Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 273 Dance Steps
The second to last day of October, the day before Halloween.

Before dawn, thick altocumulus clouds had already gathered overhead.

It's the same "good weather" as yesterday.

Stepping out of the international stables, strong winds and torrential rain immediately came from all directions.

Yahagi pulled his head back and let out a sigh.

"It really is a rainy day—"

The trainer put on the bowler hat and his eyes quickly became resolute again.

"lets go!"

At a command, the associates of the dozen or so members of the "Forever Young" camp stepped forward.

"I'll leave you to it today as well."

In front of the stables, Kitano bowed deeply to the female rider before him.

"Please leave it to me."

Jin Meiqi loosened her slightly pursed lips and responded in Japanese.

The deer-haired horse beside them slowly approached and nodded its head as if imitating the two of them.

The heavy atmosphere in the air was thus greatly reduced.

"Please do this for me too, Sakuya."

Kitano spoke softly, his fingertips brushing against the mane adorned with green ribbons.

Despite the gray, gloomy sky outside the stable, the deer-mane horse's clear eyes remained bright.

His eyes were gentle, as if saying, "Don't worry."

"Go for it, Sakuya!"

With a high-pitched, cat-like voice, Kimura, who had arrived in New York earlier today, gently patted Deerman's neck.

However, Megumi Sakuya rolled her eyes in terror, as if to say, "Don't come any closer."

Even the staff passing by couldn't help but laugh.

Although, Kimura himself had a hurt expression that looked like he was about to cry.

"Let's go."

When he spoke, his tone was calm, even surprising himself.

I thought it would be a more powerful voice—

As soon as you take a step, such distracting thoughts are immediately left behind.

"The wind is so strong!"

As Ogawa Katsuki, holding the leash, unconsciously slowed his pace, Meguro Sakuya, who had been behind him, calmly stepped into the rain.

The boy quickened his pace and hurriedly followed, but the group that initially seemed to be working together quickly reverted to its original state after only a few steps.

"Haha, Brother Xuhe is full of energy!"

Kimura laughed heartily, his Oxford shirt, the same style as Kitano's, looking loose and baggy.

The barren mountain also grinned.

Kitano, who was saying "Let's go," ended up at the very back of the group, his gaze sweeping over the tail of the deer-haired horse that was swaying like a pendulum.

"I feel like the colors of the Halloween ornaments don't quite match."

"Well, I think it's quite cute."

Kanna Ogawa, standing beside her, blinked.

The conversation actually went smoothly!

"But Mr. Kitano is really remarkable for having the mind to pay attention to the charm on his tail at a time like this."

"Actually, I was so nervous that these were all I could think of."

"I don't believe it."

Amidst laughter and conversation, they soon arrived at the backyard of the Bemon Garden.

The scene was even more lively than I had imagined.

Despite repeated warnings from security personnel, many people still risked gathering under the white pine trees in the rain.

Even the paths next to the open-air stables and the dirt roads of the parade ground were crowded with horse fans.

At the front of the group, Ogawa Katsumi and Arakawa kept reminding each other, "Please don't hold your phone too close."

It's not that I'm worried about stress or anything. It would be bad if Sakuya took the opportunity to chew up my phone—

This consideration only arises within this particular camp.

However, it seems that after learning a lesson from eating some green plants, Deerman Horse seems to have labeled everything in the parade ground as "unpalatable".

We managed to squeeze through the crowd and reach the open-air stable area.

Ignoring the various chaotic noises, the team proceeded with the final inspection in an orderly manner.

"Goddess Anna is a formidable opponent, and her eternal youth should not be underestimated."

While bending over to adjust his abdominal binder, Huang Shan was being interviewed by a Fox News reporter.

"You are the first filly team to challenge the Breeders' Cup Classic with the highest popularity since Sunyard. What are your expectations for this race?"

"Weather and track conditions may be an advantage, but I can't guarantee anything else."

"Okay, thank you, Huangshan."

The trainer handled the pre-race interview in his usual conservative manner.

"Would you like to say a few words, young lady?"

The reporter then jokingly handed the microphone to Megumi Sakuya.

The deer-haired horse stuck out its tongue in disgust, as if to say, "That stuff doesn't taste good at all," and declined the interview.

A few minutes later, the long-awaited Megumi Sakuya finally made her appearance at the parade ground.

Whether at the Belmont Park or across the sea at Taikoo Shing, horse racing fans erupted in cheers at that moment.

Many female horse racing fans dressed in their finest attire held up horse puppets and hysterically shouted Mejiro Sakuya's name. Even the most enthusiastic horse racing fans who had traveled all the way from Japan were taken aback by the scene before them.

[The Cinderella from Hidaka Ranch, at the end of this year, strides towards the forefront of the world.]

Amidst the chaotic crowd, reporter Kuwahara typed these few lines into his phone's notepad.

On the other side of the reviewing stand, the originally dry, earthen road had been stained dark brown by two days of continuous rain. The deer-haired horses kept their heads down and avoided the various small potholes on the road.

"Oh! It's the Emperor's Dance!"

A young horse racing enthusiast shouted from the crowd.

"It should clearly be the Xinyada dance steps."

The older horse racing fans protested with dissatisfaction, but their camera shutters kept clicking.

On the green space in front of the railing, the group of people involved watched this scene and chuckled.

"It's all because of you, BOSS, that you kept making fun of her clumsy walking."

"It's Sakuya who's being too serious."

As soon as he finished speaking, another burst of cheers erupted from the horse racing fans.

Shenwei Anna practically swaggered into the parade ground with a crab-like gait.

No matter how you look at it, it was a somewhat comical way of making an entrance.

"This is really——"

The image of "majesty" on the black deer-haired horse, which is staring intently at the camera, is rapidly crumbling.

Of course, this doesn't mean we should underestimate this eclipse-viewing mare.

The camp has consistently considered Divine Anna as the "most threatening opponent" in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Thinking this, the crowd suddenly parted to make way, like Moses parting the sea.

A few bright colors appeared under the leaden sky.

------------

"This might be my last chance; I have to give it my all."

—Breeders' Cup Classic pre-race interview - Dumanle rider segment

"【Horse Trainer】"

Yoshito Yahagi, the horse trainer for Kurita, will retire by March next year.
Yahagi

"Over the decades, the time spent in regret and the time spent in joy have been almost equal. In any case, I am very grateful for the contributions of all those involved. I am truly grateful."

Our only goal right now is to win the final match together with eternal youth.

——《n○tkeiba》

(End of this chapter)