Chapter 40. Desperate Japanese Oaks Part 1
The results of this week's Japanese Oaks were not entirely surprising. Isono Roubles, the top favorite for the Oka Sho who had only managed to finish fifth there, rebounded strongly in the Japanese Oaks, edging out the Oka Sho winner, Sister Tosho, by a nose. Shuta had predicted this outcome with remarkable accuracy. After all, he had already witnessed the race unfold once in the Dream World. Although he had become the Oaks-winning jockey with Scarlet Bouquet in that world, he had done nothing involving Scarlet Bouquet in this reality.
And Scarlet Bouquet's fifth-place finish further confirmed something for Shuta An.
"I really can change the worldline."
That realization gave him much to think about. Considering the time difference between the real world and the Dream World, he increasingly felt that there were still many secrets waiting to be uncovered there.
However, before exploring any of that, Shuta An needed to devote his attention to preparing for next week's Japanese Derby. Using that as a perfectly valid excuse, he estimated that he could finally enjoy several nights of proper sleep during the upcoming Derby week.
"But tonight, in the Dream World, I'll be riding Vega in the Japanese Oaks."
The young man went to bed early and closed his eyes. Since he had already informed Oguri Cap and Berno Light beforehand, he was not worried about being ambushed in his sleep.
"In reality, I've already achieved the honor of an Undefeated Triple Tiara. I want to strive for that achievement in the Dream World as well."
The excitement ignited within him once more after winning the Oka Sho.
After all, he had already become an undefeated Triple Crown jockey alongside Tokai Teio. If he could now claim the undefeated Triple Tiara with Vega this year, then Shuta An, having simultaneously achieved the distinctions of conquering all Eight Major Races, winning an Undefeated Triple Crown, and winning an Undefeated Triple Tiara, would effectively stand at the pinnacle of achievement in JRA jockey history.
Although Shuta An was a Kansai jockey, he still received six riding requests at Tokyo Racecourse today. Four of those rides, including Vega, came from the Yoshida family of Shadai.
Yutaka Take also received six mounts, though only two races overlapped with Shuta An's schedule: the Japanese Oaks and a One-Win Class race for four-year-olds and up.
"Finally, I don't have to compete with Ann-san for prize money in every race today."
Yutaka Take looked genuinely pleased.
"Kanto jockeys aren't pushovers. Be careful not to get taught a lesson by Okabe-san and Minami-san."
Shuta An casually reminded his friend.
"Compared to racing against Okabe-san and Minami-san, I'm far more worried about racing against Ann-san. I'm fairly confident I can beat those two."
Yutaka Take spread his hands.
"After all, I'm currently ahead of them by five wins and sixteen wins respectively in the jockey standings."
"That's true."
After thinking about it for a moment, Shuta An admitted that Yutaka Take had a point.
His first ride of the day came in Tokyo Racecourse's fourth race, a 1600-meter turf maiden event. His mount was Ice Dance.
The horse had already run twice, losing by 0.9 seconds and 1.3 seconds respectively, before the Shadai Racehorse Club decided to ask Shuta An to give him a try. Since he rarely received quality opportunities in Kanto, he accepted without hesitation.
Originally, Shuta An had not expected to win.
However, Ice Dance maintained a solid senko position throughout the race, and his response after turning into the final straight along the rail was surprisingly sharp. Sensing the opportunity, the young man immediately became more aggressive, significantly increasing his urging. At the finish line, Ice Dance managed to overtake the leader and secure victory by a neck.
After returning to the jockeys' room, Shuta An quietly summarized the race in his mind.
"It looks like today's Tokyo turf favors horses racing near the front."
His second ride came in the fifth race, a 1400-meter turf One-Win Class event. This time, he partnered Gentle Lady, a horse owned by Yoshida Teruya, the eldest of the Yoshida brothers.
"She ran 2000 meters at Tokyo earlier this month and finished near the back. They've cut her distance dramatically and asked me to try again."
As he left the jockeys' room, he formed his own conclusion.
"They probably want to determine whether she's reached her limit."
When the race was over, his assessment remained unchanged.
"She's reached her limit."
Crossing the finish line, Shuta An muttered to himself.
"There was almost no response at all. Whether I used the whip or increased my urging, the feedback was terrible."
After finishing only eleventh, he found himself somewhat frustrated.
That frustration carried into his third ride of the day, the eighth race at Tokyo Racecourse, the Shonan Special, another 1400-meter turf event. This time his partner was Canal Water, owned by the Japan Diners Club and managed by Yoshida Katsumi.
Despite suffering a slow start from the gate, Shuta An unleashed a relentless attack once the field entered Tokyo's long final straight. Swinging his whip in a powerful windmill motion while driving fiercely with his free hand, he guided Canal Water past fourteen rivals in one sweeping outside charge, snatching victory in spectacular fashion.
The performance did not go unnoticed.
Several jockeys scheduled to compete in the Japanese Oaks later that day began reconsidering their understanding of the track conditions.
"Could today's Tokyo course actually be favorable for late closers?"
Many jockeys arrived at that conclusion. Even Yutaka Take briefly entertained the thought.
But he quickly dismissed it.
"One race proves nothing. Especially when it's Ann-san making a sweeping move from the outside."
He shook his head.
"Ann-san doesn't need favorable track conditions to pull off something like that."
Before the Japanese Oaks, Shuta An's final ride of the day came in the Kamakura Special, a 1600-meter dirt Two-Win Class race.
His mount was Kiseki Saami.
The horse itself was unremarkable, but its owner certainly was not.
Osamu Satomi, president of Sammy Corporation, whose business empire centered on pachinko and video games, possessed assets approaching one hundred billion yen. By any standard, he was an influential figure.
Yet in horse racing, he was still a newcomer.
He had held a horse owner's license for only two years, and Kiseki Saami was the sole horse under his ownership.
According to his own words, he was not particularly interested in horse racing.
Nevertheless, today was the Japanese Oaks, and he had still come to the racecourse.
Since Kiseki Saami was also competing, he naturally had access to the invited guests' viewing area.
As a result, Osamu Satomi personally witnessed Shuta An deliver one of the rare victories of his horse-owning career.
"How about it? Shuta-kun is impressive, isn't he?"
Recognizing Osamu Satomi, Yoshida Katsumi took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
"He certainly is."
Knowing Kiseki Saami's actual ability, Osamu Satomi nodded slightly.
"He's genuinely impressive."
After returning to the jockeys' waiting room, Shuta An headed straight for the restroom.
While washing his hands outside, Yutaka Take wandered over.
"Ann-san, give me a hint, will you? Is today's Oaks favoring senko runners or closers?"
The question came shamelessly, but Shuta An was not surprised in the slightest. He knew very well that Yutaka Take had always been thick-skinned when it came to gathering information before a race.
"I'm planning to lead."
The young man casually fabricated an answer.
Naturally, Yutaka Take did not believe a single word of it. Grinning broadly, he replied:
"Then I'll just stick behind Vega and make a break for it."
Shuta An did not believe that either.
However, he could easily infer what Yutaka Take was actually thinking. For this Japanese Oaks, his friend intended to mark Vega throughout the race.
"But it doesn't matter."
The young man remained completely unconcerned.
"The reason Hokuto Vega wasn't chosen for this race is simple. Vega has far too much of an advantage over 2400 meters."
Later, in the actual race, Shuta An intended to teach his good friend a practical lesson—
Never casually mark an overwhelming favorite.
—
In this year's Japanese Oaks, Vega drew gate thirteen. With eighteen Racehorse entered, it was undeniably a wide outside draw.
However, Shuta An had no intention of letting the gate position influence his opening tactics.
After entering the starting gate, he calmly surveyed the competitors around him.
To his inside in gate twelve stood Osumi Sunshine, who had been defeated by Vega by 2.9 seconds in the Oka Sho. To his outside in gate fourteen was Hokuto Vega.
Their jockeys were Kawachi Hiroshi and Yutaka Take—the master and his apprentice.
"If I play conservatively here, it'll be too easy for those two to work together against me."
The thought only strengthened his resolve.
Meanwhile, before entering the gate, Yutaka Take was also considering Shuta An's possible strategy.
Under normal circumstances, he believed Shuta An would allow Vega to cut diagonally inward early, settle into a sashi position somewhere in the middle of the pack, and wait patiently.
At the same time, however, he worried that Shuta An might do the exact opposite and aggressively secure an early position, disrupting the pace and preventing Hokuto Vega from marking him effectively.
Caught between those possibilities, Yutaka Take found himself unable to decide.
If he misread Shuta An's intentions at the break, then in his eyes, the race would effectively be over before it even began.
Their friendship was genuine, but once they stepped onto the racecourse, neither man had any intention of handing victory to the other.
What Shuta An had done to him in the Spring Tenno Sho still lingered in his memory.
And Yutaka Take very much wanted to return the favor.
As Yutaka Take's senior, Kawachi Hiroshi understood his apprentice's thoughts without needing them spoken aloud.
Already settled in the gate, he turned and gave Shuta An a nod.
The young man smiled and nodded back.
"Osumi Sunshine led in the Oka Sho and was crushed."
Shuta An quietly analyzed the situation.
"This time, if nothing unexpected happens, Kawachi-san should choose a more conservative stalking approach. Of course, there's also the possibility that he and Take-san try to trap me together."
No matter what happened, though, he remained confident.
It was the confidence of a champion jockey.
Once Yutaka Take entered the starting gate, he finally made up his mind.
"No matter what happens, Hokuto Vega has to be aggressive."
After the gates opened, he intended to push immediately and secure position.
At the same time, he noticed something.
Shuta An had not shortened the reins.
There was no sign that he intended to use his famous technique for improving a horse's break from the gate.
"I should be able to get in front."
Yutaka Take felt confident.
Then the gates sprang open.
Click!
All eighteen elite fillies exploded forward.
"How is that possible?!"
Yutaka Take's eyes widened.
Almost instantly, Vega's powerful hindquarters appeared directly ahead and slightly to his left.
For a brief moment, he was completely stunned.
His body continued urging Hokuto Vega forward purely out of instinct.
Kawachi Hiroshi, who had planned to settle farther back, was equally surprised.
Because he had seen clearly that Shuta An had done nothing unusual.
Vega had simply launched from the gate like a projectile, bursting cleanly through the gap between Osumi Sunshine and Hokuto Vega before either could interfere.
"Vega breaks brilliantly from the gate! Shuta An immediately claims a forward position! It looks like Vega will race prominently today! Such an aggressive strategy in her first 2400-meter race—Shuta An Jockey clearly has tremendous confidence in his partner!"
The commentator's voice rang across the racecourse.
Of course he was confident.
Vega entered the race as the overwhelming favorite at odds of 2.4.
Shuta An had no reason to be timid.
Besides, while it was Vega's first attempt at 2400 meters, the same was true for nearly every other filly in the field.
Everyone was facing the same challenge.
And Shuta An firmly believed that fortune favored the bold.
With that thought in mind, he paid no attention whatsoever to Yutaka Take's efforts to shadow him.
He simply guided Vega inward from the outside draw with a gradual diagonal movement.
By the time he had pinned Yukino Bijin, the Oka Sho runner-up and hometown star from Morioka, along the rail, Vega had already secured fourth position.
It was an ideal spot.
Meanwhile, Yutaka Take guided Hokuto Vega into fifth, directly behind Vega.
Before the race, Trainer Nakano had given him no tactical instructions whatsoever.
The trainer had simply explained Hokuto Vega's current condition and entrusted all strategic decisions to him.
This was Yutaka Take's answer.
Mark Vega.
As the field reached the end of the homestretch and approached the first turn, Shuta An glanced behind him.
Yutaka Take showed no intention of advancing there.
Seeing that, Shuta An merely continued his steady ride.
He did not ask Vega to accelerate.
If Yutaka Take attempted to move up and block him here, then Shuta An would simply reverse the situation and mark Hokuto Vega instead.
After all, there were still more than 1700 meters remaining.
Plenty of time to properly educate his good friend.
"But looking at it this way, Take-san really intends to follow me all the way."
Shuta An smiled inwardly.
"That means he'll watch closely for the moment I choose to accelerate, then ask Hokuto Vega to launch from behind."
His smile widened.
"A clever plan."
"But as long as Vega and Hokuto Vega never make physical contact, can he really be certain Hokuto Vega can match Vega's speed?"
There was a reason Shuta An had previously suggested that Hokuto Vega pursue dirt racing.
Compared to Vega, Hokuto Vega did not possess the same raw speed. What she possessed instead was superior strength and power.
Because of that, Shuta An understood the matchup perfectly.
Against Yutaka Take's marking strategy, all he needed to do was ensure that Vega accelerated smoothly and avoided becoming entangled with Hokuto Vega.
As long as those conditions were met, the outcome was inevitable.
Even if Yutaka Take swung the whip hard enough to break the sound barrier, Hokuto Vega would never catch Vega.