Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 251 is really inconvenient.

The topic of the expedition has been temporarily put on hold.

Passing through a sign that read "Ooi Racecourse Kobayashi Branch Stables," Kitano and Araya chatted as they walked toward the stables.

"It's really not easy to have a racetrack on a slope in the local area. Thanks to this, both Sakuya and Ata-chan have gotten good training."

"Haha, after all, it's the first training track in the area."

The trainer wore a smile that was hardly one of pride.

As I opened the stable door, a chestnut horse near the entrance was playfully stroking the fan with its lips.

"Oh dear, didn't I tell them not to put them too close together?"

The trainer smiled wryly and moved the fan to a spot the horse couldn't reach.

"It wouldn't be good if you hurt yourself."

As he said this, Huangshan patted the neck of the chestnut horse with a smile.

"Isn't the stable crammed full?"

Kitano looked around and couldn't help but sigh.

At the beginning of the year, Huangshan Mingming made a confident declaration that "this year we must keep the number of people under management below forty."

"Yes, even if they keep saying things like 'I really can't take care of it,' it's hard to refuse when they receive a request."

The trainer's tone was tinged with helplessness.

Besides consciously controlling the scale of their operations, the issue of stable capacity also plagues almost every Japanese horse trainer.

They didn't delve too deeply into the topic and stopped in front of Megumi Sakuya's stable.

The deer-haired horse merely twitched its ears as if to say, "Oh, you're here," before burying its head in its fodder again.

"You look like you've lost some weight, that's amazing, Sakuya!"

After carefully observing the horse's outline, Kitano slightly widened his eyes.

It has only been a few weeks since they returned to the stables after the summer break.

The effect was actually that obvious?
"Ahem. Actually, I gained two kilograms after returning to the stable."

The trainer cleared his throat and spoke, then quickly added, "However, the horse's recovery went very smoothly; most of the excess fat has been converted into muscle."

"That's right."

Kitano nodded, but still asked with some concern, "Is it okay to start an expedition with this weight?"

Despite the stable's diligent training, Sakuya's weight management has become increasingly difficult as she gets older.

Almost every time I contacted them, I received the report that "I have gained a little weight again".

"Considering that the excess fat has been mostly lost, and there is plenty of time to adjust, he should be able to be in good shape for the Breeders' Cup... right?"

In the end, even Huang Shan's own tone revealed a hint of uncertainty.

"I'm really sorry to trouble you."

Kitano also sighed helplessly.

During the conversation, he twisted open the cap of the second can of milk.

The deer-haired horse, which was chewing on hay, suddenly raised its head and looked over expectantly.

Can you give me some?

Those eyes look quite adorable.

"No, Sakuya."

Kitano ruthlessly rejected Meguro Sakuya's request and took a sip of the milk himself.

So the deer-haired horse immediately lowered its head as if throwing a tantrum.

It's so realistic.

The two chatted for a while longer in front of the stables, until the stable boys who were taking their lunch break returned one by one.

"Then I'll take my leave."

"Please go slowly."

After saying goodbye to the horse trainer, Kitano patted the boy on the shoulder as he walked towards him.

"It's gotten a little taller, Ah Sheng."

"Hehe, no, not at all." Ogawa Katsumi, wearing the same uniform as the other stable staff, scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly.

Seemingly finally noticing the commotion around her, Megumi Sakuya briefly raised her head.

Oh, they're leaving already?

It sounded like he was muttering something to himself.

However, the puffed-out cheeks soon began a new round of chewing.

After finishing my visit to the Arashiyama stables, I didn't make a detour to the Majima stables next door as usual.

Last week, Atalanta arranged for a transport to the Mipu Training Center in preparation for the Aster Championship.

Because of his physical weakness in transportation, the transportation time was a few days earlier than usual.

"How about we go check out Mipo while we're at it?"

Of course, it wasn't just to visit Atalanta.

Influenced by the club's heyday over the past decade, the difficulty of winning turf races and undefeated races has reached an all-time high.

For individual horse owners and corporate owners of small and medium-sized ranches, the Central Turf race is an absolute hell mode.

While buying high-quality racehorses is an option, a high price does not always equate to high quality.

Even with all their efforts, they simply cannot compete with numerous well-funded rivals in every aspect.

Forget about winning, even getting the horses into the stable is a problem, and even getting them into the stable is often obstructed.

Such situations are already commonplace.

Japan has a limited number of stables, and the stables of popular trainers, whether in Miura or Kuritō, are usually fully booked well in advance of the stable season.

However, being too ambitious will only increase the pressure.

Kitano did not initially target the top-tier stables that he had faced in the World Championships.

After entrusting the Teru Maru to Wada, who had not yet obtained a license, at the auction, he also intended to entrust other one-year-old horses that he planned to debut in the central region to him.

However, the subsequent requests were firmly declined.

"I am extremely grateful for your kindness, but taking care of Teruhime in the first year is probably the limit for me."

The reasons were surprisingly frank.

However, this means that both Shining, who was just "giving it a try," and Hikari, who was highly anticipated, will have to find other stables.

Although Huixiang's ownership has not yet been determined, Huixing's trainer had already been identified before.

Open your phone, swipe through the contact list for a moment, and tap on one of the names.

It is said that in both Miura and Ritsudong, it is basically impossible to find anyone after 10 a.m.

After 10 a.m., trainers with race schedules may have already gone to the racetrack to begin preparations, and even those without races may have other commitments.

Therefore, it's best to confirm before making a visit.

"Hello, this is the stables."

The person on the other end of the phone sounded surprised, as if they hadn't expected the call at all.

"Hello, I'm Kitano."

"May I ask if it is a convenient time to visit the stables now?"

I introduced myself in the same tone as usual, and then got straight to the point.

"Please come over here."

He seemed a little hesitant, pausing for a moment before continuing to speak.

"Okay, I'll be there in a bit."

After hanging up the phone, Kitano opened the navigation map software.

"Mipu...it's going to take another two hours?"

I never expected it to take so long; even calling a taxi took more than forty minutes.