"They're off! A clean start for the entire field! But wait—it's not just Twin Turbo! Silverstone and Ikuno Dictus are exploding out of the stalls as well! What a magnificent jump from the leading trio! They've already carved out a four-length lead! Setting the pace is the 'Great Escape' herself, Twin Turbo, with the 'Silver Comet' Silverstone right on her shoulder! Ikuno Dictus is holding back just a fraction, tucking in behind the leaders!"
Predictably, Turbo and Silver had seized the lead instantly, but Ikuno was keeping pace with a rhythm that defied logic. To any ordinary racer, this was a suicidal sprint. But Ikuno wouldn't crumble at this speed. After all, she was a monster who had spent her career chasing my own "Great Escapes." In that sense, Flora was the same, but... for some reason, I didn't want to think about her right now. Just the thought sent a sudden, inexplicable chill down my spine.
"They're heading through the first corner and into the second! It's a literal neck-and-neck battle between Twin Turbo and Silverstone! We're seeing a duel break out far earlier than expected, but don't forget the 'Iron Lady' lurking dangerously behind them! Behind her is Keisouman—she's maintaining a brisk pace, but the top three are so blindingly fast that her own lead feels sluggish by comparison! Further back, the stars of this year's Tiara line, Vega and Hokuto Vega, are running side-by-side! Sparks are flying between the rivals, but the gap between the top three and the rest of the pack has widened to nearly eight lengths! This is the pace of those who have traded strides with the Tyrant himself! They are operating on a completely different plane of speed!"
To a rational observer, it was a ruinous pace. It was a paradoxical sight: a run that should lead to total collapse, yet showed no signs of slowing. New fans watched in stunned silence, while the long-time veterans couldn't suppress their cheers at a sight they had grown to crave.
"Mmm, wow... I can't tell at all," Maya murmured from atop my shoulders. "It wouldn't be weird no matter who wins."
She was right. Whether it was Turbo, Silver, Ikuno, or a dark horse from the back, anyone could take it. Usually, a "Great Escape" race is a recipe for chaos—but ever since I started running them, that old common sense had begun to fall apart. I kept my eyes fixed on the track, eager to see how this would play out.
"...They're overextending," I noted.
"Huh?" Maya tilted her head.
"The others—specifically Vega and Hokuto Vega. It's their first time challenging the Senior class, and between the pressure and the atmosphere, they're running on a high. They're over-excited."
"Oh, you're right! Their pace is picking up."
Vega and Hokuto Vega, the two rivals who had defined this year's Tiara circuit, had marched into the Queen Elizabeth II Cup with heads held high. But the presence of Silverstone had cranked the atmosphere up to a fever pitch. They were being swallowed by the intensity of it all, and their pacing was becoming erratic. I couldn't blame them; facing a "Great Escape" scenario in your first Senior G1 is enough to make anyone panic.
"They've got good legs, but they're burning too much in the middle... Still, by next year, they're going to be terrifying," I predicted.
"Maya sees it too! ♪"
"Fufu, good girl."
"Twin Turbo and Silverstone are still locked in a ferocious battle for the lead! Ikuno Dictus is glued to their heels, but the gap to the rest of the field has widened to nearly ten lengths! This is the overwhelming strength of the generation that fought Mejiro Rampage! The leaders have crested the hill and are beginning their descent—and here comes Ikuno Dictus! She's hugging the rail and accelerating on the downhill!"
Using a level of raw power comparable to my own, Ikuno accelerated down the slope. Unlike the two front-runners, she still had plenty of reserves. To put it bluntly, compared to my usual pace, Turbo and Silver were still leaving themselves a margin of safety—which was a godsend for Ikuno. Yet, she wasn't letting her guard down for a second. She knew Turbo's tenacity, and she knew Silver was the woman who had pushed me to my limits.
"Not bad!" Turbo chirped.
"Back at you!" Silver countered.
At the absolute vanguard of the race, the two were engaged in what looked like a high-speed brawl. Yet, their faces didn't show agony; they wore smiles of pure, refreshing exhilaration as they rounded the final turn. They couldn't match Ikuno's rail-hugging precision, but they stayed tight. As the final straight loomed and the moment for Ikuno's counter-attack approached, Turbo felt a surge of electricity through her limbs.
(It's there... I've stored it up! Yes, this is it! I'm finally getting the hang of this!)
Turbo, now a seasoned veteran of the Senior ranks, finally felt herself crossing a threshold. She finally understood: how to "pool" the energy for her Dokkan Turbo, the sensation of holding it back until the perfect micro-second before letting it scream. Rampage had always told her to treat technique as a sensation rather than a theory. Now, after all these races, she had finally mastered her greatest weapon.
(This wind, this G-force... my insides are turning cold, yet my fighting spirit is boiling! This is a race! My adrenaline is hitting the boiling point!)
Silverstone felt nothing but gratitude for coming to Japan. Her long stay here had been the final piece of the puzzle for her growth. In this race, her resolve had finally hardened into something unbreakable. All that was left was to give everything.
(Turbo's footwork is sharp... she's finally mastered the Dokkan Turbo. But I've saved up more than enough for the finish. Here I come, Turbo!)
Ikuno was the picture of composure. There wasn't a hint of panic; her "schedule management" was perfect. The situational awareness she had forged while chasing my "Great Escapes" allowed her to identify the perfect moment to strike. She could hear the thunder of hooves approaching from behind as the others used the slope to gain ground. To shake them off, and to break Turbo and Silver, she released the seals.
"""HERE WE GO!!!"""
"The Big Three have hit the straight! They're level! All three are launching their final, desperate sprits! Twin Turbo's 'Dokkan Turbo' is igniting! The 'Iron Lady' is beginning her relentless surge! The 'Silver Comet' is streaking ahead just like her namesake! Vega is moving up! Hokuto Vega is fighting back! But will it be enough?! Twin Turbo is accelerating—she's got the pedal to the metal! Silverstone refuses to be outdone and pulls level! But Ikuno Dictus is showing them why she's the queen of the closing kick! The Queen Elizabeth II Cup has turned into a legendary showdown! The three leaders won't give an inch! Not a single inch! They refuse to let anyone stand before them! Hokuto Vega and Vega are closing in with a ferocious charge! North Flight is gaining ground! Can they close the five-length gap?! But the leaders are holding firm! Who is it?! Who's taking it?! Wait—just ahead by a fraction is—"
"TWIN TURBO! TWIN TURBO TAKES THE LEAD! IT'S TWIN TURBO! SHE'S ACROSS THE LINE! GOAL IN!!!! She's done it! The Idaten, Twin Turbo! The Queen Elizabeth II Cup belongs to the Triple Tiara winner, Twin Turbo! Second place goes to Ikuno Dictus by a nose—just a nose! And Silverstone takes third! A magnificent showing by the Japanese stars against the international challenger!"
"I-I did ittttt... cough, hack..."
"I have no choice but to acknowledge it... well done, Turbo," Ikuno panted, her voice filled with respect.
"D-Dammit! So close! Just a little bit more!" Silverstone cried out, frustrated but energized.
The pride of Japan had been upheld by the Triple Tiara winner. Ikuno had clung to her until the very end, but Turbo's total mastery of her "Dokkan Turbo" had proven insurmountable today. Yet, the Silver Comet's luster hadn't dimmed in the slightest. It was the moment the sheer strength of the world was etched into the hearts of the Japanese fans.
Character Profile: Mejiro Cap (Colt)
The fourth foal of Mejiro Rampage, sired by the "Gray Monster," Oguri Cap. He was named "Cap" because he inherited his father's iconic gray coat.
In a total reversal of his mother's style, Cap preferred a long-spurt strategy from the back of the pack. He moved through the ranks smoothly from his debut, but he lacked the explosive "instant" acceleration required for Mile racing, leading many to claim he could never win at that distance. Conversely, he possessed an incredible aptitude for middle and long distances—a trait very much in line with the Mejiro bloodline.
Thanks to the combined genes of his mother and father, he could run on turf or dirt with equal prowess. However, considering his first G1 victory was the February Stakes, he is generally regarded as a dirt specialist at heart. He was affectionately known as the "Gray Stayer."
His jockey was Norihiro Yokoya. He described the colt as being incredibly "heavy" to move (stubbornly slow to start his engine), but a "stamina monster" who seemed so focused he didn't even realize when he was tired.
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