Chapter Summaries

Ayano Aoe and Koichi Sasaki arrived at Hakodate Racecourse to support Gold Ship in his newcomer race against favorite Hideo Sato, ridden by Yutaka Take. As the jockeys prepared to compete, Koichi was determined to win his first race in the Sasaki Family's silks.

• Ayano Aoe went to the paddock and spotted Gold Ship, who was circling in a hood with Miku Kuchiki.
• Gold Ship noticed Ayano Aoe among the spectators, though the debut-race crowd seemed to unsettle him.
• Ayano Aoe headed to the VIP seats after seeing Gold Ship and confirmed that her assistant had handled the betting tickets.
• Koichi Sasaki told Yutaka Take that he felt confident in Gold Ship, while Yutaka said he hoped Koichi would keep that confidence on the track.
• Koichi Sasaki saw his uncle supporting him from the paddock and resolved not to lose as the other jockeys prepared to compete.

Gold Ship caused a stir with her antics before the Hakodate two-year-old Newcomer Race, while Koichi tried to keep her under control. The horses entered the starting gates, and the chapter ended just before the start.

• Koichi mounted Gold Ship as the jockeys prepared, while Yutaka Take kept his attention on her.
• Gold Ship ran alongside the Lead Horse and drew laughter from spectators as Koichi struggled to rein her in.
• Megumi Mitsumori worried about Gold Ship’s behavior, and Fujitani Kotomi invited her to join Ayano Aoe in the VIP area.
• Gold Ship unsettled the other horses during warm-ups, and staff had to pull her away after she whinnied and lashed out.
• Koichi guided Gold Ship into the starting gate and urged her to wait calmly as the race approached.

Koichi Sasaki and Gold Ship raced at the front of the Two-Year-Old Newcomer Race, keeping Hideo Sato and Yutaka Take pinned near the rail. As the field entered the final turn, Take began using his whip while Sasaki prepared Gold Ship to make his move.

• Hideo Sato and Gold Ship broke from the gates together and raced for the lead.
• Koichi Sasaki chose to keep Gold Ship near the front and pressure Hideo Sato instead of saving him for a late charge.
• Gold Ship matched Hideo Sato's pace through the opening section, while the rest of the field settled behind them.
• As the horses approached the final turn, Sasaki decided to stop letting Gold Ship accompany Hideo Sato and go for the win.
• Yutaka Take began using his whip, and the commentator noted that Gold Ship was making a new move as the race entered its final phase.

Gold Ship won his Newcomer Race after unleashing his Final Kick, earning Koichi Sasaki and Megumi Mitsumori a major victory. The chapter ended with Megumi arriving to lead Gold Ship to the winner’s photo and interviews.

• Gold Ship accelerated on the final straight and outran the field while Hideo Sato struggled to speed up.
• Gold Ship crossed the finish line in first place, with number seven taking second.
• Koichi Sasaki stopped Gold Ship from heading the wrong way and noted that the victory had earned eight million in prize money.
• Miku Kuchiki congratulated Gold Ship, and Koichi asked where Megumi Mitsumori was while staff prepared to examine the horse.
• Megumi Mitsumori arrived in tears of excitement, wiped her face, and followed the staff member toward the winner’s photo.

After Gold Ship won his first Newcomer Race, Megumi Mitsumori and Koichi Sasaki split the commemorative banner, and Koichi praised Gold Ship’s potential in an interview. The group left the course to celebrate and consider Gold Ship’s next race, with Koichi predicting he could contend for the Triple Crown.

• Megumi Mitsumori asked Koichi Sasaki what to do with the race banner, and they agreed to split it in half.
• Megumi Mitsumori and Mirai took Gold Ship back to the Stable while Koichi stayed for an interview and planned to have lunch with Ayano Aoe.
• Koichi Sasaki said he had studied the other jockeys, including Yutaka Take, before the race.
• Koichi praised Gold Ship as exceptionally talented and said he believed Gold Ship could shine at three and pursue the Triple Crown.
• Koichi finished the interview, and Miku Kuchiki led Gold Ship back with the others.

After Gold Ship won the Hakodate Newcomer Race and broke the track record, Koichi planned the horse’s next races and discussed borrowing more money from Ayano Aoe for an upcoming auction. The chapter ended with Koichi and Ayano agreeing to visit Gold Ship before returning the next day.

• Ayumu Kusakawa celebrated Gold Ship’s victory at Hakodate Racecourse and planned to take his son out to eat before visiting Hokkai Ranch later.
• Ayano Aoe congratulated Koichi Sasaki on Gold Ship’s track-record-setting win, and Koichi credited the horse’s good start.
• Koichi told Ayano that Gold Ship would aim for the Autumn Eishō and then the Sapporo Two-Year-Old Memorial, while he arranged around Golden Masterpiece’s schedule.
• Ayano offered to lend Koichi more money for the upcoming horse auction, and Koichi agreed to discuss the loan with Kotomi.
• Koichi and Ayano decided to return together the following day, leaving the afternoon free to visit Gold Ship.

After Gold Ship won the Newcomer Race, Ayano Aoe and Koichi visited the horse at the stable and discussed its condition and performance. The group celebrated that evening, then prepared to return to the Ranch the next day.

• Ayano Aoe noticed Gold Ship had lost some weight, and Gold Ship ignored her until Koichi arrived.
• Gold Ship let Ayano Aoe pet it after Koichi beckoned, then lay down and rolled in its bedding.
• Ayano Aoe and Koichi discussed Gold Ship's recovery and its decision not to accelerate during the race.
• Megumi Mitsumori celebrated the victory with Koichi and Miku Kuchiki, while Koichi confirmed he had paid Miku a large bonus.
• Koichi said they would return to the Ranch the next day, and Miku took the drunken Megumi to bed.

Koichi Sasaki brought Gold Ship back to Hokkai Ranch, where the horse settled in for a vacation and demanded an apple. Koichi then spoke with Tetsuya Futawatari, who considered asking him to ride Japan Jordan in October if the current jockey failed in the Sapporo Kinen.

• Gold Ship returned to Hokkai Ranch and called toward the stables, where One-Way Passage was absent for his Newcomer Race and Japan Jordan was resting after the Takarazuka Kinen.
• Koichi led Gold Ship to his stall, removed his gear, gave him an apple, and left him to rest until Mirai took him out that afternoon.
• Koichi encountered Tetsuya Futawatari checking Japan Jordan's condition, and they discussed Koichi's Newcomer Race and his rapport with Yutaka Take.
• Futawatari said Japan Jordan would rest before preparations for the Sapporo Kinen and asked Koichi whether he was available in October.
• Koichi listed his October races, and Futawatari decided to wait for Japan Jordan's Sapporo Kinen performance before considering a change of jockey.

Koichi Sasaki and Megumi Mitsumori traveled with Ayano Aoe to the Select Sale, where Megumi hoped to sharpen her eye for horses. Ayano approved of Megumi’s two picks, while Koichi recognized one horse but knew he could not afford it.

• Megumi Mitsumori studied the Select Sale listings while Koichi Sasaki agreed to leave Gold Ship in Mirai’s care during their trip.
• Fujitani Kotomi greeted Koichi and Megumi the next morning and took them to the auction, where Ayano Aoe joined them.
• Koichi asked Ayano whether she had chosen any horses, and she said she had several targets and asked if he planned to compete with her.
• Megumi showed Ayano the Deep Impact and King Kamehameha offspring she had selected, and Ayano praised both horses and encouraged her confidence.
• Koichi examined the pedigrees, recognized the first horse as familiar, and concluded that he could not afford to bid for it.

Koichi attended the Shadai group’s select sale with Ayano Aoe and Megumi Mitsumori, where he spoke with Ryuji Wada about racing connections and the importance of having a backer. As the auction was about to begin, Koichi returned to his group, still unsure which lot number belonged to the young horse he wanted to buy.

• Megumi admired the many horse transport trucks as Ayano directed Aoe Ranch’s staff at the auction.
• Koichi left Ayano and Megumi to meet Ryuji Wada, who offered to show him around the sale.
• Koichi and Wada discussed Darley Stud, Koichi’s prospects, and how Aoe Ranch’s support gave him an important backer.
• Koichi returned to Ayano and Megumi as the auction neared, while Megumi explained that a mare had startled her and caused her to tumble.
• Ayano led Koichi and Megumi inside as the auction staff approached.

Koichi attended the 2011 select sale with Ayano Aoe and Megumi Mitsumori, hoping to find a yearling he wanted to buy. The morning auction ended before the horse he sought appeared, and the group left for lunch before bidding resumed in the afternoon.

• Ayano Aoe led Koichi and Megumi Mitsumori to their seats at the auction.
• Koichi sent Megumi Mitsumori the details of the yearling he wanted her to bid on for him.
• The auction began, and Masato Kaneko secured the first horse for ninety million.
• Ayano Aoe gave up bidding on a Heart's Cry youngster, while Koichi said he was still waiting for a horse glowing gold.
• After the morning's horses were sold, Ayano Aoe took Koichi and Megumi Mitsumori to lunch.

At the Northern Farm select sale, Koichi Sasaki chose a foal from Cesario and had Megumi Mitsumori bid for him. They secured the horse for fifty-five million yen, and Koichi identified him as the future Epiphaneia.

• Ayano Aoe offered Koichi information on yearlings, but he declined and said he planned to buy only one horse.
• When the foal by Symboli Kris S out of a Special Week mare entered the ring, Koichi recognized him as Cesario 2010 and told Megumi Mitsumori to bid.
• Megumi raised her hand as bidding climbed, and she won the foal for fifty-five million yen.
• Koichi thanked Megumi and said the foal would be registered under Hokkai Ranch and delivered there as the future Epiphaneia.
• Ayano examined the horse’s pedigree and wondered at Koichi’s choice.

Koichi and Ayano Aoe discussed the yearlings they had bought and their plans for them, while Koichi considered his ranch’s finances and Gold Ship’s upcoming races. The next day, Koichi learned Nakayama Knight might go to Europe instead of entering the Kikuka Sho, then joined Ryuji Wada to look at foals.

• Ayano Aoe bought a yearling by Lohengrin, while another buyer secured Gentildonna at a high price.
• Koichi told Ayano Aoe he would keep his yearling with Trainer Futawatari’s young horses until it was old enough to train.
• Koichi said Gold Ship’s prize money was currently supporting the ranch and discussed Golden Masterpiece’s prospects over the Kikuka Sho’s three-thousand-meter distance with Ryuji Wada.
• Ryuji Wada told Koichi that Nakayama Knight might travel to Europe with Nakayama Festa and miss the Kikuka Sho.
• Koichi joined Ryuji Wada to look around at foals outside the auction hall.

Koichi Sasaki returned to Hokkai Ranch with Megumi Mitsumori after the auction and arranged for her to train the foal he had bought. Back at the ranch, they checked on Gold Ship, who was resting comfortably as the team prepared for its upcoming race.

• Ayano Aoe invited Koichi Sasaki to the next auction, but he declined so he could focus on paying his debts and preparing for Gold Ship's race.
• Koichi asked Ayano Aoe about finding an exercise rider for Golden Masterpiece, and she said Kotomi was handling the search.
• Megumi Mitsumori asked to train Koichi's newly purchased foal, and Koichi agreed to send it to her.
• Koichi and Megumi returned to Hokkai Ranch and discussed keeping Gold Ship cool during the hot weather before the Autumn Eishō.
• Miku Kuchiki visited to check on Gold Ship, who continued sleeping in its paddock.

Koichi planned to take Gold Ship to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when he was four and named the newly purchased colt Epiphaneia, with the nickname Divine Might. Two weeks later, Miku Kuchiki took the colt to the yearlings' paddock, where he happily joined his companions, while One-Way Passage returned from a first-place finish in his newcomer race.

• Koichi watched European races and told Megumi Mitsumori that he planned to take Gold Ship to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when he was four.
• Koichi said the colt he had bought would be called Divine Might and registered as Epiphaneia, and arranged for Mirai to look after him temporarily.
• Two weeks later, Miku Kuchiki led Epiphaneia from Stable Two to the yearlings' paddock and released him to join his companions.
• Miku Kuchiki decided to check on Gold Ship and then find Mitsumori, reflecting that One-Way Passage had won his newcomer race as the fourth favorite.

At Hokkai Ranch, Koichi discussed future riding opportunities and hiring a stablehand while evaluating Divine Might’s temperament and racing style. Divine Might showed a possessive attachment to Koichi, then ignored Megumi when she tried to approach him.

• Megumi asked Koichi about Trainer Futawatari possibly inviting him to ride, and Koichi said nothing was certain yet.
• Koichi and Megumi discussed applicants for the stablehand position and agreed he should consult Yosuke before deciding.
• Koichi met Miku Kuchiki on the way to check on Divine Might, while Megumi went to see Ship.
• Megumi described Divine Might as competitive and uncomfortable being alone, and Koichi agreed the colt should be developed as a pressing runner or front-runner.
• Divine Might rushed to Koichi, activated Monopolize, and drove the other young horses away from him.
• When Megumi reached out to Divine Might, he turned back to his herd, so Koichi left with her to look elsewhere.

One-Way Passage returned from his Newcomer Race and reunited with Gold Ship. Koichi agreed to join Tetsuya Futawatari at Sapporo Racecourse next month, where Japan Jordan might be racing.

• One-Way Passage returned to the stable after winning his Newcomer Race, and his groom brought him to rest before taking him to his paddock.
• Gold Ship and One-Way Passage greeted each other across the fence, then ran together before settling down to graze.
• Koichi checked on Epiphaneia at dinner and told him his groom would arrive in a few days.
• Tetsuya Futawatari invited Koichi to watch a race at Sapporo Racecourse next month, and Koichi agreed.

Koichi watched Japan Jordan prepare for the Sapporo Kinen, where Tetsuya Futawatari asked him to ride in the Autumn Emperor's Cup. Koichi accepted the opportunity and shared the news with Megumi Mitsumori.

• Koichi and Tetsuya Futawatari watched Japan Jordan enter the Parade Ring before the Sapporo Kinen.
• Tetsuya Futawatari asked Koichi to ride Japan Jordan in the Autumn Emperor's Cup, and Koichi said he would consider it.
• At dinner, Koichi told Megumi Mitsumori that he had landed a ride in the Autumn Emperor's Cup at Tokyo Racecourse.
• Megumi Mitsumori was amazed by Koichi's news.

After winning the Sapporo Kinen with Japan Jordan, Koichi began preparing Gold Ship for the Autumn Eishō at Sapporo. Gold Ship was out of form after his summer break but settled into his training, while Koichi remained confident he could win.

• Koichi began helping Gold Ship adjust to Sapporo Racecourse after Japan Jordan won the Sapporo Kinen.
• Koichi used his mind-link support skill as Gold Ship trained on the inner turf and overtook other horses.
• Miku Kuchiki greeted Koichi and Gold Ship, then gave Gold Ship a carrot on their way back to the stable.
• Koichi told Miku that Gold Ship needed time to regain his form but said he was confident about the upcoming race.
• Megumi Mitsumori returned to Hokkai Ranch to focus on training Epiphaneia.

At Hokkai Ranch, Megumi Mitsumori began training Epiphaneia with new staff Kuga Kai and Yamana Takuto. Carrot rewards helped Epiphaneia accept his first riding and command exercises, and Megumi ended the day pleased with their progress.

• Kuga Kai brought Epiphaneia to the training grounds, where Megumi Mitsumori introduced Yamana Takuto as the colt’s exercise rider.
• Megumi shared Epiphaneia’s training plan, which Koichi Sasaki had approved, and explained that the colt would be trained as a stalker or closer.
• Megumi used carrot sticks to reward Epiphaneia during desensitization and riding training.
• Kuga led Epiphaneia while Yamana gave him simple commands, and the colt walked around the track with the extra weight on his back.
• Megumi ended the session and sent Kuga and Yamana to return Epiphaneia to his stall, then watched the sunset as she prepared to rest.