Hokkaido Horse Racing Story

He is the airport pick-up staff of the event organizer.

We took a shuttle car from the airport and drove along Dubai Creek for about twenty minutes.

The last place we arrived at was the Medan Hotel next to the crescent-shaped stand of the Medan Stadium.

Although it was still early to move in, the event organizers still provided the camp with luxurious accommodation in single rooms.

After getting off the bus, we arrived at the hotel room smoothly.

Before leaving, the staff who picked us up at the airport enthusiastically recommended the famous Dubai Mall.

After repeatedly thanking the other party for their cooperation, Kitano checked the luggage that had been checked in in advance.

There are no missing or omitted parts.

After packing my luggage, I only moved the necessary personal belongings into the cross-body bag.

I arrived at the hotel lobby and sat down in a spot where the air conditioning was just right.

Pick up the phone to send or receive various messages, and then plan the afternoon schedule.

The last fan meeting in Dubai was unexpectedly well received.

In addition to local fans who came from afar, it seems that it also attracted some horse fans from other countries and local areas.

This time, Kitano rented the conference room of the Medan Hotel in advance.

In addition to the usual free peripheral gifts, he also hopes to have a dialogue with horse fans.

However, oil shortage is a big enemy.

In order to avoid creating famous scenes like "opening champagne at halftime", such activities should be carried out after the game.

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"Shenwei Anna has arrived safely in Dubai! The Horse of the Year is ready to win and join the championship race this new season!!!"

——TDN

"It's a rare opportunity for us to participate in such a high-level competition. It's a great chance to showcase horse racing and strengthen connections with horse fans."

This young horse breeder, who is less than 30 years old, always has confidence in his beloved horse.

"We have a good chance of winning the match," he said, "but the key to victory lies in Mejiro Sakuya herself."

——《Id○l Horse》- Column 《New Horse Breeders Take the Reins and Step into the World》

byMo Jinxian

Chapter 186 The winner’s secret strategy

In the early morning, the Japanese expeditionary forces arrived at the international stables one after another.

Before the formal training began, the staff gathered in groups of two or three to chat quietly.

"Today is still track adaptation training, the key is folding."

The corridor seemed somewhat empty with sporadic conversations.

With a click, Huangshan put down the tablet in his hand and had already arranged today's training.

Ogawa Katsu, who was acting as a temporary translator, immediately spoke up and relayed the trainer's arrangements to the jockey, Kim Mi-ki.

However, there was a slight pause when translating the word "fold".

The translation that was finally used was “tacit understanding”.

"Field adaptation and tacit understanding training? Got it."

Jin Meiqi nodded decisively.

Walking out of the air-conditioned stable, the female rider began to exercise.

Inside the stable, Mejiro Sakuya was still leaning against the wall, yawning with half-closed eyes.

"Time to get up, Sakuya."

Ogawa Katsu patted the deer-haired horse's neck and whispered into her furry ears.

After another long yawn, Mejiro Sakuya finally slowly opened her eyes.

Even when he was putting on the saddle, the laziness on his face still did not disappear.

At first, the camp was worried that it was due to lack of sleep.

However, the dark circles around the eyes did not increase, and the appetite seemed to have become a little bigger.

seem--

I'm just simply clinging to the air conditioning.

"Please work hard today too."

While doing stretching exercises, Ogawa Katsu asked with a smile.

The deer-haired horse shook its ears and rubbed its head slightly as if it was acting coquettishly.

“Okay, done!”

After clapping his hands, Xuhe Sheng opened the iron gate completely.

So, Jin Meiqi changed into her riding clothes, walked into the stable, and jumped lightly onto the horse's back.

"Good morning."

She touched Mejiro Sakuya's neck as a greeting.

“Hopefully today will go well too.”

As they spoke, the female rider and mare walked out of the stable.

He left the stables through the web of gazes formed by the stable attendants and training assistants.

It was still dark outside.

Kitano, who was waiting at the entrance of the track, raised his wrist and saw the time was 4:52.

The sunrise in Dubai in mid-March is around 5:20, so it’s still dark.

However, the skin was already stuffy and a thin layer of sweat was seeping out.

After sunrise, the temperature will rise rapidly.

It is with this in mind that we start our morning training a little earlier.

"Ready, Boss!"

Zep, who was holding a laptop in his hand, shouted from a distance.

In addition to his job as a hoof trimmer, Zepp will also serve as Mejiro Sakuya's gait analyst this time.

The real-time motion model built by a German hoof trimmer is enough to help the camp intuitively feel any subtle changes in Mejiro Sakuya's gait.

For a racehorse that once suffered from lameness, this help was invaluable in completely correcting its gait within six months after the operation.

"Good morning, Mr. Kitano."

Jin Meiqi nodded slightly, then rode her horse onto the track.

"I'll leave you here today too."

Kitano waved his hand, and the shadows of the man and the horse became longer and longer under the light.

Amid the beeping sounds of monitoring equipment along the way, Jin Meiqi began her morning exercises without distraction.

After finishing all the riding in February, this popular female rider decisively rejected more commissions from Japan.

During the few days in Dubai, in addition to training personally with Mejiro Sakuya, he would go to the track to inspect the horse farm almost every day.

For a rider, competing on a familiar track and an unfamiliar track are almost two completely different situations.

Once the match begins, intuition and experience from previous matches usually become the decisive factors.

"That's really amazing——"

I heard such a sigh.

Turning around, I saw Master Yahagi preparing for his next training session.

"That's right."

It was rare that Kitano didn't say anything humble and nodded in affirmation.

Although it wasn't an all-out training, Mejiro Sakuya's gait looked pretty good.

Being calm and composed in normal times, but able to show fighting instincts during competitions, this kind of temperament is actually the most ideal talent for a racehorse.

but--

For Mejiro Sakuya, only the first half can be achieved.

Including the former main rider Wada, everyone who has ridden her has more or less expressed the feeling that "this is a racehorse that requires a lot of effort."

However, in reality, Mejiro Sakuya is not the type that is difficult to control as people imagine.

"It's very docile and not too difficult to ride."

This is the feeling of the newly appointed main rider Kim Mei-ki.

Although it is generally considered to be an exaggeration to please the camp, it is not the case in the eyes of trainer Yahagi.

"Rather than an experienced rider like Taketoyo, Mejiro Sakuya needs a partner who can unleash the vitality within her."

After observing Mejiro Sakuya's training several times, I came to this conclusion.

British female riders, who are still under doubt, seem to be ready for such a job.

"Please show some mercy then, President Kitano."

The trainer, wearing a red bowler hat, raised his hands half-jokingly.

"I won't be soft-hearted."

Kitano also jokingly made the "aim and shoot" gesture.

The reporters who were yawning on the sidelines perked up and pressed the shutter button to capture this scene.

"It seems to be going a little smoother than last time."

"That's right, but the trajectory of the right hind hoof is still..."

On the other side, Zepu and Huangshan, holding personal computers in their hands, huddled together and whispered something.

After the training, Ogawa Sheng, who had been prepared, picked up the leash and walked towards the exit of the track.

After taking off the helmet, Jin Meiqi smiled and touched the deer-haired horse's head.

"She's on good footing, just like she was the other day."

After getting off the horse, the female rider praised Mejiro Sakuya without hesitation.

After fastening the leash, Ogawa Masaru led the slightly steaming Mejiro Sakuya to a cooler area.

"Well done, Sakuya."

He couldn't help but touch the head of the deer-haired horse that kept rubbing against him.

After arriving at the cooling area, several Japanese stable boys who volunteered to help picked up the spray hoses.

"really--"

"Deer hair isn't suitable for bathing."

Such words caused laughter among the stable boys.

From the other end of the crescent-shaped stand, you can look up and see the desert dawn stretching all the way from Dubai Creek.

It's a sunny day.

It should be hot today too.

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"The expedition is indeed very exhausting, but if you want to win the game, it's better to prepare as thoroughly as possible."

"I'm not entirely sure about the specific tactics, but perhaps a bolder positioning further forward could yield unexpected results."