Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 203 The Difficulty Between Man and Horse
It was just past lunch time when Tanaka and Ochiai arrived at the ranch.

"Long time no see, Master Tanaka."

"Well, long time no see."

After greeting the trainer, Kitano turned his head and turned his gaze to the rider beside him.

"Xunta too, long time no see."

"Excuse me, President."

Ochiai took a step forward and bowed deeply.

"That's a bit too serious."

Kitano couldn't help but complain, but he had no choice but to put his hand down and bow in return.

The two took off their shoes at the entrance and followed him onto the creaking plank corridor.

The moment he entered the door, Tanaka subconsciously wanted to take off his stuffy baseball cap.

The moment his fingertips touched the brim of the hat, he pushed the cap back on his head as if he remembered something.

The precarious hairline will not be exposed to the sun.

As I approached the lounge, a strong smell came out through the crack in the door.

"Is beef curry for lunch?"

Tanaka asked with a smile.

"I guess so."

Kitano smiled slightly stiffly and handed two bottles of oolong tea that he had just taken out of the refrigerator to the two of them.

The three of them sat down at the low table.

While chatting, Tanaka looked out the window and sighed.

"That's incredible! Are they planning to expand the fenced-off area around the stables?"

"No, just some minor modifications to the existing stables."

"This isn't something that can be described as 'slightly'."

The horse trainer laughed as he twisted the bottle cap.

Ochiai also nodded in agreement.

The topic naturally shifted to the high temperatures of recent days.

"If this continues, I'm afraid this year's debut season will be moved forward again."

After taking a sip of oolong tea, Tanaka frowned, as if the tea was bitter.

“It will be very hard on the horses and the stable boys, too.”

Ochiai rarely took the initiative to speak, and his tone was extremely serious.

“That’s what I mean—”

Kitano took over the conversation, nodded, and said, "If it weren't for the high temperature countermeasures, the situation might have been even worse."

Although the shortening of the appearance segment will inevitably be opposed by some Ma fans, there is nothing that can be done about it.

Gu Long drank up the remaining oolong tea, and Tanaka changed the subject to talk about today's business.

"How about we aim for the Grand Universe Memorial as our first battle this year?"

"Then it will become a tough battle between Guma and Ma."

Kitano immediately realized which race the trainer was talking about, but his expression gradually became serious.

The full name of the Grand Universe Memorial is Sapporo Beer Mug Grand Universe Memorial Golden Ship Award.

Although the bounty is not high, as the first Guma race of the new season, most of the strong Guma horses will participate in this race.

Many promising racehorses are transferred to South Kanto in their late second or early third year to compete for higher prize money.

However, this does not mean that we can underestimate the horses that remain in the gate.

after all--

The "Cosmos" commemorated in this race is a legend that as a local racehorse, he competed for major central prizes such as the Satsuki Sho and the Japan Cup, and even won the first international G1 title for a local horse in the Singapore Airlines International Cup.

The winner of the previous Grand Universe Memorial was Bell Jiajun, who dominated the event for three consecutive years.

"Bel Jiajun is very strong."

After a brief silence, Ochiai followed suit.

In almost every race in the gate, Bell Jiajun won by more than five lengths.

"However, if you want to aim for the South Kanto or even higher-level competitions, you must first overcome Bell Jiajun."

Tanaka spoke calmly, as if he was talking about something as easy as drinking tea.

However, the truth is just as the trainer said.

Bell Jiajun, who was invincible at the Menbie Racecourse, suffered a "complete defeat" record when he went to other racecourses.

"There's no point in saying more if we don't win." For Muhajiro, this year's Grand Cosmo Memorial is exactly that kind of race.

Kitano took a breath, exhaled, and then spoke.

"Then go ahead and give it a try."

After saying that, he turned his head and looked at Ochiai again.

"As for the rider, I'll have to continue to trouble you, Xuantai."

Ochiai pursed his lips and nodded without saying a word.

"Actually, there's another matter today that I need to deal with that shouldn't bother you Kitano-kun."

After a slight hesitation, Tanaka said solemnly.

"Please go ahead."

So Kitano also switched to a straight sitting posture, looking at the trainer sitting opposite the low table with a serious look.

"Let me tell you, Master."

At this moment, Ochiai suddenly spoke.

"If all goes well—"

Having said that, the rider took a deep breath as if he had made up his mind.

"I plan to go to North America to practice next year."

"Is that so? That's really remarkable."

For the well-paid JRA and NAR riders, going overseas for training is a thankless task in most cases.

Kitano sincerely admires those who can do it.

"It is precisely because I feel that I am far from enough that I have such a plan."

Perhaps feeling that this was nothing to be proud of, Ochiai's tone returned to its initial calmness.

“It’s a great thing to be able to identify shortcomings in a timely manner.”

"No, after all, I'm not a young man anymore."

Ochiai shook his head and gave a wry smile.

No matter from which angle you look at it, he is no longer a rider.

The reason for going abroad at this age is just as I said before.

Become stronger.

"But in North America, the riders there are all muscular."

Kitano patted the rider's shoulder and said jokingly.

"Feel sorry!"

Ochiai lowered his head in shame.

"Xun Tai has been quietly training his muscles in preparation since last year."

The trainer, who had been silent from a while ago, suddenly said this with a smile.

"Master, you already knew this?"

Ochiai's eyes widened in surprise.

"If you want to avoid being seen, how about choosing a place a little further away from the stables when you memorize English words?"

Tanaka, who was always rather serious, cracked a joke for once: "If you keep going like this, Pegasus will learn English from you."

Kitano laughed and said, "Then please take him with you when you go to practice."

In the end, even Ochiai couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

"Please forgive me for this one thing."

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"[@dokeba：

【Memorial Thoughts on the Great Universe】

Can the cross-generational powerhouse Bell Jiajun cope with the challenge from the younger generation of the Triple Crown? 】"

——Keep going! Hokkaido Horse Racing

"【Pay attention to horse movements】

The famous winner of the first stage of the Mares Triple Crown, the Sakura Sho, will avoid the Oaks Stakes due to foot problems.

Master Takeyuki Shiro: "We won't force her to participate in the competition."

——《n○tkeiba》

(End of this chapter)