Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 104: Road to Derby
Even if you don't move much, you will soon start sweating if you stay outdoors.

In Japan, the season for cicadas to sing is still far away.

Thousands of miles away, Dubai has entered summer early.

At 6 o'clock in the morning, the air began to feel warm.

Kitano looked at the track with some concern.

The thin rider reined in and rode slowly, while Mejiro Sakuya took steady steps.

The shadows of people and horses lengthened in the sunlight until they touched the end of the track.

"The conditioning looks good."

Although he spoke optimistic words, Huangshan had a cold expression on his face.

He was always serious about horse racing, which was probably the real reason why he was called "Weeping Mountain".

Looking down at his watch, Kitano said, "It's almost time to end."

This advice was given not by the horse owner but by a veterinarian.

"Come back, Wada—"

After nodding in confirmation, the trainer raised his hand and shouted to the rider's back.

So, the training ended.

Although Mejiro Sakuya still looked like she hadn't woken up yet.

"My back feels a lot stronger."

As usual, Hetian reported his views on the horse's body.

After completing the hoof temperature test, Kitano stood up and looked carefully at the deer-colored horse in front of him.

The muscles in the hind legs seem to be getting fuller again.

As for things like tone or feeling, they were unfamiliar to him.

However, the condition of a racehorse is not something that is easy to grasp, and even experienced horse diagnosticians are often not very accurate.

He had an amazing time in the chase, but his performance in the actual game was mediocre.

This kind of thing is actually not uncommon.

This is what is called "the fake carnival is over before the game even begins."

"Are you going back now, Master?"

Ogawa Katsu asked as he picked up the leash in his hand.

"Go back. We'll do the stretching in the stable."

Closing the tablet that planned the training schedule, Huangshan nodded.

On the way back to the stable, Mejiro Sakuya took small, happy steps.

He came overseas alone, settled in the stable alone, and trained alone.

Even so, I still maintain a great state of mind.

Mejiro Sakuya is just such a racehorse with great endurance.

Even so, overseas expeditions don't always go smoothly.

A few days before arriving in Dubai, a faint black color began to appear around Mejiro Sakuya's eyes.

It's the fatigue caused by the continued rise in temperature—

After the diagnosis, Kitano came to this conclusion.

As a result, the camp inevitably worried about the prospects of the expedition.

Even if the transportation fever was not more serious, it would still have slightly disrupted the subsequent itinerary.

"If it doesn't get better after a few days, don't run."

Before the horse owner and veterinarian Kitano could open his mouth, the horse trainer Huangshan spoke these decisive words first.

If fatigue persists, training and competition become useless.

Fortunately, after a few days of careful care, Mejiro Sakuya's dark circles quickly disappeared.

As for appetite, of course, there doesn't seem to be much change.

The weight has been established at 500 units with irreversible momentum.

In this regard, both Kitano and Huangshan can only pray that the extra weight will grow to the right place.

Working backwards from the competition to the remaining time, the remaining days are days on which no mistakes can be made.

Only after successfully sending Mejiro Sakuya back to the air-conditioned stable did his tense mood temporarily ease.

After confirming that Deer Horse was in good physical condition, Arashiyama lowered his head and began planning tomorrow's training. Kitano, on the other hand, was stretching Meguro Sakuya's legs with Ogawa Katsumi.

Hoof trimmer Zep huddled at the workbench in the corner, frowning as he studied the track samples taken from the Medan racecourse.

The only sound in the stable was the occasional creaking of the German hoof trimmer's chair.

Mejiro Sakuya's gradually steady breathing became clear in this environment.

After stretching, the deer-hair horse exuded a laziness that was even more obvious than usual.

"Get some rest, Sakuya."

Kitano scratched its slightly slack chin.

After turning around, Mejiro Sakuya was already yawning with her eyes half closed.

He left the stable quietly.

After just a short exposure to the outdoors, I inevitably broke out in a sweat when I returned to the hotel.

In the premature heat of summer, the pre-match discussion meeting began.

"If possible, how about trying your best in the first round?"

At the beginning of the meeting, Huangshan, the horse trainer, said this.

The 1800-meter left-turn route on the dirt track of the Meidan Circuit requires passing through four complete bends.

In addition, the track has a fine texture similar to American mud.

Although he had confidence in Mejiro Sakuya's strength, he still considered tactical changes in such a track where taking the lead had a clear advantage.

In the past few UAE Derbys, except for the 2023 race at a fast pace, all of them were won by the leading or first horse.

"If we don't move forward, it will be difficult to participate in the final victory."

This is the conclusion the trainer came to after several days of track exploration.

"Do not--"

The rider, who rarely spoke, took the initiative to break the silence.

The others in the camp looked on.

“You can run even if you start from the back.”

Hetian's tone was calm but firm.

The day before yesterday, Mejiro Sakuya performed a solo chase on the track in Midan.

The time taken was mediocre. After the replay video was released, some people even began to question whether Mejiro Sakuya had spent too much energy in the Saudi Arabia preliminaries.

However, Hotan on horseback clearly felt the pace was relaxed.

“It’s even easier than in Japan and Saudi Arabia.”

Although it may cause people to laugh if I say it out loud, this is the most intuitive feeling of Hotan as a rider.

"With Sakuya's stamina, she can definitely give it a try in Midan."

The straight section from the fourth turn to the finish line in Meidan is 450 meters, slightly shorter than that in Tokyo.

It was enough for Mejiro Sakuya to make her final move.

"Is it--"

Huangshan pursed his lips and didn't say anything else.

The atmosphere seemed to be a little tense.

"Then run as usual."

After a brief consideration, the trainer chose to give in.

Regarding the favorable development of the US-Dan arena, I really can't think of any good response measures.

In this case, it would be better to let Mejiro Sakuya run at her accustomed rhythm.

"Mr. Kitano, what do you think?"

The trainer and the rider simultaneously turned their attention to the owner's side.

"Just use Sakuya's full strength."

After saying that, Kitano stood up resolutely.

All I see is the dazzling blue summer sky.

　Thanks to book friend 20230515114556659 for the 3000 Qidian coins reward, and thanks to Dr_Dragan for the 100 Qidian coins reward.

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　　Ciallo～(∠ω<)⌒★
　　It took too much time to organize the manuscript, so there is only one update today.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)