Passing the Reins

Eiji Kurisu (Satoshi Tsumabuki), a tax accountant who’s lost his sense of purpose after a career setback, is asked by Royal Human Corporation to investigate its struggling horse racing division. The company’s founder, Kozo Sanno (Koichi Sato), passionately supports the division, but his son Yutaro (Kotaro Koizumi) wants it shut down, while Kozo’s wife Kyoko (Hitomi Kuroki) despises it altogether. Sent to Hokkaido to meet Kozo, Kurisu arrives late and witnesses him lose a prized horse auction to rival owner Yoshihiro Shiina (Ikki Sawamura). Drawn into Kozo’s world, Kurisu encounters a life far removed from his own—and unexpectedly reunites with his former lover, Kanako Nozaki (Wakana Matsumoto), who now works at her family’s farm. After recommending the division’s closure, Kurisu learns from Kanako the harsh realities of horse racing. Inspired by Kozo and Kanako’s passion, he rediscovers his drive and sets out on a new path.

Invited by Kozo (Koichi Sato), Eiji Kurisu (Satoshi Tsumabuki) joins Royal Human Corporation as the exclusive secretary for the horse racing division. In the order of his duties he meets with Kozo’s wife, Kyoko (Hitomi Kuroki), who despises horse racing. Later, Kozo’s son Yutaro (Kotaro Koizumi) challenges his father to win at least one central race within the year—or abolish the division entirely, citing complaints from the younger employees. Kozo accepts and takes Kurisu to the Miho Training Center to back his prized horse, *Royal Fight*. However, his pushy attitude angers trainer Tadokoro, causing a fallout. Ordered to find a new trainer, Kurisu reconnects with his former lover Kanako (Wakana Matsumoto) in Tokyo, who introduces him to a talented trainer named Hironaka (Masanobu Ando). Kurisu visits Hironaka’s stable, unaware that this meeting will change everything.

Kanako struggles to keep her family ranch afloat. Her father, Tsuyoshi (Katsumi Kiba), insists on selling horses directly to owners instead of through auctions, but for a certain reason, each deal ends in conflict and failure. Meanwhile, Kurisu attends the birthday party of Yuriko (Nagisa Sekimizu), daughter of Kozo. There, Kyoko reveals to him how the Sanno family came to be involved with the horses. The racing division of Royal Human Corporation was saved by Izaña winning her 3yr-old Maiden race, but both Izaña and Fight were soon injured. To pursue their dream of winning the Arima Kinen, Kozo and Kurisu begin searching for a new racehorse. They place their hopes on an auction at Hokuryou Farm, known for producing top horses—but their rival, Shiina (Ikki Sawamura), is aiming for the same one…

Kurisu (Satoshi Tsumabuki) is summoned by trainer Hironaka (Masanobu Ando) to visit a training farm in the Hidaka region. Royal Hope, which Kozo (Koichi Sato) bought for 100 million yen, has been moved to the farm to be trained as a racehorse, but its extreme wariness has left even seasoned staff at a loss, and no jockey can be found to ride it. Amid this, Kurisu and Hironaka place their hopes in a particular individual: Saki (Mahiro Takasugi), a blond jockey from the Iwate racing circuit. However, not only is it difficult for a regional-circuit jockey like Saki to obtain a central racing license, he also caused a certain trouble in the past... Trusting in Saki’s ability, Kurisu persistently negotiates with the help of reporter Taira (Kenjiro Tsuda). Meanwhile, a scandal also comes to light at Royal Human, and Yutaro (Kotaro Koizumi) moves to deal with it...

It is revealed that Kozo (Koichi Sato) has a secret child! Pressed by Kurisu (Satoshi Tsumabuki) for an explanation, Kozo discloses that the woman involved is Mikiko Nakajo (Tomoko Nakajima), a former hostess who is currently recuperating at a hospital in Maebashi.​ Accompanied by Kozo, Kurisu visits Mikiko and learns from her about her college-age son, Koichi (Ren Meguro). After understanding the circumstances, Kurisu offers to support Mikiko on Kozo’s behalf, further strengthening the bond of trust between Kozo and Kurisu. Koichi, too, has become enthralled by the world of racehorses.​ Meanwhile, Kozo’s wife Kyoko (Hitomi Kuroki), unsettled at heart, takes decisive action.​ Amid all this, Royal Hope and its jockey Ryujiro (Mahiro Takasugi), buoyed by their debut victory, ride the momentum as Team Royal decides to enter the Japanese Derby.

Royal Hope kept falling just one step short of victory, but the fans who support him continued growing. However, after the 2017 Arima Kinen, Kurisu (Satoshi Tsumabuki) was surprised by Kozo's (Koichi Sato) decision that next year’s Arima Kinen would be their last and that both he and Royal Hope would retire. This was also announced at the previous family meeting along with suddenly naming Yutaro (Kotaro Koizumi) as the next CEO, both decisions which bewildered Yutaro. Furthermore, after Kozo made a certain confession, Kurisu hurried off to meet Kozo’s secret child, Koichi (Ren Meguro). Finally the Arima Kinen arrives, and the race starts in the midst of a heavy downpour!

Kozo struggles with the painful distance as Koichi continues to reject him, while Kurisu desperately searches for a way to reconcile father and son. When Koichi finally reaches out requesting a meeting, the reunion quickly devolves into another argument, leaving his true feelings unspoken. Confused by Koichi's behavior, Kurisu consults Kanako, who offers a surprising perspective—maybe Koichi isn't opposing his father, but worried about him. Despite Kurisu's efforts to arrange another meeting and propose a solution, Koichi remains resistant. Determined to break through, Kurisu pulls Koichi aside for a heart-to-heart, and the truth finally comes pouring out. What Koichi reveals shocks everyone, including veteran trainer Hironaka. But the real bombshell comes when Koichi makes an unexpected proposal, leaving both Kurisu and Kozo speechless. Meanwhile, retired champion Royal Hope begins his journey to Nozaki Farm to continue his legacy by siring the next generation.

After inheriting the racehorse “Royal Family” as a inheritance-restricted owner from his late father Kozo, Koichi visits the Hokuryo Farm horse auction with Kurisu. There, he meets Nobuyuki, the son of Shiina, after Nobuyuki buys the horse Koichi had his eye on. The two become friends, and Koichi finds himself drawn to Nobuyuki’s progressive ideas aimed at breaking traditional rules in the horse racing world. Meanwhile, although Royal Family wins its debut race, his performance soon slumps. Trying to turn things around, Koichi makes a bold proposal, but Hironaka opposes it, causing divisions within Team Royal. Kurisu begins to sense an unprecedented challenge in managing the situation. Amid this tension, Koichi receives an invitation from Nobuyuki to join a “Young Owners Association.” There, he becomes increasingly influenced by the modern, forward-thinking attitudes of these young racehorse owners—pulling him even further away from his original team.

The Team Royal came together under Kurisu (played by Satoshi Tsumabuki) and Koichi (Ren Meguro), aiming for the Arima Kinen the year after the next. After Ryujiro (Mahiro Takasugi) steps aside, Shohei (Shogo Ichihara) becomes the team’s new main jockey and takes on the autumn G1 racing season. However, just as things seem to be going well, Shohei gets caught up in an unexpected and serious trouble. Meanwhile, Nobuyuki (Taishi Nakagawa)—Koichi’s rival—aims to win the Arima with an undefeated Triple Crown, a feat even his father, Shiina (Ikki Sawamura), could never accomplish. A series of sudden troubles threaten to crush Team Royal’s dream of racing in the year's Arima Kinen they aimed for. Even so, Kurisu and Koichi fight desperately to protect their team and keep their shared dream alive.

The Royal Family made a miraculous comeback from the brink of despair after going blind in one eye. However, to stand on the stage of the Arima Kinen—the dream that Kurisu (Satoshi Tsumabuki) and Koichi (Ren Meguro) have long pursued—they must first overcome a harsh and demanding condition: winning a graded race. Meanwhile, Nobuyuki (Taishi Nakagawa)’s horse, So Perfect, continues its overwhelming winning streak. Having captured the Triple Crown, it now stands as the undisputed ruler of its era and the leading contender for the Arima Kinen. With each member entrusting their personal hopes to the Family, Team Royal comes together to reaffirm their unity. In that moment, Koichi quietly yet firmly speaks of his unwavering determination… Having met Kozo (Koichi Sato) and set out on a journey toward their dream of a G1 victory, Kurisu now stands before the fateful door that finally begins to open after countless setbacks.