Eiji Kurisu, a tax accountant,
in an effort to revitalize the temp company, Royal Human,
was asked by Mr. Yutaro Sanno, the head of HR,
to investigate the unprofitable Horse Racing Division
so it could be shut down.
However…
Do you have a dream?
While being messed around with by the president and horse owner, Kozo Sanno…
The value of a horse can't be measured with mere numbers.
This man is your friend, too.
He got to know the joy of horse racing and was captivated by it.
If no owner can be found to take them in,
they'll likely be put down.
Put down?
In order to keep them as racehorses, he went against Yutaro's plan
and decided to help the Horse Racing Division.
This is an act of embezzlement!
Personally,I'd like Mr. Sanno to stay in the horse racing world.
Go!
- Go! - Go!
After seeing a serious race by Royal Fight,
who had just avoided being sold…
For the first time, I've done something that earned someone's gratitude.
Want to come over to my place?
You've got no place to go, right?
I want to win the nation's top Grade I race
and make our horse the best in Japan.
At the Arima Kinen.
Want to give it a try?
In exchange, you must never betray me.
Understood.
He quit his job at the accounting firm and chose to work with Kozo Sanno, but…
The tax accountant acted unexpectedly.
Think about what to do next.
You have to protect that company.
Oh, you're here.
President.
Do you know about him?
I do.
First, read through all the horse documents.
Wait. Look at this.
"Horse Racing Division, Private Secretary."
I had them made for you. Pass them out.
I thought I was to be an accountant.
- Morning. - Good morning.
I'm a tax accountant.
I don't know anything about horses.
It's fine.
Since a tax man is here, everyone will think we're doing fine.
It's camouflage.
What?
Sir, we need to hurry for your next meeting.
Right.
- All right, we're departing at five. - What?
Let's win a G1!
I've prepared a spot for you.
Okay.
HORSE RACING DIVISION
- Welcome home. - Thanks.
Come.
It's your official introduction. Come on.
Is it not to your liking?
What?
You haven't touched the wine at all.
Oh, no.
I shouldn't get drunk.
Why?
- Please drink. - Hey.
Where's Yutaro?
I don't know.
He doesn't even read my messages.
Just like his father.
A workaholic.
A migratory fish that dies if it ever stops.
I'm sorry.
That not all of us could be present here.
Oh, it's nothing. Thank you.
Still, we're lucky.
We were able to find a new manager right away.
And it's someone your type.
- In what way? - Come on.
The obedient type.
He will follow you into hell.
- Come on. - What you're doing is gambling.
Mr. Kurisu, too.
Please control yourself.
Hey. That's enough already.
- Mr. Yamada. - Yes?
- May I get some water? - Yes, Miss.
Well…
I actually have an old friend who's in the ranch business.
Horse ranch?
Yes.
A family farm in Hidaka.
My friend said their role is to protect the possibility of evolution
and pass it on to future generations.
And if so, I think my role
may be to safely advance the president's horses
to the next race.
Sorry, I'm rambling.
You're a cocky one.
On the rocks, sir?
Oh, don't worry about me.
Don't be shy.
Mr. Yamada, I'll have one, water-diluted.
Yes, sir.
You'll have the same, right?
Yes.
- Make his weaker. - Understood.
Let me do it.
YUTARO
It's alright.
I'm tired.
They'll say lots of things about us.
But don't let it get to you.
Our horse division isn't the only one in the red.
How dare they act like they're better than us?
I spent today
going through the documents left by my predecessor, Mr. Kaneshiro.
They were very well-organized.
Does that excuse what he did?
Of course not.
What Mr. Kaneshiro did was inexcusable.
However…
I won't waste those documents and use them in my own way.
There are still lots of things I don't know.
Please bear with me.
Why are you being so formal now?
Uncomfortable situations, like today, are also part of your job.
Don't forget that.
If possible, I'd like to focus only on the horses going forward.
That's a no.
All right, here.
- Cheers. - Yes.
Don't you ever betray me.
Yes.
Mr. Kurisu!
- Yes? - I'll take you home.
- Oh, it's fine! - No.
- No, but… - I'll get scolded.
In that case…
- Sorry for the trouble. - It's fine.
Go ahead.
Please accept this as well.
What?
The president said to give it to you.
He said it's a gift for your new job.
Oh, wow.
- Ms. Takeda! - Hello, sir!
I had Advertising estimate
the cost-effectiveness of our racing business.
These are the results.
Unfortunately,
no matter how much Royal's horses run, they won't be good advertising for us.
And why is that?
They don't win.
Unless a horse wins several famous races, no one will pay attention to it.
You never give up, huh?
The department's continuation was only just approved at the last meeting.
Of course, I respect that.
However, the young employees won't wait.
They say, "We're hounded for KPIs,
while the horses are let off the hook no matter how much they lose."
So I have a proposal.
Win one central race within the year.
Just one win is fine.
Just once.
If a Royal horse gets a win,
we can use that to reassure the young employees.
However, if you can't win even once,
the department will be abolished by the year's end.
- How about it? - Wait!
"Just one win is fine."
You say it so easily.
Even now, hundreds of thousands of horses are working their tails off to win.
Interesting.
Let's try it.
President!
Don't underestimate our horses.
Then I'll take that as your consent.
Just in case.
I know this is a tough first task, but I wish you the best of luck.
Are you sure it's a good idea, President? Agreeing to his proposal.
He didn't say we had to win a G1.
A win in any race is a win.
Don't worry.
We have one that might.
Fight.
At this time, Kozo Sanno owned a total of 11 horses,
including the yearlings he had just purchased.
However, they were mares that had been retired,
mid-level horses whose performances had plateaued,
or two-year-olds troubled by injuries with no clear debut in sight.
Few of them had strategic value.
The only one with potential was the one who finished second in the Niigata race.
Royal Fight.
After the 400-meter mark, Number Four, Royal Fight has gained speed!
From sixth to fifth, now fourth place!
Third place now!
Charging straight! Will Royal Fight make it?
- Go! - Go!
We'll expedite his training
and have Fight run in as many races as possible.
We go to the training center tomorrow.
Get ready to go to Miho.
Yes, sir.
A bit of a special horse.
She has a crooked leg.
That kind of horse usually doesn't sell.
With a leg like that, there's no guarantee they can run.
A racehorse.
Generally, thoroughbreds born in Japan that enter a national race,
are purchased by owners at a breeding farm,
and trained at a specialized facility
to learn the fundamentals of being a racehorse.
In addition, the owner selects a trainer to entrust its care to,
and as the horse grows, it is moved from the farm
to a training center.
Only horses that are registered there can take part in actual races.
Morning, Fight.
For a horse,
this is as tough as entering a top-tier elite school
and overcoming numerous trials to enter society.
Their race starts the moment they are born.
ROYAL IZANA
Quite a view, huh?
Every horse here is elite, trained to win.
Let's go see Tadokoro.
Okay.
Good morning.
That's why I'm telling you to move it up!
It's impossible!
We were preparing for the race in two weeks' time.
Fight can't be ready on time!
First place isn't something you can get so easily!
It's the trainer's job to aim for that, isn't it?
All horses are bred to win.
That's precisely why we must follow the right procedures.
Horses are living creatures. Not machines.
Every horse has its own personality and the right way to train it.
Seeing to that is our job as trainers!
Oh, quit babbling on.
- What? - Fine!
- I'll find another. - What?
- We'll change stables. - What?
- Let's look for another one. - Wait, President! Wait…
I'm so sorry.
I'll consult with him again after he's calmed down.
It's impossible.
I can't work with him!
What?
I've been very patient with him too.
I've had enough of his whims.
If you change Fight, Izana goes with him, right?
No, but…
They need you, Mr. Tadokoro.
It's all right. Another trainer can do just as well.
They're a calm bunch.
I did my best to care for them. My utmost.
But to want a first-place win right away?
No offence to the Hayashida Ranch,
but those horses, they're like commoners, thrown in among the elites.
You should prioritize giving them a good life over trying to win.
Especially Izana.
SORYU CO. CEO
Alright.
Oh, sir.
We just arrived.
No. Thank you.
Okay. Thank you.
This is a horse we purchased at the Hokuryo auction last year.
This one…
It's worth 230 million yen.
I took a look at it and thought it was amazing.
It's stabled at Hokuryo for now,
but I'd like to have this one race as soon as possible.
Why?
They're the type that grows with experience.
If it doesn't see faster horses, it won't try to run fast.
Of course, we must win,
but I'd like to enjoy watching it mature in the races.
With you.
How about it?
Won't you accept one of our offers already, sir?
- Oh, please stop calling me "sir." - A trainer manages racehorses.
There is a limit to the number of racehorses a trainer can manage,
and trainers with many wins naturally receive a lot of requests and good horses.
Do you know Ogino?
What?
Ogino.
The leading trainer last year.
Tateaki Ogino, I think?
I'm afraid I don't.
Do your homework first!
He's the top-ranking trainer right now.
- We're just going to talk to him? - Enough. Just look him up already!
Wow, owners like him are the worst.
Just do as you're told!
I'm sorry.
Excuse me.
Mr. Ogino is extremely busy right now.
It's fine, thank you for making time for us.
It's nothing.
My name is Kurisu.
You manage the Royal horses?
Yes. Oh, the documents.
Mr. Ogino is truly amazing.
Ten horses just for this weekend's races?
I expected nothing less.
These two horses are from the same ranch and were purchased together,
so I figured they should be transferred together.
I apologize.
You came all this way.
Our policy is to meet in person and hear the details.
However right now, Mr. Ogino has no vacancies.
Thank you. We'll try others.
Hey.
Sorry if I'm being nosy, but…
This year's Maiden Race ends in the first week of October, doesn't it?
It does, you know. In October.
Of course, if you miss that, you can still enter other races.
But it will be a harder fight for the horses.
Excuse me.
The Maiden Race, as the name suggests,
is a race for horses that have never won before.
Most horses that haven't won a maiden race by the autumn of their third year
are forced to transfer to local racing or retire.
Oh, excuse me.
Is Mr. Sugimoto's stable up ahead?
That's right.
Their owner has a bad reputation, you know.
What?
You should trust the staff.
Mr. Sugimoto's stable is on the next left turn.
Excuse me.
During that time, Fight and Izana, with nowhere to transfer to,
were moved to a nearby ranch which serves as an external stable.
Let's eat.
We need to change strategies.
Finding a stable just for Fight should be easy.
What?
Are you saying we keep Fight and Izana in separate stables?
Listen.
Though they share a stable, they can't be together forever.
Once they become racehorses, in a way, they're all alone.
But…
First place, at all costs. Right?
In any case, if Fight can't win, they'll be separated anyway.
Reevaluate. We need a trainer who can win.
Say, "I understand."
I under…
I can't.
- What did you say? - Of course.
As you said, I will prioritize Fight.
But I myself hate this idea. I want to inform you of that. Sorry.
You're so cocky.
Yeah.
KANAKO'S SON
It's a game.
3DS.
- They have it in Tokyo. - Hey.
- Kyohei. - I'm home.
3DS!
- Thank you. - Your total is…
- Cheers! - Thanks.
- This is yummy. - Yes, the best!
Okay.
- Hey. - Yes?
You don't live around here, do you?
No, my workplace is just nearby.
Gosh, I was so scared.
Let me see your business card.
Oh, sure.
Here.
Oh, my. "Royal Human. Horse Racing Division, Private Secretary."
Don't say it out loud!
I can't believe you came over to this side.
Seriously.
How are things on your end? Tomorrow's race?
I have a jinx that if I go watch the race, my horse will win.
Oh, really?
Then come watch our race too.
Though it's limited to the horses bred at my farm.
What the heck?
Besides, that jinx was already broken long ago.
What?
But doesn't thinking that way give you courage?
"I've never lost," or something like that.
What the heck is that?
Thank you.
Wait, really?
- Is it good? - Yum!
Yeah.
I can't believe I used to work in a city like this.
Is ten years that long?
Yes.
Oh, right.
Shohei.
Shohei, my son.
Oh, right. Shohei.
When I told him I was going to Tokyo, he got really mad.
Divorces are awkward like that.
I promised to send him photos and get him a souvenir.
- Take a nice picture of me. - Sure.
- Oh, do you want to be in it? - No, I shouldn't.
Oh? Really?
Here, thank you for waiting.
Honestly, I really don't know what to do anymore.
All you've got is a Hidaka horse with no wins.
The trainer bets his life on his horses.
If I'm going to take a horse, I want one from a famous ranch
with good breeding and lineage.
Like Hokuryo Farm.
You're from Hidaka, though.
I'm not self-deprecating.
It's the reality.
But there are trainers with a philosophy.
Not just winning, but how to win, and what horse to win with.
There are many trainers who are particular about that.
For example?
Please.
We're on a cliff's edge.
I want Fight to win.
Well, I can think of one person,
but he's a weirdo.
What?
HIRONAKA STABLE
Here you go.
Eat up.
Huh?
My notebook is gone.
It's gone.
Yoshida, my notebook is gone.
I don't know.
- You haven't seen it? - No.
Excuse me, sorry.
Excuse me.
- Excuse me! - What?
- I'm Kurisu, from Royal Human… - Mr. Royal!
Excuse me.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Hironaka.
Hello.
Come in.
Thank you.
HIRONAKA STABLE
This way, please.
Excuse me.
Oh, come in!
Here, if you would like…
Thank you very much.
- It's nothing much, sir… - Oh, don't!
- Don't call me "sir." - What?
Hironaka. Just Hironaka is fine.
- Understood. - Please wait a moment.
I lost the data for the horse running two days from now.
- What? - Oh, no!
- It's still on the computer, but… - Found it!
I prefer handwritten.
- I can… - Found it!
Where?
In the car.
- What? - I wasted an hour!
What?
- It took me an hour to look for that. - Sorry.
I put the horse blankets out.
- Oh, thank you! - Sure.
You're amazing.
I have a vacancy, you know.
I was also looking for a good horse.
I see. Well…
In the last race, in Niigata, he came in second…
Its lineage?
Oh, I guess I can read this and find out.
Yes, I prepared these materials for you.
Okay.
ROYAL FIGHT
For the race this weekend, I'll come to greet you with the owner.
- Please… - Leave that for after we have a deal.
See you.
Oh, are we done…
There's nothing left but to go over the files. I'll let you know my answer.
Goodbye.
Thank you very much.
- Thank you for this. - Yes.
Goodbye.
Well, then, let's proceed with this.
Understood.
- Thank you. - Thank you very much.
- Thank you for today. - See you.
Thank you very much.
He's arrived.
I'm sorry for calling you here.
You won't be going back to the office, right?
Yes.
Then you can have a drink.
Don't hold back.
I'm much obliged.
The other day, my family was present, so we couldn't talk much.
You know, I am in charge of the F&B department.
I would like to ask you to transfer there.
Rest assured that the position and salary will be satisfactory.
- I can guarantee that. - Wait. This amount is…
My eldest son is in charge of HR, so there will be no issues.
He highly regards you, Mr. Kurisu, as a person with great enthusiasm.
This will enable you to showcase your full potential.
But the Horse Racing Division…
It's having trouble finding a trainer, right?
I wonder if they can win within the year.
You shouldn't let your valuable skills go to waste.
May I ask you one thing?
Go ahead.
Do you hate it?
Horse racing.
Yes.
I loathe it.
Were you drinking yesterday?
What?
You didn't answer my call last night.
You're my secretary, you know.
Were you out drinking?
No way.
I'm a lightweight, sir.
I was at home.
Then that's even worse!
Is that bad?
Of course it is.
Why were you just lounging around at home?
Even when at home, keep your phone around your neck.
Jeez.
Understood.
So? What did that trainer say? Whatever his name is.
Mr. Hironaka. I'm still waiting for his answer.
You aren't thinking, "If it were just Fight, this would have been decided"?
You suggested this.
Stand tall and own it.
Yes.
I apologize.
We just need one win.
One win with Fight.
Yes.
Horse racing is truly difficult, isn't it?
See you.
Is it Mr. Shiina's horse?
What's that horse?
What?
See you.
Good morning.
Oh, Mr. Kurisu.
I apologize for taking so long.
To get straight to the point,
I will take on both Royal Fight and Royal Izana.
I look forward to working with you.
What?
Are you sure?
I mean, you asked me to.
That's true, but…
Those two are better off together.
Their lineage is interesting too.
It's meetings like this that make Hidaka horses fun.
Of course, that's not the only reason, but I think it's worth the challenge.
Thank you.
- Thank you so much. - It's nothing.
I'm so glad.
- I'll call my boss. - Wait.
Before that, I have a proposition.
What?
This way, please.
He's here.
Well, our boss decided on them.
It's my job now. I'll do it right.
For the horses' sake.
Mr. Hironaka.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, sir. Let's get along. - Wait, don't call me…
Hey. What strength!
Sorry.
He's young too. They must call you handsome a lot.
No, not at all.
President, please sit down first.
Sure.
To get right to it,
Mr. Hironaka has an idea about the race entries.
- Don't be ridiculous! - You can win this way!
That strategy won't work.
Let's hear him out first. Let him explain.
Are you telling us to throw away all our work up to now?
Of course not.
I can't force something you don't agree with.
But there isn't much time.
Mr. Sanno.
I really believe we can win with this.
I don't like it.
President!
I apologize.
No, I understand the owner's feelings.
We both share the desire to win.
Mr. Kurisu, the rest is up to you.
Find someone else.
Before Fight ran in Niigata
I visited those two horses at the Hayashida Ranch.
What's the dam's name?
It's Izana.
What does it mean?
A place in Spain.
My son, who died nine years ago, named her.
"Royal Izana."
Exactly nine characters. Not bad.
Mr. President.
Her and that colt for 30 million.
If you agree to that price, I'll take them right away.
Izana's lineage…
is the work your son started, which I'll preserve.
What's your point?
I thought you were a compassionate person.
Don't be ridiculous.
Do you think I'm someone
who buys a meaningless horse just out of sentiment?
- Then, you saw a chance at winning? - I don't know.
What's with that face?
I told you.
I don't know about horses.
I buy them by trusting people.
I simply bought them by trusting Hayashida.
Then…
why don't you try trusting Mr. Hironaka too?
I also don't know about horses.
And if you don't either,
then shouldn't we trust the person most familiar with horses?
I want to trust Mr. Hironaka.
After all, he told us something no one else did.
That we can win.
What he's trying to do is a gamble.
Then everything has been a gamble!
My career change to manager.
And you, President, becoming a horse owner.
It's all a gamble.
In that case, I want to trust people.
Make a bet.
On me.
Tell him to explain it in a way I can understand.
No need for complicated logic.
Explain so I can understand.
Tell him to do that!
You're the manager here!
I will.
NOZAKI FARM
Grandpa.
See?
I knew he was a strange person.
Did your introduction turn out well?
It was fine.
My savior has finally appeared.
Thank you so much.
But isn't that plan a little too bold?
I can see why the president was hesitant.
Well, I don't know much about horses.
But Mr. Hironaka said he believes we can win.
You must be happy.
Yes, I am.
I mean, when someone says your horse can win,
it makes you feel happy.
So happy.
And to top it off, he's taking on both horses.
No one else would do that.
I'll watch the race.
I have work, so I'll watch it on TV,
but trust my jinx.
Yes.
I hope you win.
Yes.
This is Hironaka. Mr. Shiina.
- I tried to fit them in but… - That's a 230 million yen horse, you know.
- Unfortunately, I just don't have… - Hello, it's Shiina.
Thank you for the other day.
- I'm sorry. - It's fine.
- I mean it. - Understood.
We had no luck this time, but I hope we'll have another chance.
Yes.
I apologize.
Goodbye.
He probably went with Royal Human.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
This is an important time leading up to the fall races.
Yes.
Fight and Izana, the two new horses we've taken in,
already have racing experience,
but first, they need to get used to our training and environment.
For Fight, we need to handle his eagerness…
His relationship with the jockey is crucial.
Yes.
ROYAL FIGHT - YASUKAWA
Two uphill gallops.
The first in 70, the second in 65.
Then the gate.
For Izana, don't hold her back too much,
let her use her stride properly, and improve her rhythm.
Since they just arrived, small changes are likely.
Take good care of them.
Yes!
Let's divide the buckets by type.
Uphill gallop today?
No, I'll have them finish strong on the wood chip course.
Next is Royal Fight.
Fight will proceed with the 1800m.
Are things okay?
Yes.
He doesn't look like he's engaging his hindquarters well today.
- What's it like riding him? - Oh, I agree.
Okay. Let's decide tomorrow's schedule.
The other day, Fight had an issue with his hoof,
and we had him fitted with special shoes, but I need to discuss the cost for that.
Understood.
I'll check the itemized bill and inform the president.
- Mr. Tsuchiya! - Yes?
- Go ahead. - Got it.
- They dislike apples. - I see. So that's why they don't eat them.
I'm sorry, it's my fault.
How's their gait?
The same as before.
Let's do one and a half legs tomorrow.
Okay, I'll tell them.
Oh, Yasukawa.
- Have you seen my walkie-talkie? - What?
- It's Kurisu. Excuse me. - Yes?
Their participation in the race is set.
This is Mr. Shiina's horse.
Not again.
Good morning, Fight!
Trainers should abandon their egos.
Everyone should let go of their egos
and dedicate themselves only to the horses.
All right, let's start.
Yes!
- 2,000 meters on turf? - Yes.
Turf?
Yes.
I will definitely go see it.
Please do.
Yes.
It's from Mr. Hironaka.
Nakayama, third week of September. They will run as scheduled.
It's completely different from the Niigata race.
What is?
- My state of mind, waiting for the race. - Here you go.
How could you bear this feeling so many times?
Do you get used to it?
Of course not.
I'd give anything to have someone take my place.
A new start.
Come on, let's go.
- Yes. - Yes.
- Good luck. - Thanks.
Hello.
- Hello. - Good luck.
I wonder how they will fare.
Oh, right.
This.
I feel kind of bad receiving something so expensive.
No need to thank me.
However, it's too fancy for me, I felt unworthy.
I almost returned it immediately.
But if we win today,
this watch will be an incredible good luck charm.
So, from now on, I intend to only use it for major races.
Like a charm.
What if we lose?
If we lose, what will you do with it?
President.
Nobody thinks about losing a race before it starts.
So you'll sell it?
I won't!
You're going to sell it off!
I won't.
Hello!
You're quite something, huh?
You think you can win?
I'm here. Can't you tell?
This is why the race is only fun with Royal around!
That guy is noisy.
- Do your best. - I will.
You can have your fun after you've seen how this ends.
The third day of the fourth Nakayama Race. We're on the fourth race.
The runners for the 3-year-old Maiden Race will be entering shortly.
Orne Regis.
Despite being a maiden horse, its current odds are 2.5.
Pedigree, body, temperament, it's flawless in every way.
Truly a sure winner.
The weather is good, it's a bright day.
Now, I'll announce the horses' as well as the dirt and turf conditions.
- I'll make coffee. - Number Four, Smart Imal.
472 kilograms. Plus two kilograms. Shintaro Ogi.
I'm home!
Welcome home.
I'm starving.
- It's starting. - Okay.
Tetsuya Mizue.
- Oh, right. - So cool.
- 462 kilograms. - You can do it!
No change. Toru Kaneshiro.
Number Seven, Gold Aerial.
476 kilograms. Minus eight kilograms. Takashi Sugawara.
Number Eight, Orne Regis.
438 kilograms.
- Odds at 2.5. - Plus two kilograms.
- A safe bet, huh? - Shoichi Yamazoe.
Number Nine, Sun Garbo.
474 kilograms. Minus four kilograms. Ryu Yasuda.
Here they come.
ROYAL IZANA
Number Ten, Royal Izana.
482 kilograms.
- What? Why? - Plus two kilograms.
- Keita Tosaki. - It's not Fight?
- It's Izana! - That's all ten horses.
President, please sit down first.
To get right to it,
Mr. Hironaka has an idea about the race entries.
What?
Royal Fight and Royal Izana
both have races in the third week of September.
I'd like to switch them around.
What?
We're putting Izana, who has always run on dirt,
into a turf maiden race,
and Fight, who has always run on turf, into a dirt race.
What are you talking about?
Royal Izana, since she debuted at Tadokoro Stables,
has suffered many losses on turf,
and for the past year, she's raced exclusively on dirt,
but without results.
She hasn't been in a race for six months.
Fight, on the other hand, has never run on dirt.
The 2,000 meters on turf, must be Fight!
2,000 meters on turf is Fight's distance!
Besides,
what does Fight gain by running in a race he has no experience in?
Certainly, there is no benefit for Fight.
- Don't be ridiculous! - You can win this way!
- That strategy won't work! - Let's hear him out first.
Let him explain.
Are you telling us to throw away all our work up to now?
She can do it.
It's Royal Izana.
It's Izana!
Mom!
It's Izana!
Interesting.
You can do it!
Izana!
Do your best!
THREE-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN RACE
Nakayama Racecourse, fourth race.
A 2000-meter turf maiden race for three-year-olds.
Her gait is good.
Dead last in popularity, huh?
- Don't underestimate her. - It's a grandstand start for this race.
- Izana is on the turf. - The wind has picked up a little.
Both the turf and dirt tracks are in good condition.
- Have fun! - Kono Blade and Martani…
Are both out due to injury, making this a ten-horse race.
Last is Number Ten, Royal Izana.
She's hesitating before the gate.
What's it going to be?
- Royal Izana. - It's okay.
Izana, calm down.
Led by the handlers, she's now settled in the gate.
This is a strategy to run Izana on turf.
When I looked at the documents,
a few generations back in Izana's pedigree,
there was a horse I know well.
Mighty Plat.
That horse was very strong in the 2000-meter turf races.
However, looking at Izana's race record, it's all sprint races on dirt.
They probably avoided middle-distance races
due to her crooked leg,
but frankly,
this is a terrible choice that wastes Izana's strength.
She should be allowed to run freely.
Excuse me.
Why put Fight into a dirt race where he has no experience?
Why not use both horses in the same turf race?
Have you ever heard of preferential entry rights?
At that time, in a maiden race,
the main condition for getting preferential entry
was to have placed fifth or higher once within the last four races.
That's how it was.
In other words, if Fight is entered in that race,
his preferential entry would be certain,
and the maiden Izana may be excluded.
That's right. So…
We'll change Fight's entry
to increase the chance of Izana being able to run.
She's a spirited yet sensitive.
The type who prefers expectation and attention
over gentle care.
That's my first impression of Izana.
As for Fight…
He's more hardy than carefree.
Fight might be the type who doesn't care where he's running.
These are Yasukawa, our assistant trainer, and Toyama, a veteran stable hand.
I'm Kurisu.
Nice to meet you.
Likewise.
These two will be in charge of the horses.
Just to confirm,
you are so determined to run Izana on turf because…
I believe Izana has a higher chance of winning than Fight.
All the horses are in the gate. The gate attendant is moving away.
The red light is on, and they are off!
A somewhat messy start for the ten horses.
First, Number Ten with the pink helmet.
- Yes. - Royal Izana got a good outside start.
No way! Leading from the start?
- She's in the lead! - What?
Oh, she's first!
- Royal Izana! - Amazing.
Number One, Nagano Finite moves up into second!
Hey.
Izana's ancestor, Mighty Plat, was a famous front-runner.
The other horses don't matter!
Yes, Izana, run!
- Royal Izana is in the lead! - Run!
The lead is widening from one horse to two!
Number Two, Honolulu Even, has smoothly moved into second place.
From the inside, Number One, Nagano Finite,
and in fourth place is Number Eight, Orne Regis.
Then one length back is Number Three, Togen Marilyn.
- On the outside is Gold Aerial. - Go!
They're midway down the backstretch, the lead is about one length.
Number Six, Karasos, is running third from last.
Two lengths back, on the inside is Number Four, Smart Imal.
One length further outside is Number Five, Pangoose.
They passed the 1,000-meter mark in 58 seconds.
- That's fast. - It's a quick pace!
The horses are now heading from the backstretch to the third corner.
The leader is Number Ten, Royal Izana, six to seven lengths ahead of the rest.
Number Ten, Royal Izana, heads into the third corner.
Six to seven lengths ahead of the rest, she's built up a good lead.
She can do it.
Into the third corner, with a significant lead!
Royal Izana is in the lead, with the pink helmet.
And Number Eight, Orne Regis, in the orange helmet…
Here they come.
- All right! - The favorite, Orne Regis.
Is Yamazoe making his move here,
gaining ground in the middle of the third corner?
The leader is Number Ten, Royal Izana. The gap is closing slightly.
The pink helmet, Royal Izana.
Go!
- The final turn… - Run!
Heading towards Nakayama's final slope.
- The leader is Number Ten. - Run!
Run!
- Orne Regis is closing the gap. - Run!
Run, Izana!
Run!
Number Eight, Orne Regis, has now moved up to second place.
- Passing the 400-meter mark. - Hang in there!
- The fourth corner! The final turn! - Make your move!
Heading towards Nakayama's final slope.
They've passed the 200-meter marker.
- Keep it up! - Go!
Will they live up to expectations?
- Catch her… - Orne Regis!
Will they meet expectations?
- Royal Izana in the lead. - Catch her!
- Two lengths. One length. - Catch her!
Half a length. The lead has shrunk!
- The favorite, Number Eight, Orne Regis! - Do it.
- Izana! - Do it!
- Catch her! - They're side by side!
Will it be Royal Izana or the favorite?
They're side by side!
An incredible final dash!
Orne Regis is going all out!
Go!
- Go! - Smart Imal is coming up from the outside.
Honolulu Even from the inside!
- Is it Royal Izana? - Go!
Or Orne Regis?
- Go! - Will Orne Regis make it in time?
Two horses in the lead!
Royal Izana showing her strength at the end! Passes the finish line!
- Amazing! - Yes!
Izana!
She won! She actually won!
- She won! - Number Ten, Royal Izana!
- She won! - The favorite failed to meet expectations!
A 111 to 1 payout!
ROYAL IZANA
President.
We did it.
- We did it, President! - Idiot!
It's just one win, at the lowest type, a maiden race!
We're aiming to win a G1!
Take care of your charm.
Yes.
- Thank you. - Thanks.
You really hung in there, you know.
- You did great. - Thanks.
You did great, truly.
You gave it all you got.
He knows it too!
Yes!
Izana won!
Fight, she did it!
That's right. Next is Fight's turn.
You're definitely going to win!
We won! Oh, wow! How much?
- I don't know. - You don't?
Mom!
The ancestor horse, Mighty Plat, is a horse from my family's ranch.
I see!
That one probably earned the most for us.
Sorry for not telling you.
No one would have noticed that connection!
Hey, tabloid trash, pay for the drinks in exchange for the story!
- Thank you! - Seriously…
So my intuition told me that kind of race would be her strength.
But if I said it, it would sound like me favoring my family.
Seriously.
That's why I don't trust you. Hiroshi from the Hironaka family.
No, even if you can't trust me,
please trust in the legacy of the horses.
If Mighty Plat hadn't existed, I might not have become a trainer,
and if Fight and Izana weren't here, that bloodline might have been lost.
Thank you.
No, it was all of us.
- We won thanks to everyone's efforts. - I mean…
With this, Izana can run again next time.
Fight too.
The Horse Racing Division can also continue.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
No…
You're a great team.
A team? We're nothing so fancy.
Come on.
Oh, thank you.
Huh?
I forgot my phone.
Again?
Oh, it's at Nakayama.
- Let's call it. - Hey.
Let's have a toast.
- A toast! - A toast? How many toasts have we done?
Are you okay?
- Welcome home. - I'm home.
There was a call from the new secretary.
He wants to keep working in the Horse Racing Division.
Father's rotten luck is unbelievable.
My dream is to win the Arima Kinen.
The Arima?
You thought, "Why not the Japan Derby?"
The Derby and other races are where strong horses compete,
but the Arima is different.
You're not chosen just for being strong.
Only horses loved by fans and whose running is recognized are chosen.
And from among those, the winner is decided.
There's emotion.
There's love.
Plus, it's a year-end festival,
where all the memories of that years losses are blown away.
- No, come on. - You can win it all.
It's the best.
We will win the Arima Kinen.
Absolutely. Cheers!
Cheers!
SANNO AND HIRONAKA THE ROYAL FAMILY BEGINS
- Our next challenge. - The auction?
We must get a horse.
- We're looking for a new horse. - People's livelihoods are at stake!
We can't sell to someone who doesn't intend to win!
- Dad, please! - I said we won't sell!
We are making this deal to win.
My father's dream is the dream of everyone in Hidaka.
Subtitle translation by: Nix S.