Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 302 The Winter of Hibernation
With a slight tug on the reins, Sasakawa guided Atalanta to a position closer to the inside rail before entering the first bend.

Running along the planned route, the rider suddenly hesitated—

Should we try changing the rhythm?

After successfully gaining control of the pace with a decent start, Atalanta's pace is likely to be slightly slower in favorable situations.

If the pace is too slow in the early stages, the lead horse will undoubtedly face an extremely unfavorable situation when entering a long straight line.

Especially since Atalanta is not known for her last leg.

However, rashly changing the rhythm of the game carries even greater risks.

That's how horse racing works.

Once a horse makes a crucial move at a key moment, the entire race will become unpredictable.

"This distance is no problem for Ata-chan, so let's try some bolder strategies."

The words of the horse owners echoed in my mind.

In the end, Sasakawa placed all his trust in his partner who had been with him all along.

He resolutely pulled on the reins—

"The short pillar is nearly 1,600 meters tall. The one in front is still Megumi Hideki, the one in the Star Sea Bonds is in second place, and the one in the Christmas Sky looks outwards and moves back a little. The one in the rear for now is the Golden Soul."

As Liao Haoxian spoke, the herd of horses gradually lengthened.

The afternoon sun in winter poured down through the clouds, turning Sha Tin Racecourse into a golden hue.

Bathed in soft light, cheers erupted, and dazzling light danced on Atalanta's golden mane.

With her unique running style and endearing, cute physique, she has unknowingly gained the support of many horse racing fans.

A silent contest unfolds on the straight line directly opposite each other.

Although no positions were exchanged, many riders were quietly adjusting their strategies in silence.

The short post marking the 1200-meter mark flashed by in my peripheral vision.

The time taken was 1 minute, 16.93 seconds.

The pace was slightly faster than usual compared to a typical Hong Kong bottle.

Having made this judgment, Wu Feng calmed his partner with the reins while looking ahead.

With the view obscured by layers of obstruction, the white and green outlines at the front of the herd were no longer visible.

Nevertheless, the legendary rider calmly placed his bets on the final straight.

Having completely discerned the pace of the movement, Wu Feng deliberately positioned Jin Zhihun further back than usual.

On the other side, Kawada, on the Star Sea Bond Saddle, decisively pulled the reins, accelerating from the middle of the straight line directly opposite, as planned.

At this moment, the course of the game changed once again.

"We've now passed this 800-meter short pillar. Megumi is still in the lead, while Star Sea Bonds outside is slowly catching up. Then we see Christmas Day in third place, which has also moved up a bit. And at the very back is Gold Soul, which hasn't even started to exert its strength yet!"

Using her exceptional endurance as a weapon, Atalanta engaged in a fierce battle with the Starbound, who caught up later.

Faced with the imposing size of its opponent, the chestnut horse slightly raised its head and continued its forward stride, unwilling to be outdone.

At the end of the straight road directly opposite, Sasagawa pursed his lips and pulled on the reins.

The path forward is now clear and unobstructed.

"Alright, it's time to turn into the straight road!"

Liao Haoxian shouted at this moment.

"The one leading the way is still the same Megumi Heroine. Upon seeing the Starry Sea Bond, she also surged forward. The third one in the middle is still Christmas Day, and the Golden Soul at the rear has successfully gazed into the sky from outside!"

We can win, we definitely can win this time!
Shaking off his heavy thoughts and distractions, Sasakawa raised his whip with undivided attention.

Encouraged, the small, chestnut-haired escaped horse stretched its hooves with all its might.

At this pace and position, no horse could overtake Atalanta from behind.

But just as they were about to regain their confidence and glory, a black hat entered Sasakawa's field of vision from the outside.

Slicing to his left, Kawada, mounted on the Starry Sea Bond saddle, swiftly lashed out with his whip. One, two, three—

This pressure quickly took effect.

The pace of the horse, which had been stretching out from the inside, gradually slowed down, and the small chestnut horse gradually fell into a disadvantageous position in the initial contest.

“Oh no—”

Amid gasps of alarm, a sense of panic began to spread through the stands.

Even the members of their own team wore expressions of dejection, as if they were doomed.

On the other side of the track.

Sasagawa's gaze remained unwavering as he looked firmly at the track ahead.

Four hundred meters —

On the innermost side of the track, which was submerged by the herd of horses, a faint glimpse of white could be seen.

"In the last 300 meters, Star Sea Bonds is leading the charge! But what rushes out from inside is Megumi Hideaki, what's chasing from outside is Soul of Gold, and what's sandwiched in between is Christmas Day!"

The white shadow rings were raised high.

"In the last two hundred meters, the one that came up from the outside was the Soul of Gold, the one in the middle was Christmas, the one inside was Megumi Hideaki, and the fourth one, Star Sea Bond, lost its strength and retreated!"

Since becoming a horse owner, I've watched countless races.

Various memories overlap and intertwine, and many things have gradually become blurred.

But this one moment is unforgettable for a lifetime—

A tenacious chestnut-colored figure emerged from the innermost lane.

Beneath the green mask, burning in his eyes, is the indomitable fighting spirit of this little warrior.

The next moment, the three racehorses crossed the finish line one after another in front of us.

"Approaching the finish line, the result is Christmas Day—"

"Second place, the soul of gold."

"The third place is Bai Yingxiong, and the fourth place is Xinghai Jiban."

"Representing Ireland on Christmas Day, win a Longines Hong Kong bottle!"

Cheers and sighs rang out at the same time, but were quickly followed by a round of applause for the winner.

Kitano's gaze lingered on the flashing bulletin board.

"We still lost—"

Take a deep breath and cheer yourself up.

It's impossible not to feel frustrated.

However, what is gained from the expedition is more important than the immediate victory or defeat.

"What will that child be like next spring?"

I can't help but have such expectations.

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

"On Christmas Day, Yue Boren attributed his victory over Longines Hong Kong Bottle to Rodden's careful adherence to tactics."

——HKJC
"[@nar_keiba：

[Hong Kong Bottle]

Atalanta Mejiro, representing NAR in the Hong Kong tournament, ultimately achieved a three-piece result befitting her popularity.
Majima Daisuke

"She demonstrated good running ability in this race and showed significant improvement in her mental state, which is a great achievement of the goals set before the expedition."

Next year, turf races will still be a priority, and the specific route will be decided after discussions with the horse owners.

- National Association of Racing (NAR) Formula

(End of this chapter)