Airport to see Golden Masterpiece off and planned to visit him at the ranch instead.
• At Hokkai Ranch, Mirai and Yamana Takuto checked the mares' stable and prepared to inspect the next stable and install fans.
• Mirai proposed improving Black North's stall, and she and Yamana Takuto decided to discuss it with Koichi when he returned.

After returning to Hokkai Ranch, Koichi approved plans to renovate the horses’ stalls and considered studying English and French during his break. At dinner, Haruki gave him the address of the former ranch owner, whom Koichi planned to visit abroad.

• Mirai asked Koichi about renovating Ship and Sweetie’s stalls, and he approved the work, starting with Divine Might’s stall.
• Koichi called Megumi Mitsumori to ask about Divine Might and the horses’ preparations, and she suggested he learn a foreign language.
• Koichi decided to study some English and French while he had free time.
• Haruki gave Koichi a slip of paper with the former ranch owner’s address abroad.
• Koichi sat down to dinner with the Kuchiki family and thanked Mirai’s mother for the meal.

Koichi discussed Golden Masterpiece’s overseas preparation for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, including a September warm-up race and Mirco Demuro as jockey. Back at his ranch, he visited Sweetie and Black North and planned to attend another horse auction before going abroad.

• Koichi learned that Golden Masterpiece would run a September warm-up race on the same course and distance as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
• Hitachi Yosuke confirmed that Mirco Demuro would ride Golden Masterpiece in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
• Koichi encouraged Golden Masterpiece and discussed the challenges of adapting to foreign racing with Hitachi Yosuke.
• Koichi visited his uncle, who was pleased that Koichi had found a racing stable abroad where he could learn.
• Koichi returned to his ranch, greeted Sweetie and Black North, and considered attending a horse auction with Megumi Mitsumori and Ayano Aoe before leaving for overseas.

Koichi attended the second-year racehorse auction with Ayano Aoe and Megumi Mitsumori, waiting for the young horse from Grass's bloodline he planned to buy. The auction reached racehorse number 152, whose sire was Screen Hero and whose dam was Mejiro Frances, but the chapter ended before Koichi bid.

• Koichi went to the auction with Ayano Aoe while Saki Ikegami continued arranging their trip abroad.
• Megumi Mitsumori arrived after talking with new horse owners, and she joined Koichi and Ayano in discussing horses and training.
• Koichi, Ayano, and Megumi watched bidders drive up the price of a Deep Impact offspring related to Gentildonna.
• The auctioneer introduced racehorse number 152, sired by Screen Hero out of Mejiro Frances, as Koichi's desired horse came up for auction.

Koichi bought a colt for seven million at auction and discussed expanding Hokkai Ranch’s racing stable with Ayano Aoe and Megumi Mitsumori. After the purchase, he left the auction and went with Ryuji Wada to visit Northern Farm.

• Ayano Aoe asked Koichi whether he liked the colt, and he instructed the staff to bid on it.
• Megumi Mitsumori worried the colt might be difficult to handle, but Ayano Aoe said its temperament should be fine.
• Koichi told the staff to bid up to seven million and won the colt at that price.
• Ayano Aoe suggested buying a filly, so Koichi offered ten million toward a joint purchase with Megumi Mitsumori.
• Koichi went outside after the auction, where Ryuji Wada invited him to visit Northern Farm and meet trainers.

As Koichi Sasaki prepared to travel overseas, Saki Ikegami and Mirai helped him pack while he arranged for Gold Ship’s upcoming Kobe Shimbun Hai. Koichi planned to ask Kenichi Ikezoe to ride Gold Ship in his absence, and he expected to return in time for the Kikuka Sho.

• Koichi found Mirai editing videos of Ship and Black North on the ranch’s new computer.
• Saki Ikegami assured Haruki Kuchiki that she would look after Koichi during the overseas trip.
• Saki and Mirai helped Koichi pack, and Koichi told Mirai to care for the horses while he was away.
• Koichi said he would likely ask Ikezoe to ride Gold Ship in the Kobe Shimbun Hai while he was overseas.
• Saki noted the pressure Ikezoe would face, since a loss could end Gold Ship’s bid for an Undefeated Triple Crown.

Koichi Sasaki prepared to leave Japan for Europe, with his agent Saki Ikegami accompanying him and Ryuji Wada and Kenichi Ikezoe seeing him off. After a brief promotional filming session at Narita Airport, Koichi and Saki passed through security and prepared for their long flight.

• Koichi said goodbye to Ryuji Wada and Kenichi Ikezoe, who promised to care for Epiphaneia and Gold Ship while he was away.
• Koichi learned that Authorities staff had arranged to film his departure and followed Saki Ikegami's instructions for a short airport scene.
• Koichi accepted flowers from a fan and walked into the terminal with his luggage for the filming.
• Koichi and Saki completed security, and Saki reminded him to rest and ask the flight attendants for anything he needed.