And then, it was time for Urara's race.
It was her second time running in a G1 race and her second time wearing her custom uniform.
'Gate 3, number 5, Haru Urara'
As Urara appeared in the paddock, a huge cheer went up from the spectators. Yep, my Urara is so cute. Photos? Go ahead, but make sure you take a cute one, okay? Well, I guess she'll be cute in any photo.
While I was having these silly thoughts, the Umamusume started to appear in the paddock one after another. Today, there were no Umamusume I was originally wary of--but personally, there were a few, or rather, a lot, that I was interested in.
'Gate 4, number 7, Chief Purser'
Her name and face made me smile.
She was the Umamusume who Urara competed against in her make debut race and won 1st place. Urara lost that day due to an accident, but today, I'll make sure she wins.
'Gate 5, number 9, Mini Daisy'
This girl also had a race with Urara. She was the one who won 1st place in Urara's first maiden race. It's so exciting to clash with them again on a G1 stage.
'Gate 7, number 13, Mini Lotus'
She was the Umamusume Urara competed against in the Unicorn Stakes and the Japan Dirt Derby. She was the fourth Classic-class runner, including Urara, to be in this race. Her conditioning is good... and her form seems to be good, too.
'Gate 7, number 14, Heart Caesar'
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the Umamusume who had appeared in the paddock. This girl has raced against Urara many times, and this is their fifth match. She's a Umamusume who has been in almost half of the races Urara has run.
They have a lot of history together, having competed in Urara's first and third maiden races, the Unicorn Stakes, and the Japan Dirt Derby. She's a girl who challenged five maiden races, won 1st place when the other Umamusume were slowly giving up, and is now on the G1 stage for the second time, just like Urara. She's not someone to be underestimated, and I have no intention of doing so.
In terms of competition, there's also a Umamusume named Sleighin who has raced against Urara as many times as Heart Caesar, but... I guess she didn't get chosen in the lottery...
The JBC Sprint has a full gate of 16 runners. Five of them, including Urara, are from the Classic class, and the remaining 11 are from the Senior class.
Is this a lot or a little? Well, I guess it depends on the year.
I checked each Umamusume in the paddock for the final check, but as for Urara, she's her usual self. She'll win with her finishing style and take 1st place. However, since the distance is short at 1200 meters, she'll have to make her move earlier.
I was about to go and talk to Urara before we moved to the course... but then, multiple Umamusume ran up to Urara. They were Chief Purser, Mini Daisy, Mini Lotus, and Heart Caesar, whom I had just paid attention to.
They all spoke to Urara with determined faces, and they were high-fiving and patting each other on the back. In particular, Chief Purser was saying something to Urara a few times...
(From their expressions, it seems like they're wishing each other good luck.)
I couldn't hear them because of the distance, but both Urara and Chief Purser were smiling.
"Trainer! Rice-chan! King-chan!"
Oh, Urara, who had run up to us, was in a great mood. She was wagging her tail back and forth with a big smile on her face.
"What did those girls say?"
"Huh? They said, 'I won't lose today,' and 'Let's have a good race,' and... Purser-chan said, 'Let's finally settle this!'"
It seems that Chief Purser was bothered by the fact that Urara lost due to an accident in their make debut race. It's great that their rematch is on a G1 stage. It makes me excited, too.
"Urara, be careful of the sand that flies at you. The track conditions aren't good today, so mud might fly at you instead of sand. Other than that, just like always, don't get injured, have fun, and win!"
"Okay!"
"Urara-chan, do your best. Rice and Onii-sama and King-chan will be cheering for you!"
"Thanks, Rice-chan!"
"If you run like yourself, the results will naturally follow. Do your best, Urara-san."
"Okay! Thanks, King-chan!"
Urara replied with a smile and then ran off toward the course. We watched her go and then immediately headed to the stands.
'It's an unfortunate sky, but the rain has stopped at the Ooi Racecourse. The 9th race, G1, 1200 meters on dirt, the JBC Sprint, is about to begin. The track conditions are announced as heavy.'
'Following the 8th race, the 9th and 10th races are also G1s. Maybe because of that, the stands are completely full even though it's a weekday. In the JBC Ladies' Classic just now, the Classic-class Smart Falcon won by a large margin of 5 lengths over the 2nd-place runner. I'm looking forward to seeing who will win this JBC Sprint.'
The fanfare echoed, and the voices of the announcer and commentator filled the Ooi Racecourse. The rain had stopped, but the wind blowing from Tokyo Bay was a little strong because the weather was still a little uncertain. The track conditions were announced as heavy, but I wonder how that will affect the race.
'Gate 3, number 5, Haru Urara. She's the 4th favorite.'
'Well, Smart Falcon ran in the JBC Ladies' Classic, and this Umamusume has appeared in the JBC Sprint. All of her wins were record-breaking, and she's the only Umamusume in the Classic class with a high-ranking popularity. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of run she'll show us today.'
As Urara was introduced, she jumped and waved her hands to the stands with a smile. Her gesture caused a huge cheer to erupt from the spectators.
Since the JBC Sprint is 1200 meters, the starting position is on the backstretch... right after passing the 2nd corner, where they enter a straight line.
So, even though there was some distance, Urara's smile was so bright that the spectators must have seen it clearly. Urara entered the gate with a smile and then, as if a switch had been flipped, her expression turned serious.
There was no nervous trembling like before. No, I should say it was gone. The current Urara is in top form, and she no longer needs to tremble to bring out her best performance.
Still, even from a distance, I could feel her overflowing motivation.
After the start, they'll run on a straight line, and after passing the 3rd and 4th corners on the outer course, all that's left is the final stretch. Since it's a 1200-meter race, the time will be around 1 minute and 10 seconds. They'll run to the goal in just that short amount of time.
That's why the spectators naturally became quiet once the Umamusume entered their gates. They stopped their cheers and were focused on not missing even a second, no, even a moment of the Umamusume's race.
'All Umamusume, gate entry complete--and they're off!'
The gates opened with a bang. At the same time, the Umamusume burst out of their gates.
'All the Umamusume got a clean start.'
'Oh, everyone got a good start. They were all focused.'
'The one who took the lead first is number 2, Sword Dramatic. Following her are number 7, Chief Purser, number 14, Heart Caesar, and number 15, Aggregation. A little behind them, number 4, Maroon Sky, number 6, Unison Flag, number 9, Mini Daisy, number 8, Polka Step, and number 16, Ucaldee, are forming a group.'
No Umamusume was left behind at the start. That means the real race starts now.
'A length behind them are number 3, Jewel Garnet, number 5, Haru Urara, number 10, Fierce Kick, and number 13, Mini Lotus. Near the back are number 1, Breeze Drone, number 11, Local Stream, and number 12, Musha Musha.'
'Since it's 1200 meters, all the Umamusume are flying from the start. It's a flat course, and the track is heavy, so it looks like it's going to be a fast race.'
Since the Ooi Racecourse only has a dirt course, the ground must have been prepared well, and the inner part of the course wasn't too rough. Still, I could see that Urara wasn't forcing her way to the inside and was running straight until the 3rd corner.
'The ones fighting for the lead are number 2, Sword Dramatic, number 7, Chief Purser, and number 14, Heart Caesar. They're all changing positions with each other as they fight for the lead. A little behind them is number 15, Aggregation. The front group is another length behind. The middle group is also a length behind, but number 5, Haru Urara, is slowly moving up.'
'The gap from the front to the back is... not even 4 lengths. It seems they're all flying at a fast pace from the beginning.'
'They've passed about 500 meters, and the runaway Umamusume are entering the 3rd corner from the backstretch. The one in the lead is... number 7, Chief Purser, who's slightly ahead. She's running around the corner with a half-length lead.'
Maybe because the track is heavy, there isn't much dust flying around compared to when the track is in good condition. However, the hardened sand is flying backward, and the faces, arms, legs, and racing uniforms of the front-runners, finishers, and late bloomers, including Urara, are gradually getting covered in mud.
But the running Umamusume didn't care about the mud on their uniforms. They were constantly checking the movements of their rivals in front, to the sides, and behind them, feinting or marking them to prevent them from running as they pleased.
From that perspective, a runaway-style Umamusume has an advantage. There's still a psychological battle between runaway-style Umamusume, but if they get the lead, they can run at their own pace.
'They've passed the 600-meter mark. We can see the end of the 3rd corner, but the one in the lead has changed to number 14, Heart Caesar. But number 7, Chief Purser, is right next to her. Number 2, Sword Dramatic, is also right behind them. Another half-length behind is number 15, Aggregation.'
'They're slowly starting to spread out vertically. But the gap from the front to the back is... not even 6 lengths. It looks like the real race will begin after they pass the corner.'
'Each group is running with a spread of about 2 lengths. The runaway and front runners, front runners and finishers, and finishers and late bloomers are running as if they're connected... And number 5, Haru Urara, who was gradually moving up, has now entered the front group. She's currently in 7th place.'
'Her positioning is... a little on the outside. Since she finished 3rd in the 2000-meter Japan Dirt Derby, she must be confident in her stamina. She might be looking for a better position to pass the others by going around the outside rather than running on the inside.'
Urara was checking the movements of the Umamusume near her and running in a position that was easy for her to run in and easy for her to pass the Umamusume in front of her.
She didn't care if mud got on her face. As if to say, 'It's fine as long as it doesn't get in my eyes,' she was running with a calm mind, but with an overflowing competitive spirit. I had a thought while watching her.
--Ah, she really has grown.
I knew that Urara was working hard every day and was growing little by little. She has run in many races, and I can confidently say that she has grown each time.
But why? It's her second time in a G1 race, but why do I feel a sense of emotion that I didn't feel during the Japan Dirt Derby?
'They've passed the 400-meter mark, and the Umamusume have passed the 4th corner and are rushing into the home stretch. The ones fighting for the lead are still number 14, Heart Caesar and number 7, Chief Purser... Oh, and here comes number 5, Haru Urara. She's making her move as soon as she enters the final stretch!'
'It's not just Haru Urara. The other Umamusume are also rapidly speeding up.'
'Heart Caesar and Chief Purser are running away! Sword Dramatic is also running away! Aggregation has been swallowed by the front group! And here they come! Haru Urara has come up! She chose the far outside for a straight-line battle! She's 3, no, 2 lengths away from the lead! There's still 300 meters left! No, there's only a little over 200 meters left!'
Urara intentionally took the outside. And she's accelerating because there are no Umamusume blocking her way.
"Go! Go! Go, Urara!"
It's not just the cheers from the spectators. I cupped my hands like a megaphone and yelled, not losing to the sea breeze.
Go, go, go.
I didn't yell, 'Win.' I believe Urara will win. So, I only need to yell, 'Go,' and her name.
"D-do your best, Urara-chan! Do your best!"
"It's your turn now, Urara-san!"
Rice and King also yelled to Urara. Urara, as if in response to our voices, kicked the ground harder and accelerated even more.
'It's not just Haru Urara! The Classic-class Umamusume Mini Daisy and Mini Lotus are also coming up! But they're not there yet! Fierce Kick, the number 1 favorite, is also coming up as if to say she won't lose to the Classic class! Jewel Garnet is also coming in from the inside! And even more! Breeze Drone has come up all the way from the back! She's not caring about the huge gap in lengths! The late bloomers are coming up all at once!'
'They all increased their speed in the final stretch. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the strongest sprinter on dirt will be decided here!'
'The runaway Umamusume are running away! And the Umamusume from the back are rushing in to pass them! Who will pass them?! Will Fierce Kick show the strength of the Senior class?! Or will it be Haru Urara, the rise of a new generation?! Will she make it?!'
The distance is short, and there are Umamusume who have been competing in races for more than a year, so there isn't a huge difference in the positions of each Umamusume. Urara, who rushed in from the outside, is passing one after another, but there's less than 100 meters left until the goal.
As the announcer said, 'Will she make it?' That question and worry crossed my mind, and I laughed.
'Will she make it?' Of course, she will.
--Because it's Haru Urara.
'She's here! Haru Urara has passed them all at once! All at once from the outside! She passed them all! And now! She's at the goal!'
Urara crossed the finish line while still in the lead. There wasn't an overwhelming difference. The gap between her and 2nd place was probably less than a length.
But without a doubt, Urara had finished in 1st place.
I took a big breath to yell Urara's name. But before I could yell, I felt the strength leave my body.
"...Onii-sama?"
"Hey, Trainer? What's wrong?"
I plopped down on the ground. And I gave a wry smile to Rice and King, who were looking at me and asking what was wrong.
"It's my first time in my long life... that I got so happy my legs gave out."
No, in a way, my body was so surprised by my happiness that my legs gave out. I mean, all the strength just left my legs.
That's weird... I wonder why... When Rice and King won a G1, I was so happy my heart felt like it was going to burst.
But when I saw Urara, who had realized she had won 1st place, trembling and jumping up and down at the goal, a different kind of happiness, a slow, gradual joy, welled up from deep within my chest.
And at the same time... ah, damn it, no. My vision became blurry with tears.
"Sigh... Urara... you won..."
I muttered as if savoring the moment. That girl, Urara, had won. And she had won a G1.
So I should be so happy I can't help myself... I want to say that, but my heart is probably filled with a different emotion than happiness.
Of course, I'm happy. But more than that--I was moved.
'The finishing order has been confirmed. 1st place is number 5, Haru Urara. The winning time is 1:10.4. 2nd place is number 10, Fierce Kick, by 1 length. 3rd place is number 7, Chief Purser, by a neck. 4th place is number 14, Heart Caesar, by a nose. 5th place is number 1, Breeze Drone, by a neck.'
'Following Smart Falcon in the JBC Ladies' Classic, Haru Urara has won the JBC Sprint... It seems this year's Classic class is incredible on both turf and dirt.'
'The 3rd-place Chief Purser and 4th-place Heart Caesar are also from the Classic class... It was a distance Haru Urara is good at, but it was a magnificent run. However, she didn't beat the record.'
'With this, Haru Urara's record is now 5 wins in 11 races... Wait a minute. The one who has broken the record four times is the strange one, isn't she?'
I listened to the announcer and commentator and looked at the order board.
'She didn't beat the record?' Is there anything to be happier about than winning? But looking at the gaps in lengths on the order board, there's only about a 2-length difference between 1st-place Urara and 5th-place Breeze Drone.
(But it's still a win... It's Urara's first G1 victory...)
I put strength back into my legs and slowly stood up. My pants were wet... but oh well. They were going to get dirty anyway.
"Ha... ha... Trainer! Rice-chan! King-chan! I won! I won!"
Saying that, Urara jumped over the course fence and ran toward us--.
"Ugh!"
Ah, damn it. I lost. I thought that as I fell backward from Urara's tackle, but King immediately supported my back, so I was saved.
Urara's face, hands, feet, and uniform were all covered in mud. But her face was shining with a huge smile.
"Congratulations, Urara-chan! Rice is... Rice is so happy!"
Rice, who was so happy that her best friend, Urara, had won her first G1, hugged Urara with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, my... Trainer and Rice-senpai, your clothes are going to get dirty. But..."
King, who was supporting me, said that with a wry smile and then stopped. And even though she said her clothes would get dirty, she hugged Urara without caring about the mud.
"You did so well, Urara-san."
Rice, King, and I all hugged Urara. I hugged her from the front, so my clothes got very dirty, but this is a badge of honor.
"Urara."
"Yeah."
When I called her name, Urara looked up. There were tears in her eyes. And I was definitely crying, too.
"Congratulations."
"Yeah... yeah!"
I didn't need a lot of words. Just a single word, spoken with all my heart.
Tears fell from the corners of Urara's eyes and ran down her cheeks when she heard my words. And when I saw that, I probably shed even bigger tears than Urara.
Afterward, I was at the Winning Live venue with Rice and King.
We had a short time to prepare, so we cleaned as much mud off Urara's uniform and her face, hands, and feet as we could before sending her off to the stage. Then, we went to the stands.
This was the fifth time I was watching Urara perform as the center in a Winning Live. Of course, it was her first time as the center of a G1 Winning Live.
She had been in the Winning Live for the Japan Dirt Derby after finishing 3rd, but... Ah, no, I'm already about to cry even before the Winning Live starts.
I looked up at the sky to stop myself from crying, and a huge cheer went up from the spectators. And then, Urara and the Umamusume who had finished in the top three appeared on the stage.
Just like races, Winning Lives are a stage that Umamusume dream of. And when you win a G1, you can sing a song specifically for that race.
The song started with a somewhat melancholic intro, but the tempo of the song suddenly picked up in less than ten seconds.
And Urara, who was at the center, began to sing.
"..."
I would usually be making a fuss, but I just stared at Urara, who was singing and dancing for her fans.
Rice and King must have noticed my demeanor, but they didn't say anything. They just yelled and waved their light sticks to hype up Urara's live performance.
How about that, Urara? The place you're standing on right now is the center of a G1 Winning Live. It's a place where only the 1st-place Umamusume can stand, and you're standing there in your custom uniform.
The dream you had talked about before has come true.
Some Umamusume might be satisfied with this. She's competed in a G1 race, which only a handful of Umamusume in Tracen Academy can do, and she has won 1st place.
No one would criticize her if she were to be satisfied. In fact, she could leave Tracen Academy with her head held high.
Urara originally ran in her hometown of Kochi, and she only passed the entrance exam to Tracen Academy because of her good character. Being able to win a G1 race, which is the pinnacle of being a Umamusume, is more than enough to be satisfied.
But--if you ask me if I'm satisfied with this, my answer is no.
(First, a win... just the first... This isn't the final destination. There are still opponents and races I want Urara to win.)
Of course, this is only if Urara isn't satisfied with this victory. But when I looked at Urara on the stage, I smiled, thinking I was worrying for nothing.
She was happy, joyful, and proud. Urara was singing and dancing with such a bright, sparkling smile that you could feel her emotions. And her smile, song, and dance made the spectators' excitement soar.
The song ended in less than five minutes, and Urara and the others stopped moving, breathing heavily. I was about to clap--but before I could, Urara, who was holding the microphone, yelled with tears in her eyes.
"Trainer! I'm standing on this stage! Thank you!"
"Ugh...!"
At those words, my tear ducts easily burst.
And I looked down to hide my tears, smiling and crying at the same time.
--Honestly, how many times will this girl make me cry?
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