Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 98 Inside and Outside

Mr. Caesar withdraws from the competition

On the mobile phone screen, Yahagi, the representative of Mr. Caesar's camp, was explaining his reasons for withdrawing from the competition with a gloomy face.

"It's not a state where you can leave."

Although the reason was announced, it inevitably led to various associations from the outside world.

Avoid the happy times when momentum is high -

Perhaps it was because of this consideration.

"That way, there will be one less strong competitor."

Putting down the phone, Kitano pursed his lips and nodded slightly.

However, it is not time to let down our guard yet.

On the other hand, Happy Time's trainer Yue Boren also accepted an interview with the media earlier.

"It's top-notch in every way and has all the potential to become a superstar."

There is no doubt that these remarks are exaggerated, and even Yue Boren himself would not take them seriously.

But since it came from the mouth of the world's top horse trainer, the opponents had to be more alert.

"It's time, Kitano-san!"

Ogawa Masaru shouted as he awkwardly adjusted the position of his tie.

Kana Ogawa, who couldn't bear to watch, curled her lips and helped him tie his tie again neatly.

The leather shoes, polished to the point of reflecting light, rubbed against the floor.

After taking a deep breath, Kitano raised his head——

"lets go."

All six members of the camp will attend the gate draw this evening.

We took the hotel's private car, drove through the streets that were always bustling like Shibuya, and headed to the open-air venue for the lottery.

Following the staff's guidance, I walked through the crowd, and my ears were filled with the whispered conversations of different camps.

Suits and headscarves of various colors filled the seats below the stage.

Kitano and his group were seated in the NAR seats, across an aisle from the JRA camp.

They were the only NAR faction in the field.

As my back just touched the leather of the seat, the previously silent screen on the stage lit up with green fluorescence.

The non-alcoholic bubbles lazily burst in the highball glass, and Kitano sipped the champagne provided by the venue.

After a round of applause, a chief whose name was unknown finally finished his speech before the draw.

"First up is the gate draw for the Saudi Derby, a top-tier international race with a total purse of $1.5 million."

Unconsciously, my heart began to beat faster.

Perhaps for the entire Saudi Cup match day, the Saudi Derby is just a warm-up event.

But in the eyes of the six people in Mejiro Sakuya's camp, this is the top priority at the moment.

"First up is the Togen Tea House from Japan."

As the note in the chief's hand slowly unfolded, several people in the camp breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

The first draw was still too exciting.

Trainer Hori Nobuyuki, representing the camp, trotted onto the stage.

Without hesitation, he picked up the piece of paper on the top of the glass jar and subconsciously adjusted his glasses before unfolding it.

"Number five, gate number five."

The host loudly announced the results of the lottery for Taoyuan Tea House.

At the same time, the first name appeared in the bare column on the screen.

【Arcadia Cafe】

Due to Mr. Caesar's temporary withdrawal, there are only 11 horses running in this Saudi Derby.

There was sparse applause from the audience.

Kitano clapped his hands perfunctorily.

After the opponent takes away the good gates, the probability of the remaining bad gates will naturally increase.

Even he could quickly figure out such a simple truth.

As for good gates and bad gates——

"As long as it's not the first or eleventh one."

Arashiyama's expression wasn't particularly tense. Meguro Sakuya was a racehorse that had almost no requirements regarding starting positions.

Anyway, no matter which gate position you start from, your initial direction will be at least one step slower than others.

If you go in with this kind of awareness, the pressure of the gate selection will naturally be reduced a lot.

Even starting from the outermost gate 11, it was a situation that Mejiro Sakuya could handle.

However, if the gate position is too far inboard, it is not ideal.

Although there is no need to worry too much about tonnage, both Kitano and others in the camp hope that the match will be carried out in a way that avoids physical collisions.

After the Taoyuan Tea House in the fifth position, other camps successively drew the fourth and seventh positions.

The two first prizes, "One" and "Eleven", are getting closer and closer to the rest of the people.

"Next up, a joyous occasion in Ireland."

For the Happy Time team, the gate positions will be drawn by trainer Yue Boren.

The man wearing square-framed glasses strode onto the stage.

Staring at the familiar stern face, Kitano narrowed his eyes slightly.

Yue Boren picked up a piece of paper at random and unfolded it without hesitation.

【11】

The Irish trainer pursed his lips slightly.

There was a burst of laughter and applause from the audience that was far more enthusiastic than before.

"How do you feel about being drawn into this position?"

The host handed the microphone to Yue Boren.

“I believe it has the ability to overcome challenges of this magnitude.”

Yue Boren shrugged his shoulders and answered in a rather relaxed tone.

However, when he stepped down, the Irish trainer's face showed obvious depression.

"The next one is Sakuya Mejiro from Japan."

It was Wada who stood up as the camp representative.

Before this, Huangshan, as a horse trainer, resolutely declined this task.

"In this kind of situation, please spare someone like me who has a connection with pink."

It’s hard to say whether it’s fate or bad karma, but in any case, Huangshan has been drawn to relatively far-out gate positions in recent important competitions.

Wada, dressed in a black suit, stepped into the spotlight.

Now that the eleventh gate on the outer side has been taken away, the only gate that can be considered broken is the one on the innermost side.

With a one in seven probability, it's impossible for this to really happen, right?
Kitano clenched his fingertips slightly.

After taking a deep breath, the rider took out a note under the guidance of the translator.

Then, he slowly spread out the paper facing the audience.

【1】

A burst of laughter, no less loud than before, reached my ears clearly.

Several people in the camp sighed almost at the same time.

"This is really a difficult situation."

Ogawa Kana, who was lying on the table, said in a ghostly voice.

Kitano rubbed his swollen temples and lay down on the table.

Bad guesses are always easier to come true.

Even in Saudi Arabia overseas, Murphy's Law is still at work.

"terribly sorry."

After returning to the camp, Wada, who had just finished the gate position draw, apologized to everyone with a wry smile.

In just a few seconds, the camp's efforts over the past month and a half might be ruined.

perhaps--

All his life's luck must have been spent on his encounter with that horse.

　Thanks to Reckless Flying for the 500 starting coins, thanks to book friend 20230515114556659 for the 100 starting coins, thanks to Maomao Chi Cheng Zhu Zhu for the 300 starting coins

　　Thank you for your support

　　Ciallo～(∠ω<)⌒★
　　
　
(End of this chapter)