Yasui Makoto had given the overseas campaign a great deal of thought, but he did not bring it up at dinner.
During the meal, the Umamusume chatted away about amusing things they had run into lately. There was no need to spoil the mood with dry subjects like training and race schedules.
For the same reason, once they had finished eating, Yasui Makoto took the initiative and let Kitasan Black and Almond Eye go with Satono Crown's group back to campus, then stroll around places like the nearby pedestrian street.
After parting ways with the Umamusume, he returned to his rented apartment and got to work.
Roughly two months had passed since his injury. Although the cast had not been fully removed, the area being immobilized had shrunk considerably, and he could move his fingers and wrist without any trouble.
And if he set aside the physical training expected of a trainer, putting together training plans and race schedules was mainly mental work. There was no need to worry about it affecting his arm's recovery.
So, combining the situation from the past two months with today's partner-run training, he quickly drafted the relevant plan.
First, the plan for the first half of the year would remain unchanged. Next month, they would set off for Dubai, and once there, they would arrange as many exchange races with overseas Umamusume as possible.
By the time they returned from Dubai, exactly one month would remain until the Tenno Sho (Spring) in May. Including the training they completed before going abroad, they would have plenty of time for racecourse acclimation and preparation.
As for the second half of the year, that would depend on how well she adapted overseas.
If her adaptability was decent, they could consider heading to Europe in July and try entering races such as the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the Prix Foy, followed by the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
However, even if her adaptability was decent, that campaign still only fell under "consideration." After all, from Japan as a whole down to Yasui Makoto personally, the gap in experience and resources was not something that could be made up in a short time.
If the goal was truly to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, then perhaps going abroad even earlier—now, for example—to prepare for the Prix Ganay would be the only way they could say they had enough confidence.
The problem was that the Prix Ganay was usually held in late April, putting it in direct conflict with the Tenno Sho (Spring). That was why no Japanese Umamusume or trainer would consider that race.
The other concern followed a similar logic.
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, the Prix Foy, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe—and, depending on the situation, other races added in between. From an acclimation standpoint, that entire campaign would not be a problem, but most of it clashed heavily with Japan's G1 races.
The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud was called "France's Takarazuka Kinen" in Japan precisely because it was also held in late June or early July.
The Prix Foy was in September, so in terms of timing, the race itself was not a problem. However, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was in October.
Running the Prix Foy and then the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe would, without question, be an enormous test of an Umamusume's physical condition, as well as an enormous drain on it. After racing back-to-back, it would be difficult to consider another race for a month, or even two.
Meanwhile, in Japan, the period from October to the end of the year was precisely the Autumn Triple Crown campaign of the Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup, and Arima Kinen.
In other words, if they ran the Prix Foy and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe back-to-back, then factored in the necessary readjustment after returning to Japan, she would be unable to run the Tenno Sho (Autumn), and possibly even the Japan Cup.
Having analyzed things that far, Yasui Makoto could more or less understand why the URA Association, as well as past Umamusume and trainers, had always longed for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe yet found it so difficult to arrange an ideal schedule.
To win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, one needed enough time for the overseas campaign.
But if one participated in too many overseas campaigns, many Japanese races would inevitably have to be abandoned—perhaps even most G1s.
The golden period of an Umamusume's career averaged only a little over two years. Trainers valued that point, and they also had to consider their own race results.
Compared to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where there was clearly no precedent of victory, choosing the more familiar Japanese races was obviously the steadier option.
"...So if we really want to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, we need to set aside nearly a year of preparation at minimum..."
As he copied the thoughts he had organized in the draft onto his computer, Yasui Makoto murmured to himself, "A year... That really is too long for Kita-chan..."
While he was talking to himself, a knock came from outside the door—knock, knock, knock—followed by the sound of the lock turning.
He had been about to get up and open the door, but when he heard that sound, Yasui Makoto quickly realized Kitasan Black had come back.
When the door opened, he saw Kitasan Black standing there with flushed cheeks, the loose hairs at her forehead slightly damp with sweat. Clearly, she had enjoyed herself thoroughly.
After entering, she immediately saw that Yasui Makoto still had his cast on, yet was already busy in front of the computer. Her brows drew together at once, and she could not help complaining,
"I knew you'd be working... Didn't we say you'd wait until I got back? Honestly, your arm still hasn't completely healed..."
Hearing that, Yasui Makoto felt awkward.
He had indeed promised Kitasan Black that, during this period, aside from simple tasks like using his phone or stopwatch to record and analyze data, he would hand as much of the rest over to her as possible.
But once he returned to the rented apartment and was alone in his usual environment again, he had forgotten all at once.
Before he could say anything, Kitasan Black had already walked over naturally, gently nudged him aside, and said in a tone that allowed no argument,
"I'll help you organize it. You go rest first."
Feeling the girl's warmth brush briefly past his side, a strange emotion inexplicably welled up in Yasui Makoto's heart, and he spoke almost on reflex.
"I... really am fine, actually. This little bit of work won't matter..."
Then he could not continue.
Kitasan Black turned her head and glared at him, chiding him,
"You're still saying you're fine? You're injured, so stop pushing yourself. Besides..."
She gave him another smile, full of confidence.
"I've learned quite a lot during this period. I can't help Trainer with the difficult work, but simple things like this are no problem."
"So, Trainer just has to be good and wait beside me, okay?"
Hearing that last sentence, which sounded a little like she was coaxing a child, Yasui Makoto wondered in amusement whether Kitasan Black had been spending too much time with Almond Eye recently. Still, he could only obediently move to the side.
Kitasan Black looked at the computer screen. Seeing that it was something Yasui Makoto had not finished copying out yet, she moved the mouse with less than practiced hands as she organized the document and asked curiously,
"Trainer, are we... considering the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe now?"
At that, Yasui Makoto put away his other thoughts. After thinking for a moment, he did not answer directly, but instead asked,
"Kita-chan, what impressions or thoughts do you have about the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?"
Kitasan Black stopped what she was doing and tilted her head in recollection.
"The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe... Dura-chan mentioned it before, so I looked into it myself too. It feels like an incredible world-class G1 race."
"That said, I still don't have much of a real sense of it right now."
She scratched her head and smiled.
"After all, I haven't seen it for myself yet. So I'm thinking that after we go abroad this time and I see those world-class Umamusume, it still won't be too late to really think about it."
Yasui Makoto nodded slightly, accepting Kitasan Black's thinking.
---
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