Chapter 36. Meticulous Arrangement
The outcome was as Shuta An wished.
"AGNES PARADE! IT IS AGNES PARADE INDEED! ANOTHER DOMESTIC G1 FOR SHUTA AN THIS YEAR! IT IS RUMORED THAT THE FOAL OF AGNES PARADE'S MOTHER'S HALF-SISTER, AIR GROOVE, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED BY HER HORSE OWNER TO BE RIDDEN BY SHUTA AN IN THE FUTURE. NOW IT SEEMS LIKE A WISE DECISION! SHUTA AN HAS HELPED THIS AIR LADY'S FILLY LINE ADD ANOTHER NEW G1 WINNER!"
"The rider change was a great success."
Nagahama Hiroshi murmured—he hadn't advocated for the change, but now, seeing Shuta An win the Japanese Oaks, he could only sigh.
Nagahama Hiroshi knew that if Kawachi Hiroshi had remained the rider, it would have been very difficult to win today's race. After all, even with Shuta An, Agnes parade only won by half a length in the end, a gap that a slightly weaker jockey could easily lose.
"But will Agnes Parade be tied to Shuta An from now on?"
Nagahama Hiroshi wasn't entirely willing, as his relationship with Kawachi Hiroshi was better than with Shuta An. Now that Shuta An had achieved results with Agnes Parade, Nagahama Hiroshi wasn't sure if Kawachi Hiroshi would ever get to ride Agnes Parade again.
But after he arrived at the underground passage and heard Shuta An's first sentence, Nagahama Hiroshi felt relieved.
"This should be my last time riding Agnes Parade. I won't be in Japan during the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, so you'll have to find another jockey."
"Thank you, Shuta-kun! With such results, Agnes Parade will not have to worry about rider issues for any future races."
Although Horse Owner Mr. Watanabe was regretful, he knew that getting a jockey of Shuta An's caliber in such a race was purely a stroke of luck, and it would be impossible to keep him long-term.
"It's a pity Agnes Parade isn't a Racehorse like Tokai Teio, unable to capture Shuta-kun's heart."
Watanabe sighed softly as he watched Shuta An leave.
Nagahama Hiroshi also blushed. He had previously worried that Shuta An would monopolize Agnes Parade's main jockey position, but the man had never even considered taking it.
"I was still too petty." Nagahama Hiroshi's cheeks burned red. "In the future, for any new Racehorses Mr. Watanabe places with me, I will definitely contact Shuta-kun to ride them."
—
Upon waking up, Shuta An opened his attribute viewer and checked what rewards he had received from the Dream World race last night.
Aside from the usual prize money, a special reward also appeared.
"Tokyo Racecourse: When the trained Uma Musume competes at Tokyo Racecourse, all attributes are slightly increased."
"This is good, this is good, this is good, this is good, this is good, this will increase Rice Shower's chances of winning by another point."
Shuta An muttered to himself.
"Everything is rushing towards me and Rice Shower taking down Mihono Bourbon in the Japanese Derby. If we can't do it, it would be too embarrassing."
However, the only ones who would feel embarrassed would probably be Shuta An and Rice Shower.
Mihono Bourbon's performance in the Satsuki Sho had sent public opinion into a frenzy, and the winner of the Japanese Derby seemed to be already reserved for Mihono Bourbon.
Rice Shower?
She was only considered likely to get second place by a few people because of her origin from Team Sadalsuud.
Shuta offered no comments on public opinion.
Anyway, by now, his goal had evolved from "taking down Mihono Bourbon in the Kikuka Sho" to "taking down Mihono Bourbon in the Japanese Derby."
"Everything depends on how much Rice Shower can perform on Sunday."
—
"Rice, I'll also be there on Sunday for the Japanese Derby to cheer you on."
Zenno Rob Roy, lying in bed, looked at her roommate, who had already changed into sportswear and was about to go out to train, and said.
"Okay."
Rice Shower casually agreed. Whether Zenno Rob Roy went or not wouldn't affect anything, and Rice Shower didn't plan to ask her Trainer to take Zenno Rob Roy to Tokyo Racecourse with them.
Zenno Rob Roy's remark wasn't to ask Rice Shower to get her tickets from Team Sadalsuud's Trainer or to borrow a Box seat. She just wanted to see if she could be a witness to a legendary story.
Just like the poets in her favorite hero stories who were responsible for making heroes widely known.
"If I go to watch the race this time, will I witness a miracle born from Rice?"
Zenno Rob Roy herself wasn't sure.
Although today was Monday and the Japanese Derby was on the weekend, the media had already started to build up the atmosphere. Various newspapers began interviewing the 18 Uma Musume participating in the Japanese Derby, and Rice Shower also received many interview invitations from the media.
Shuta An originally wanted to refuse all of them, but the URA Association contacted him, hoping that each participating Uma Musume would accept at least three media interview invitations. So Shuta simply chose three media outlets with the best relationships for the interviews.
Rice Shower also saw the embarrassment displayed by other Uma Musume competing on Sunday when facing some tricky questions, so the Black Deer-haired Horse Girl was indeed a bit nervous before starting her exclusive interview.
But once the exclusive interview began, Rice Shower quickly relaxed.
"The questions feel so gentle, I was indeed too nervous before."
She thought to herself.
But after all the interviews were completed, hearing other Uma Musume complain and grumble about the reporters, Rice Shower probably guessed why her experience was completely different.
"Trainer pre-screened the media, choosing some reporters who wouldn't create any sensational news but would also make me feel at ease during the interview."
The Black Deer-haired Horse Girl pressed her right hand to her chest.
"Even this small detail was considered for me."
"Trainer is so dedicated to me, I can't shy away anymore." Rice Shower's cheeks flushed. "I will repay him with everything I can do!"
And first, what Rice Shower could strive for was victory in the Japanese Derby.
"I know, I know there's still a big gap between me and Mihono Bourbon right now, so I must make my fighting spirit burn even brighter than hers! I will put everything on the line at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday!"
Rice Shower lowered her head and looked at her legs.
"With these legs, I will give my Trainer, who has taken such meticulous care of me, the sweetest reward!"
The Black Deer-haired Horse Girl vowed in her heart.
—
On the other side, Shuta An brewed a cup of coffee in the activity room.
"Today I need to finish all the training reports and plan Rice Shower's Wednesday chase-up schedule. Considering it's the last week, I should definitely reduce the training intensity."
The young man muttered to himself.
"What I couldn't achieve in the Dream World, I will achieve with my own hands in the real world."
Draining the cup full of Americano, the young man transformed the ingested caffeine into fuel for his fighting spirit, letting it burn brightly.