Chapter 61. Tokai Teio's Adaptability
After the seven-day London trip with Tokai Teio ended, Shuta An led Tokai Teio back to Ascot. Mejiro Dober had already enjoyed her drawing during this time; she had explored the entire Ascot area with her sketchbook, and many inspiring sceneries led her to draw many sketches. Mejiro Dober even felt that her drawing skills had improved quite a bit during this period.
However, upon seeing the Trainer lead Tokai Teio into the hotel lobby, Dober raised an eyebrow.
So, that evening, after sneaking into her lover's room and biting the young man's chest, she began her "interrogation."
Fortunately, Shuta An was well-prepared; "counter-attacking" Mejiro Dober was effortlessly easy—
"I knew it." Mejiro Dober lay in her lover's arms, letting out a deep sigh. "But I thought Teio would wait until after the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe to make a move."
"Perhaps it's because Rice proactively changed her form of address, which made her feel a sense of crisis."
Shuta An explained his guess, then pecked Mejiro Dober.
"But unlike Dober, Teio is still innocent, so I don't plan to do anything before her."
"So, it still has to be me."
Mejiro Dober tilted her head and rubbed against the young man's chest.
"And it's a good thing it's Teio; everyone already noticed. Even Oguri and Suzuka-senpai wouldn't be surprised if they knew."
"Surprised about what?"
Teio, who had appeared by the sofa at some point, asked Mejiro Dober, lowering her head.
"That's too sly! I want to join too!"
Before a startled Mejiro Dober could answer, Tokai Teio drilled into the young man's hand.
So, the young man, with the Undefeated Triple Crown in his left arm and the Undefeated Triple Tiara Uma Musume in his right.
—
In the Dream World tonight, Shuta An arrived in America, preparing to run some dirt races to get a feel for Hokuto Vega's Personal Ensign Stakes at the end of next month—because Japan had entered summer racing this month with no G1 races available, the young man planned to seek more G1 opportunities in America.
Today's CCA Oaks was one of them.
As the second jewel of the American Triple Tiara, last year's CCA Oaks winner was Sky Beauty, Hokuto Vega's biggest rival in her next race.
Today, Shuta An was riding Two Altazano, the sixth favorite who had won the G2 Monmouth Oaks in her previous outing, in the CCA Oaks.
"There's nothing to instruct; I believe Mr. Shuta can handle this race himself."
Two Altazano's Trainer, Stoute, had great trust in Shuta An. Although he hadn't worked with the young man before, considering Shuta An's brilliant past record, he felt it was better to give Shuta An full authority rather than dictate tactics himself.
"Then I'll give it a try myself."
Shuta An didn't decline and readily agreed.
Upon stepping onto Belmont Park Racecourse, Shuta An decisively chose to let Two Altazano take the lead from the very beginning of the pack.
He controlled the pace, running the first 1000 meters in 59 seconds, and only started to exert pressure after turning into the final straight.
With just two whips, Two Altazano took off, swiftly pulling away from the second-place Plenty of Sugar, ultimately winning by six and a half lengths.
"Amazing! As expected of Mr. Shuta!"
Stoute hugged the young man directly after the race in gratitude.
He even wanted to invite Shuta An to continue riding Two Altazano in the Alabama Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Tiara, but Shuta An declined.
The reason was simple—
"During that time, I need to focus on the Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Race Course."
But Stoute knew this was just an excuse; Shuta An must have sensed something about Two Altazano that made him lack confidence in her next run.
"The Personal Ensign Stakes and the Alabama Stakes are only a few days apart. How could a top jockey only focus on one race?"
Stoute secretly grumbled.
"But Two Altazano has become a G1 winner anyway. If he doesn't ride, I can find another good jockey."
—
When he woke up the next day, although Tokai Teio and Mejiro Dober were not by his side, both of Shuta An's arms were numb. He estimated that the two Uma Musume had probably gotten up not long ago.
To distract himself, the young man opened his attribute viewer, preparing to see what he had gained from last night's G1 at Belmont Park Racecourse.
"SHISUI: IF RANKED IN THE BOTTOM 50% PAST THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE RACE, STAMINA RECOVERY IS INCREASED, AND ACCELERATION ABILITY IS SLIGHTLY INCREASED."
"This is indeed for Dober, isn't it?"
The young man grumbled inwardly.
That being said, if Teio couldn't adapt to the turf at Ascot Racecourse on race day, then this skill could also come in handy.
Thinking of this, Shuta An narrowed his eyes.
"Besides restorative preparations, the next period will be about getting Teio and Dober accustomed to the European turf."
The Nassau Stakes is not held at Ascot Racecourse, but Goodwood Racecourse, where the race is held, has turf that is far less heavy than Ascot Racecourse. Moreover, Ascot Racecourse also has a very challenging Slope Road, so Shuta An planned to have Dober spend most of her preparation time at Ascot Racecourse. As for Goodwood Racecourse, she would only need to get used to it a few days before the race.
—
With this plan in mind, after preparations for the Epsom Derby began, Shuta first had Teio jog at a low intensity to regain her running feel, and then began to use Ascot Racecourse's Slope Road to get Teio accustomed to the British turf.
Originally, to prevent Teio from being unable to adapt to the turf here, Shuta had already planned how to help Teio change her stride to adapt to a different track than Japan's. But to the young man's surprise, Teio only took two days to find the knack and solved this problem in a way Shuta had never considered before.
"It seems Teio's modified running gait is even more suitable than I thought."
The young man was very surprised at heart, but once he remembered that it was Teio who did it, he was no longer surprised.
"After all, it's Tokai Teio, so it's understandable for her to do something like this."
But some people couldn't understand. Stoute, Opera House's Trainer, frowned when he noticed that Tokai Teio had adapted to Ascot Racecourse's turf in just two days.
"What kind of adaptability is this?"
Stoute was completely baffled.