Hokkaido Horse Racing Story

When we arrived at the semi-circular Kuchitori venue, we were already surrounded by a sea of ​​horse racing fans.

Amidst the surging crowd, Mejiro Sakuya ignored all the noise and took a step forward.

Even when Kim Mi-ki and Ogawa Shokai got off the saddle, they showed a relieved expression as if saying, "Ah, it's finally over."

The horse racing fans watching the scene all raised their phones with smiles on their faces.

In the brightly lit Meidan Arena, Cinderella spreads her wings under the night sky.

Horse fans looked at her with gentle eyes, expecting her mane to welcome the wind of the new era.

At the commendation ceremony that followed, Kitano and Chief Mohammed, who presented the award in person, jointly held up the horse-shaped statue.

Judging from its miniature shape, it must be made of pure gold.

Master Huangshan didn't know where he got the strength from, but he lifted the huge-looking Dubai World Cup trophy by himself.

Kim Maggie played with the ceremonial whip given as a souvenir, and waved to the horse racing fans in the audience from time to time.

After the last commendation ceremony ended, the crowd did not disperse.

The broadcast in the stadium sounded, telling stakeholders and spectators that the drone show and fireworks were about to begin.

So, everyone holding trophies of all sizes stood there and looked up at the night sky.

It is a bit regrettable that they cannot take out their mobile phones like the horse fans next to them and record this precious moment in their memories in the form of photos or videos.

Not long after, brilliant beams of light of various colors suddenly shot into the sky.

After a dazzling circling, countless drones formed the words "DUBAI WORLD CUP" in the sky.

Then, more drones flew into the sky and soon gathered into a galloping horse.

The scene erupted in cheers of "Wow," as well as exclamations of "Amazing!" and "So beautiful!"

These sounds seemed to serve as signals, and colorful fireworks of all sizes bloomed one after another in the night sky.

The dazzling LED lights divide the sky, and there are gorgeous lights and sounds everywhere.

"Just like Shibuya—"

Huangshan, holding the trophy, suddenly let out such a sigh.

"Yes."

Kitano then showed an expression of agreement.

It's like Shibuya on Halloween, a gorgeous scene.

"It's really beautiful."

Having said this, Kitano left the scene before the fireworks display officially ended.

Just like the streets of Shibuya are littered with garbage after Halloween, the Midan Stadium will be a mess after the fireworks display.

The pungent smell of gunpowder has begun to spread in the air.

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Rank: 1

Rating: 130

Mejiro Sakuya

Year of Birth: 2023

Gender: F

Owner: Sachi Kitano

Trainer: Hatsunori Arayama

Training location: JPN

Course: I

Venue: D

------

Ranking: 2

Rating: 129

Thorpedo Anna

Year of Birth: 2021

Gender: M

Owners: Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards et al

Trainer: Kenneth McPeek

Training location: USA

Course: I

Venue: D"

——Longines World's Best Racehorse Ranking

September 2027, 1 to February 1, 2027

Dubai World Cup Night - Joint Meeting

·Mejiro Sakuya will continue her active role next year

The Breeders' Cup is a likely target for the end of the year, but other considerations are also on the table.

"This race was more physically demanding than expected. We will stay in Dubai for a few days until she fully recovers before returning to Japan.

The primary goal in the next phase is recuperation."

——《n○tkeiba》

Newly appointed rider Rachel King rode Mejiro Sakuya to victory over a strong field that included Brian Hernandez Jr.'s Anna of Power and Sakai Ryusei's Forever Young to become the first female jockey and filly combination to win the Dubai World Cup.

——《Id○l Horse》Review of the top five global news stories last week (270329)

Thanks to the well-known braised pork for the 500 starting coins, and thanks to the wanton flying for the 1000 starting coins.

Thank you for your support

Ciallo～(∠ω<)⌒★

Chapter 194 Late Night After the Game

That night——

To be precise, it was the night after the Dubai World Cup.

Although it was late at night, there were still a large number of people lingering in the stadium.

Looking out from the conference room of the Medan Hotel, there were so many people queuing that they formed a continuous line.

It's a passion separate from the game itself.

Kitano's stock of commemorative T-shirts and themed baseball caps is dwindling.

Just as he was covering his mouth and yawning, the next horse fan in line took a step forward.

Kitano swallowed his tiredness and forced a smile.

"It's okay to take as much as you want, both clothes and hats."

However, the other party waved his hand in confusion.

"I've already purchased the baseball cap and pendant from the ranch's official website."

Words poured out of the horse fans' mouths like a machine gun.

"So, if it's okay, can I just take the shirt?"

Before he finished speaking, the horse fan bowed hard as if he wanted to break his waist, and the huge mountaineering bag on his back swayed.

"It's okay, please take care of yourself."

Kitano's expression became a little subtle.

Speaking of which, I just received news from the ranch—

The Mejiro Sakuya merchandise that was just restocked this month was sold out before the game even ended.

Whether it is Mejiro Shoji or the ranch, even Kitano’s own social media accounts have seen many requests for quick replenishment, some of which even come from overseas accounts.

From this point of view alone, this expedition was not in vain.

On the other side, a horse fan who had been given permission carefully picked up a set of T-shirts, and then opened the backpack behind him somewhat embarrassedly.

What was taken out was a horse puppet that hadn't even been unpacked.

He tore off a corner of the plastic wrapper, handed it over, and nervously asked, "Could President Kitano please sign here?"

"Ah, no problem."

Kitano nodded, picked up the pen and skillfully wrote his name on the mini winning flag of the horse puppet.

It's a little difficult.

and--

Can you really see clearly like this?

With such doubts in mind, Kitano raised his head.

However, the horse fan bowed while holding the signed horse doll, and then blended into the crowd behind him like a whirlwind.

Although Kitano still wanted to chat with him for a few more minutes.

Although the peripheral parts were distributed smoothly, the dialogue party was a complete failure.

After the game, most of the local participants, including Kitano himself, were exhausted.

Even in the queue extending from the conference room, yawning sounds could be heard from time to time.

In the end, I had no choice but to try to say a few words to the horse fans when distributing peripheral products.

But so far, the results seem to be less than ideal.

“Would it be better if it were a podcast?”

Kitano thought back to his time competing in the Kentucky Derby.

Churchill Park seems to be very keen to interact with horse fans in this way.

However, the current Mejiro Ranch really does not have the manpower to do this kind of thing.

The ranch's new employee, who was a trainee of the JBBA (Japan Light Breeding Horse Association), will have to wait until next month to officially start work.

If the work of the breeding season had not been almost entirely entrusted to the Gumoya Ranch in Ireland, the ranch would probably be completely overwhelmed by now.

"thank you for your support."

While signing the support scarf handed to him by the fans, Kitano continued his previous thoughts.

Just after the game ended, I received a lot of congratulatory calls and text messages.

Many of them advised him to expand the scale of the ranch and even buy back the Laomubai Ranch.

However, Kitano has a clear understanding of his own abilities.

At least for now, managing this small ranch with only five people and less than ten horses is already his limit.

and--

If the ranch is built according to his standards, it is hard to say how long he can squander even the Dubai World Cup winning prize that has not yet been won.

As early as the first month of the year before the competition, Kitano had actually formulated three ranch development plans based on the possible outcomes of the competition.

Leaving aside the other two abandoned cases, even in the optimistic situation of winning the tens of millions of dollars prize, he has no intention of expanding aggressively.

Kitano's general plan for ranch construction this year is to purchase about five high-quality mares and continue to improve the infrastructure of Mejiro Ranch Mitsuishi.

but--