Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 301 Anxiety and Transformation

December 12th is Hong Kong International Race Walking Day.

That day, Sasakawa began to feel restless from the morning onwards.

The trainer's incessant explanation of tactics drifted past my ears like a foreign language.

The reason it didn't stay in his mind at all was because the rider was focused on something else entirely.

When I heard about the overseas expedition, my first thought was not excitement but worry.

For Atalanta, who struggles with environmental changes, simply traveling to the two training centers located in Kansai and Kanto is already an enormous challenge.

According to Okizawa, a stableman, a total of four people, including a trainer and a stableman, were used to put Atalanta on the plane at Narita Airport.

The scene was similar when she got off the plane; it took a long time to get her onto the horse-drawn carriage.

In addition, after arriving in Hong Kong, I encountered many unique local difficulties.

In addition to the originally designated companion horses and stable cats, stable staff and riders are not allowed to spend the night in the quarantine stables.

After that, adjusting to the new condition unsurprisingly proved difficult, and it took much longer than expected to barely recover to the point where I could participate in training.

On the morning of their first training session, the team was even prepared to withdraw from the competition.

however--

While warming up in the sand ring with Starry Night and Golden Soul, who were also traveling to Hong Kong, Atalanta quickly followed behind the two central horses and obediently joined the training, despite being a little timid at first.

Normally, it would take until the third lap of warm-up to get into the training mode.

From the second day onwards, Atalanta gradually revealed a calmer side to her temperament during morning exercises.

Although he still needs to be trained properly by older or more mentally strong racehorses, he has undoubtedly made significant progress compared to before.

According to the horse owners, this was a gain that was "more important than the result itself."

"So President Kitano also said that the match should be stopped immediately if the situation is not right."

As soon as he finished speaking, the trainer's face showed a seriousness unlike anything he had seen before.

"understood."

The rider loosened his tightly pursed lips and nodded solemnly.

Then, the two walked silently side by side to the quarantine barn.

"Her appetite was even better than yesterday, and she finished her entire allowance of feed with great enthusiasm."

The above is feedback from trainer Motonori Mashima during the final pre-race stable inspection.

Thanks to the timely assistance of this experienced horse trainer, the previously chaotic camp was able to barely control the situation.

In the corner of the stable, there was a pile of plush toys that had been bought a few days ago. While interacting with its main rider, the chestnut horse would occasionally cast somewhat concerned glances at the toys.

When a horse without an accompaniment and its stablemates are not allowed to enter, this is the only option left.

Surprisingly, it worked quite well.

However, compared to the other expeditionary factions that were in high spirits, the morale on this side was generally low.

"You two better be on your toes!"

The gray-haired Saga horse trainer patted the two men's drooping shoulders and spoke loudly to them.

After hearing his father's encouragement, Majima nodded with his lips pursed.

His gaze swept across the stable fence, and he paused slightly.

The items hanging on it are similar to amulets, donated by local horse racing enthusiasts.

It was exactly 2 p.m. local time.

The stands in the reviewing stand were full early on, and below the dome was the runway bathed in winter sunlight, where soft light could be seen streaming in at an angle.

Before the eyes of over 100,000 horse racing fans, the twelve runners of the Hong Kong Bottle took to the stage one by one.

When it was Atalanta's turn, countless eyes, both those of local fans and those who had traveled from afar to Japan, were simultaneously drawn to her petite chestnut-haired body. The next moment, an astonishing cheer erupted from the gathering of traveling fans at the edge of the stands.

The chestnut horse paused for a moment, but quickly raised its head and hopped to catch up with the Golden Soul ahead.

"That child has grown up on a spiritual level all at once."

As Kitano inspected the green space in the center of the parade ground, he slightly averted his gaze and spoke to the horse trainer in a suit standing to the side.

Unable to enter the stables, I have been able to learn about the changes in Atalanta through the accounts of the trainers and riders these past few days.

Has my temper really calmed down a bit?

Before today, I had this somewhat uneasy thought.

"Probably."

The trainer's voice carried a hint of nervousness.

After taking a group photo in front of the sign bearing the white and green winning outfit of Meguro, I originally thought I would take that first step.

However, before that—

The team received its first award of the day somewhat unexpectedly.

[Best-looking horse award]

Although it's not entirely clear how Atalanta was awarded this prize.

"Be good, Ata-chan."

After mounting the horse, Sasakawa stroked Atalanta's mane as usual.

Majima and Okizawa, the stable staff holding the lead ropes on either side, skillfully used words to soothe the chestnut horse's emotions.

Stepping onto the foreign grasslands, Atalanta twitched her restless ears for a fleeting moment.

But soon, guided by the goat-like guide horse, it began to move towards the gate.

faster and faster.

After the initial test run on the straight line, an opening melody, so brief it made one wonder if it had ever actually happened, played.

The horse racing fans who had originally headed towards the reviewing stand gradually returned to the stands.

According to information broadcast over the radio, the fourth race in the Hong Kong Vase will be a "good" race.

In more familiar terms, it's a venue that's geared towards a good playing field.

Although I would prefer an unfolding that leans towards unfavorable scenarios.

In the commentary booth, Liao Haoxian, the on-site commentator, calmly picked up his binoculars.

Looking out the glass window at the track, the last horse to leave also entered the gate.

"Ready? Time for the fourth match!"

"International Grade 1 race, 2400 meters, Longines Hong Kong Bottle, get ready—"

A crisp sound, distinct from that of central and local gates.

"Alright, when we start moving, the horse at the outer gate is Meguro Hideki, the one in the middle is Hoshikai Kizuna, and the one a little further in is the grey-shirted Christmas Day."

After a slightly chaotic start, a petite chestnut-haired figure leaped out from among the horses.

Atalanta showed a slight urge to speed up, but Sasagawa quickly calmed her down with the reins.

As the chestnut horse passed the main grandstand where cheers gathered, its steps regained their composure.

She ran lightly, skipping and hopping across the straight road in front of the stands as if playing.

Through the radio, Liao Haoxian's voice became melodious and varied from the very beginning—

"When we crossed the finish line for the first time, the one leading the way was, unsurprisingly, the Japanese heroine Mejiro!"

(End of this chapter)