Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 118: Chasing before the Derby
The Kentucky Derby was on April 25th, a week ago.

Mejiro Sakuya and Katuna will practice chasing together on the dirt course at Churchill Park.

At 4 p.m., the sun shone obliquely on the track.

The wind was weak and the air was hot and humid.

"please."

Wearing goggles, Wada nodded slightly to Ogawa Katsu on the back of Katuna's horse.

What is about to begin is the six-wave chase.

This time, the purpose of chasing is still not to create time.

However, it is not an adaptation to the venue either.

A few days ago, I tried to let Sakuya Mejiro run on the main track of Churchill Park.

After a brief gait adjustment, the deer-hair horse quickly adapted to the mud under its feet.

After that, I tried long-rein pacing in a relatively damp environment.

Although it became a little more difficult, I was still able to run.

At least in terms of adaptability, there is no need to worry too much.

On the other hand, Katuna's progress was somewhat unsatisfactory.

He would throw tantrums as if provoked when other horses were around, so he could only be trained in private time.

“A very aggressive horse.”

This is the evaluation from Kurama Hitoshi and Tian after the initial training.

Even if it is a relatively easy training program, the momentum can be as good as that of the main competition.

but--

The results of the training were quite ordinary.

"I just can't run fast."

This is the second half of the review.

After receiving the signal from Wada, Ogawa Katsu, riding on Katuna, took the lead in pulling the reins.

The two horses in pursuit have similar goals – to be as activated as possible and to get their muscles to optimal competitive tension.

The original plan was to start at a slightly slower pace.

What actually happened was that after receiving the order to speed up, Katuna rushed out of control.

Ogawa Masaru's face became a little nervous.

He tried to pull the reins, but the chestnut horse continued to accelerate.

On the other side, Mejiro Sakuya also took steps slowly.

In the first two waves, the gap between the two horses quickly widened.

But with a light wave of the whip from Hetian, the situation on the track quickly turned around.

In the setting sun, a gleaming, strong body came rushing from behind.

Easily squeezing through Katuna, Lumao's figure was the first to enter the straight line.

“It’s very easy to run and feels very smooth on my back.”

After the chase ended, Wada commented calmly.

"Is there anything unusual when entering the straight line?"

Huangshan leaned forward slightly, supporting himself on the railing with both hands and asked.

He noticed the contact between the two horses at the end of the bend.

"I don't feel anything."

After a pause, Hetian answered truthfully.

If he hadn't confirmed it with his naked eyes, he wouldn't even have noticed the collision.

Huangshan's gaze passed over Wada and looked towards Ogawa Katsu who was slowly approaching from behind.

"The bite was very severe."

On the back of Katona, who was breathing heavily, Xuhe Sheng shook his wrist.

The tug-of-war between him and Katuna lasted for most of the race.

However, after the collision, the chestnut horse suddenly slowed down.

As to whether it was a stall caused by a collision or premature exhaustion caused by the bite, even Ogawa Katsu on the saddle couldn't tell.

However, the goal of pursuit has been achieved.

"It performed very well. It didn't push itself at all. It ran as easily as if it was warming up."

During the interview, Huang Shan unusually gave a positive evaluation. However, as the interview progressed, the atmosphere gradually sombered.

When asked about his expectations for Mejiro Sakuya's race, the trainer replied with a look of frustration: "It's hard to predict how she'll perform in a race. It's also completely unknown whether she can maintain her original athletic ability with such a large body."

"Our opponents were very good at chasing down and it was not easy to beat them."

As he spoke, the trainer even made some hand gestures.

"Especially Mr. Caesar, it just flew across the straightaway like a whoosh, I couldn't even see its shadow."

After the translator relayed the message, the American reporter's expression became somewhat subtle.

"So can you tell me about your goals for the Kentucky Derby?"

He asked the last question of the interview.

"We just want to maximize Sakuya's abilities and strive for a ranking commensurate with them."

Huangshan gave this somewhat ambiguous answer.

Taking small and easy steps, Mejiro Sakuya approached the reporter who was packing up the interview equipment.

"Well, do you want to say something too?"

The reporter jokingly handed over the microphone.

The deer-haired horse opened its mouth slightly and licked the microphone with its tongue.

Then, he turned his head away with some disgust.

"Haha, this is not edible!"

The reporter smiled and handed the microphone to the rider on horseback.

"Wada, how do you feel?"

Without the help of an interpreter, Wada replied in somewhat stiff English: "We will enjoy the game."

“So where are you going to start the Kentucky Derby?”

The reporter raised the microphone and continued to ask.

“We’ll fight for our spot as much as we can.”

Before he knew it, beads of sweat had already appeared on the rider's forehead.

"You mean the right position?"

The reporter then asked.

"Yes, that's it."

Wada nodded repeatedly, and the reporter breathed a sigh of relief the moment he put down the microphone.

After the chase ended, Katuna and Mejiro Sakuya walked back to the stables one after the other.

"It looks like I should be able to run a good race."

Holding the leash, Huangshan spoke with emotion.

Mejiro Sakuya's weight, which had been increasing continuously, was finally reduced after she was released from quarantine.

However, after discussing with Kitano, Huangshan decided to maintain his weight at 505 kg, which is two kilograms more than UAE.

Although the horse has gained two kilograms of weight, its body has become stronger and it has no negative impact on its athletic ability.

Judging from the appearance, the belly that looked a bit round when he won the All Japan 2-year-old title last year has tightened a little bit, and the excess fat has been successfully consumed.

"Even if the chaotic wave unfolds, it shouldn't be a problem."

On horseback, Hetian spoke in his usual voice.

After a brief silence, Wada spoke.

"Will Master Huangshan's family come too?"

Huangshan was a little surprised when he heard this question.

In the past, Hetian rarely spoke actively and rarely mentioned things other than work.

"They're coming over this week, but they'll probably spend a few days in a big city first."

The trainer smiled, then turned and asked, "What about Wada-kun?"

"When they heard we were going to run the Kentucky Derby, my son and nephew started clamoring to come early in the morning. It was impossible to stop them."

He shook his head, but a faint smile appeared on the rider's face unconsciously.

In the setting sun, people and horses cast long shadows.

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　　The third update will be later

　　
　
(End of this chapter)