『There's just a little over a month left in the year. The Tokyo Racecourse is getting closer to the middle of winter, and the 11th race is about to begin. The G1 Japan Cup on the turf at 2,400 meters. The track condition is announced as good.』
『The stands are full, and people are also crowding around the Tokyo Racecourse. According to information just announced by the URA, including the spectators who have entered the racecourse, over 500,000 people have gathered, approaching 600,000.』
The sound of the fanfare echoes at Tokyo Racecourse, and the male commentators, both live and for the analysis, begin to speak. Nearly 600,000 people... that really shows how much attention this Japan Cup is getting.
『Now, let's move on to the introduction of each Uma Musume. No. 1, 1st gate, Rice Shower. She's the second favorite.』
『She's the winner of last month's Tenno Sho (Autumn), and the Uma Musume who has won both the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho. Her high popularity is understandable, as she's going for her second title in the Autumn Senior Triple Crown. Oh, she's my top pick.』
In response to the introduction, Rice waves to the spectators. In return, a huge cheer erupts from the crowd—my ears hurt! I covered my ears beforehand, but their voices are so loud!
Urara has her hands on her Uma ears, and King has her Uma ears folded forward while she stands with her arms crossed. But even King seemed to have been surprised by the louder-than-expected cheers, as her shoulders flinched.
I'm happy that Rice is so popular, but this is a bit too much. No, I'm genuinely happy.
And next up is Mihono Bourbon, as it's an odd-numbered gate.
『No. 3, 2nd gate, Mihono Bourbon. She's the sixth favorite.』
『She has finally made her appearance in an official race after about a year. Oh... I'm genuinely happy that she's standing on the race stage again. She's the sixth favorite, which is high popularity when you consider that she hasn't run in a race for a year. Oh my, what a cheer!』
Mihono Bourbon bows deeply to the spectators. And she probably has a lot on her mind, as she stays there with her head down without moving.
"Welcome back! Mihono Bourbooon!"
"We're so glad!"
"Thank you for coming back! Please keep running in races!"
Cheers, tearful voices, applause. All sorts of voices and sounds pour down on Mihono Bourbon. I see Rice, who has entered the gate, and the other Uma Musume, who are waiting to enter, smiling and applauding for Mihono Bourbon.
The same goes for Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, who have also experienced long-term recovery. They have dropped the tense atmosphere they had in the paddock and are smiling gently.
They are rivals, but they are also competitors who compete on the same race stage. They must have a lot on their minds. Mihono Bourbon looks up, rubs her eyes with her arm, and enters the gate.
『No. 9, 5th gate, Special Week. She's the fifth favorite.』
『This Uma Musume has finally stormed into a G1 race with Senior division competitors. She's one of the Golden Generation and this year's Derby Uma Musume. She's an Uma Musume with a bright future. Of course, I'm also very much looking forward to today's race.』
With that introduction, Special Week waves enthusiastically to the spectators. She seems to be losing her unnecessary tension as the race gets closer. That type of person tends to be a strong competitor.
『No. 11, 6th gate, Nice Nature. She's the 10th favorite.』
『She's been a little down lately... but she's an Uma Musume with a stable strength. Let's keep a close eye on what kind of race she'll run today.』
Nice Nature gives a wry smile and a modest wave to the spectators. But when she enters the gate, her expression becomes serious, showing her concentration.
『No. 13, 7th gate, Machikane Tannhauser. She's the 12th favorite.』
『This is the second introduction from Team Canopus. But this one has also been a little down lately... But Uma Musume races are also about a dark horse quietly winning at times like these. I'm looking forward to it.』
I nod slightly at the commentator's words. No matter how much you train, there are no absolutes in an Uma Musume race. That's why you can't let your guard down.
Machikane Tannhauser bows her head to the spectators with a small, animal-like movement and enters the gate.
『No. 2, 1st gate, Winning Ticket. She's the 11th favorite.』
『She's one of the Golden Generation and the Uma Musume who won last year's Hopeful Stakes. However, the Japan Cup has a lineup of G1 Uma Musume. We'll be keeping an eye on whether she can beat the Senior division Uma Musume as a Classic division competitor.』
Winning Ticket waves energetically to the spectators. The spectators are overjoyed by her bright and cheerful gesture.
『No. 4, 2nd gate, Twin Turbo. She's the ninth favorite.』
『Here she comes, Twin Turbo... I'm looking forward to her escape even before the race starts. However, there are many other powerful leaders today. I wonder what will happen, will she make a reverse spurt? I'll be keeping a close eye on her.』
Hmm... I feel like the commentator's treatment of Twin Turbo is different from the other Uma Musume... But Twin Turbo doesn't seem to mind and is laughing with her mouth wide open at the spectators. The spectators are laughing too, so she's a strange Uma Musume.
『No. 6, 3rd gate, Mejiro Palmer. She's the 13th favorite.』
『This one is also a powerful leader. Looking at the lineup of Uma Musume running today, it might not be an exaggeration to say that this race will decide the top leader. I'd even like to add Silence Suzuka to this lineup.』
Mejiro Palmer gives a light wave to the spectators and enters the gate. If she runs like she did in last year's Arima Kinen, it will be difficult for even Rice to catch up, but we'll see...
『No. 10, 5th gate, El Condor Pasa. She's the eighth favorite.』
『Since she won the NHK Mile Cup, she has the impression of being a miler, but she can run in medium and long-distance races as well. I wonder what kind of race she'll run as one of the Golden Generation... It's a problem that there are too many Uma Musume to watch out for today.』
El Condor Pasa enters the gate... She's the type of Uma Musume who is just purely strong. It's probably also because she was raised by Tojo-san, but she's an Uma Musume in the Classic division with no weaknesses.
And I think it's amazing that she can run on both turf and dirt, from mile to long distance... Well, not as much as Meek, but still...
『No. 12, 6th gate, Mejiro McQueen. She's the fourth favorite.』
『She missed the Tenno Sho (Autumn) due to tenosynovitis, but she has returned for the Japan Cup. As one of the TMR generation, who will be facing off against the Golden Generation, we can expect a good run from her. Oh, a huge cheer has gone up.』
Mejiro McQueen bows gracefully and enters the gate. Yeah... she seems to be sharpening her concentration as the race gets closer. However, I wonder how the break will affect her, even though she has recovered...
『No. 14, 7th gate, Oguri Cap. She's the seventh favorite.』
『This one also has top-class ability in the Classic division. Can the Satsuki Sho Uma Musume wear a new crown...? She also seems to have a lot of spirit. We can expect a good run from her.』
Oguri Cap doesn't show any gesture of waving to the spectators. She just looks straight ahead and slowly enters the gate.
『No. 16, 8th gate, Tokai Teio. She's the third favorite.』
『In the Tenno Sho (Autumn), she came in second, just one step behind Rice Shower. However, this is also her favorite distance. Oh... I don't know who to watch out for in this race. It's a problem.』
The live commentator is proceeding calmly, but the commentator for the analysis seems to be very excited. As he said, there are so many strong Uma Musume that it's hard to decide who to watch. I understand how he feels.
(Tokai Teio is also focused... Now, what will she do?)
As if to show her good condition, Tokai Teio takes a light step before entering the gate. She seems to be in good spirits and good condition.
『No. 18, 8th gate, Seiun Sky. She's the first favorite.』
『Finally, this Uma Musume is entering the gate. The Kikuka Sho Uma Musume and world record holder. The first favorite, even surpassing the TMR generation, and the cheers are—amazing—so—』
The moment Seiun Sky was introduced, a cheer even louder than the one for Mihono Bourbon went up.
"Unsuu! U! N! S!"
"Show us another world record today!"
"Run away, Seiun Sky!"
Seiun Sky is the one who was constantly on TV after she set a world record. Rice's consecutive victories in the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho are a great achievement on a domestic level, but Seiun Sky's is an achievement on a world level. This popularity is only natural.
Seiun Sky laughs as if she's troubled by the cheers from the spectators. And then, her gaze wanders, and she enters the gate with an ambiguous smile.
The Uma Musume have all entered the gates, and the Japan Cup is about to begin... I thought, but the cheers from the spectators don't stop. The cheers for Seiun Sky to set a new record are especially loud.
『The race is about to begin. Please be quiet. I repeat. The race is about to begin. Please be quiet.』
The stadium announcement finally starts, and the spectators finally begin to quiet down. But I understand why they want to make a fuss. If I were just a spectator and not a trainer with a competitor in the race, I would be very excited in a race with so many powerful Uma Musume.
As a trainer with an Uma Musume in the race... yes, I'm more nervous than excited.
(Show me what you've got, Rice...)
This isn't the usual pattern of marking and coming from behind. It's a head-on race, aiming for the lead.
Thanks to the announcement, the voices and sounds from the spectators fade away like a receding wave.
『All Uma Musume are in the gates... And they've started!』
And with a clang, the gates open.
『All Uma Musume, a slightly uneven start. The first to break away are No. 4, Twin Turbo, No. 3, Mihono Bourbon, No. 6, Mejiro Palmer, and No. 18, Seiun Sky.』
No Uma Musume got a slow start. However, the four leaders all broke away at the same time, vying for the lead, which resulted in a seemingly uneven start.
『Followed by No. 1, Rice Shower, No. 9, Special Week, No. 16, Tokai Teio, No. 14, Oguri Cap, No. 10, El Condor Pasa, No. 12, Mejiro McQueen, No. 11, Nice Nature, and No. 7, With Caspar. From there, No. 2, Winning Ticket, No. 8, Gutenberg, No. 13, Machikane Tannhauser, No. 15, Black Tipped, and No. 17, Make You Gasp. In last place is No. 5, Energetic.』
Rice, being in the inside gate, is in the front from the start. However, the leaders are fast. The gap between Rice, who is at the front of the leading group, and the leaders is gradually widening.
Tokyo Racecourse is a course with a lot of undulation. The race starts in front of the stands, after the fourth corner, and they run one lap on the left to reach the goal.
There are uphill and downhill slopes, so it's a course that requires stamina and guts to run. There probably aren't many Uma Musume who can beat Rice in those two aspects, but even Rice can't immediately catch the Uma Musume who take off like a fire has been lit at the start.
From a leader's perspective, they are definitely among the top 10 Uma Musume at Tracen Academy. Looking at how they're running without a care in the world, it seems they plan to lead from the start to the goal.
However, there's a difference in how they're running. Twin Turbo is running away with incredible speed, while Mejiro Palmer is chasing her and accelerating more and more.
Mihono Bourbon had a fast start, but she's in third place, keeping her own pace. And Seiun Sky, who set a world record, is running in fourth place, just slightly behind Mihono Bourbon.
Even Seiun Sky, who is in fourth place, is running ahead of Rice.
『Passing the first straight and entering the first corner. No. 4, Twin Turbo, is leading. Her turbo engine is in full throttle today. But No. 6, Mejiro Palmer, is running alongside her. About two lengths behind them are No. 3, Mihono Bourbon, and about one length behind her is No. 18, Seiun Sky.』
『Both Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer are the types of Uma Musume who run away far ahead. I wonder if they can last for 2,400 meters... it probably depends on whether they have engine trouble.』
『The gap between them and the next group is already three lengths. In fifth place is No. 1, Rice Shower, and the Uma Musume are changing positions with no big gap between them. The gap between the leader and the last place is about 10 lengths.』
『The two leaders are pulling away. The gap is huge despite it being the beginning of the race.』
Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer are running away as if they're fighting for the lead. If they continue to run away at that pace, it would be impossible for any Uma Musume, let alone Rice, to catch them. That's how well they're running away.
『Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer, who are fighting for the lead, have passed the second corner and are entering the backstretch. This is a very fast pace. They'll pass the 1,000-meter mark in a bit.』
『The time for the 1,000-meter mark is... 57.5 seconds!? This is an unbelievable time for a 2,400-meter race. She might have bolted... but for Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer, this is probably business as usual. This reminds me of the time when Mejiro Palmer and Daitaku Helios were running away at the same time.』
The spectators are getting a little noisy at the 1,000-meter mark time that Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer have set.
(It's impossible for them to continue running at that pace... but...)
Even if they slow down in the second half, there's a strategy of running away by using the lead they've built up. And Twin Turbo succeeded in a huge escape in the All-Comer, and Mejiro Palmer continued to run away until the very end in last year's Arima Kinen.
Even as a spectator, I thought it was impossible, but the Uma Musume who are actually running must think differently. A few of them have accelerated and started to move to the front.
『Perhaps inspired by the two who are running away, a few have started to move to the front. No. 18, Seiun Sky, is now in third place, No. 10, Nice Nature, has passed three of them, and No. 13, Machikane Tannhauser, has caught up with the leading group. No. 7, With Caspar, is also moving up with Nice Nature.』
『Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer's escape is amazing... The gap between them and Seiun Sky, who has moved up to third place, is six, no, seven lengths. It's strange to describe it this way since there are two of them, but they're running alone.』
『The two leaders have reached the uphill slope of the backstretch. The gap has widened significantly, and No. 18, Seiun Sky, and No. 3, Mihono Bourbon, are following. The leading group is about three lengths behind that. The middle group is about 13... 14 lengths behind the leader. I can't even count how far back the last place is. It's not more than 20 lengths, but...』
Looking from the front to the back, there's a huge gap. It's about 50 meters, a desperate difference. But that's only if they can run away until the end.
I think they'll run out of stamina on the way—but Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer both have that terrifying feeling that they'll get away with it.
(Rice is... yeah, she hasn't moved. She doesn't seem to be in a hurry, either...)
It's still too early to make a move. Rice can make a long spurt, but there's still over 1,000 meters to go. She can probably increase her speed a little, but it's still too early to make a spurt.
『The leaders, Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer, are entering the third corner. They've passed the 1,000-meter mark. Is the turbo engine in good condition today? Mejiro Palmer is not giving an inch. But this year's Kikuka Sho Uma Musume, Seiun Sky, is gradually moving up.』
『Mihono Bourbon isn't moving. Judging from the time, she's keeping a steady pace... Is she waiting for the leaders to collapse, or is she going to increase her pace...?』
『The other Uma Musume are also entering the third corner one after another. This is about the time when the fast Uma Musume will start to make their moves... No. 1, Rice Shower, No. 16, Tokai Teio, No. 9, Special Week, and No. 10, El Condor Pasa, are starting to accelerate slightly.』
They're moving from the backstretch to the corner, and Rice and the others are gradually getting closer to the stands.
The third corner is mostly a downhill slope, which is good for accelerating. However, there's a slight uphill slope right before the fourth corner, and a slope with a height difference of about two meters awaits them on the final straight.
The drastic undulations mean that their stamina will be worn down. The final straight is about 500 meters long, so even with the height difference, it's a very easy course for Rice to accelerate... but...
『The leaders, Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer, have passed the 800-meter mark and are entering the fourth corner. From here on, it's a gentle uphill slope. The Uma Musume behind them are gradually closing the distance. But the distance they've gained is still about six to seven lengths ahead of Seiun Sky in third place. Can they continue to run away?』
『If they can, then this year's Senior division wouldn't be called the TMR generation. Rice Shower and Tokai Teio are gradually moving up. Mejiro McQueen is... oh? She's fallen back to the middle group.』
I shift my gaze at the commentator's voice. Mejiro McQueen... she has indeed fallen back from her position at the start. Her expression looks a little pained, and she doesn't seem to be in good condition.
(It doesn't look like her tenosynovitis has flared up again. Has she run out of stamina? Mejiro McQueen?)
No... no matter how long of a break she's had, it's too early for her to run out of stamina. I should probably assume she's saving her legs.
『Now, Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer have passed the fourth corner and are storming into the home straight! There's about 500 meters to the goal! Will they get away with it... oh, Twin Turbo is starting to slow down! Is her turbo engine at its limit!? But she's still desperately trying to push her engine!』
『Her speed has dropped. Now it's up to Mejiro Palmer to see how far she can run away... oh.』
『Following Twin Turbo, Mejiro Palmer's legs are also starting to get dull! Did they go too fast!? The new "bombing escape" duo is slowing down at once! And Seiun Sky is gradually moving up as if she's been waiting for this! The gap is five, no, four lengths! The distance is shrinking at once!』
They had been running on the final straight, but the moment they reached the steep uphill slope, Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer's legs became dull. Looking at them from the side—from the stands—I can clearly see how much they've slowed down.
Mejiro Palmer, but especially Twin Turbo, slows down, and for some reason, laughter can be heard from the stands. At the same time, I can hear voices like "Oh no" and "I guess the engine is a no-go today."
—And, as if on cue, Seiun Sky moves up.
『Here she comes! She's here! The Uma Musume who set a world record! She's finally moved up with full confidence! She passes the desperately running Twin Turbo, and now she passes Mejiro Palmer! She's in the lead!』
『Seiun Sky can not only lead but also take the front. I guess you could say she's a frontrunner who tends to lead? Can she run away with it until the goal and live up to her popularity... it won't be that easy.』
『And behind Seiun Sky! Rice Shower is moving up! And so is Tokai Teio! They're accelerating rapidly! She passes Mihono Bourbon! She also passes the faltering Twin Turbo! Does Mejiro Palmer still have something left!? Oh, she passed her! She passed her now!』
The live commentator must have gotten excited, as I heard a loud bang of his hand hitting the table. Listening to that sound, I squint and frown.
(Mihono Bourbon...)
The accelerating Rice passed Mihono Bourbon. Mihono Bourbon was running at her own pace, but the moment Rice passed her, her expression softened a little...?
『After climbing the hill, there's 300 meters left! But it's still 300 meters! Can Seiun Sky, who's in the lead, get away with it? Or will the Senior division show their guts... wait! Another one! Oguri Cap is moving up! It's Oguri Cap! The gray monster has accelerated at once!』
I turn my attention back to Rice. And I see Oguri Cap charging from behind with a terrifying expression.
Her posture is low. Oguri Cap is charging like a bullet, or like she's crawling on the ground.
『Mejiro McQueen is accelerating from the back, but can she catch up!? Can she make it!? Mihono Bourbon, in her comeback race, is currently in fourth place! No, Oguri Cap passed her! Mihono Bourbon is in fifth place! Mihono Bourbooooon!? Mihono Bourbon, who was keeping a steady pace! She has now accelerated as if to chase Oguri Cap!? And Nice Nature is moving up behind her!』
『Mihono Bourbon... I've never seen her expression change like that before.』
『There's less than 200 meters left! Seiun Sky is still in the lead! But, but! The Uma Musume who won both the Spring and Autumn Tenno Sho has charged in! Rice Shower! She's moving up! And Tokai Teio is also moving up, not wanting to lose!』
Rice and the other Uma Musume are running on the home straight. The spectators are incredibly excited and are cheering loudly.
"Go, go, go, go, Rice! Pass her!"
Of course, I was also screaming at the top of my lungs. Today, the cheers from the crowd are so loud that I don't know if my voice is reaching them. Urara and King are also screaming at the top of their lungs on either side of me, but their voices are drowned out by the huge cheers.
But Rice must have heard our voices, as she accelerates even more. All I can do now is watch and cheer. That's why I keep screaming as if it doesn't matter if my throat rips open.
『As if pushed by the cheers from the spectators, the Uma Musume are running down the home straight! Is Seiun Sky struggling!? There's still 100 meters to the goal! It's so far away! Can Seiun Sky get away... no, she's been caught! Rice Shower passed her without even running alongside her! Tokai Teio also passes Seiun Sky! And here comes Oguri Cap! She's two lengths behind the leader!』
Oguri Cap accelerates even more, trying to catch Rice and Tokai Teio. Her speed can no longer be said to be of the Classic division. It's a speed that's well within the top tier of the Senior division.
But the ones running in front of Oguri Cap are not just top-tier but are at the very top of the Senior division.
『Oguri Cap is moving up! She's moving up... but the gap isn't shrinking! Rice Shower and Tokai Teio! They've crossed the finish line side by side!』
Rice and Tokai Teio cross the finish line while competing with each other. When I saw that, I suddenly remembered the Osaka Hai.
In that race, it was a photo finish between three of them—Tokai Teio, Mejiro McQueen, and Rice—and Rice came in third. How about this time? I can't tell, even though I was watching them from the side.
The Uma Musume are crossing the finish line one after another. And when Twin Turbo, who made a reverse spurt at the end, crosses the finish line looking like she's about to collapse, the results board lights up.
The first and second places are not displayed. The word "PHOTO" is lit up.
『This is... a photo finish. They were competing at the end, and now it's a photo finish. I wonder who won, Tokai Teio or Rice Shower?』
『It didn't look like either of them had an advantage in their posture. I wonder what the result will be...』
The results board shows the numbers for third place and below.
Third place is Oguri Cap, with a one and a half length gap. Fourth place is Nice Nature, with a one-length gap to Oguri Cap. Fifth place is El Condor Pasa, with a neck difference.
The question is, who won, Rice or Tokai Teio?
"This is taking a while..."
"I wonder if it was a very close call?"
When I mutter, King responds. The deliberation has been going on for nearly three minutes, and I had a fleeting thought of "no way."
And then, after a few dozen more seconds, the results board lights up.
『The results have been confirmed. First place is No. 1, Rice Shower. The winning time is 2 minutes and 22.3 seconds. Second place is No. 2, Tokai Teio, by a nose. Third place is No. 14, Oguri Cap, with a one and a half length gap. Fourth place is No. 11, Nice Nature, with a one-length gap. Fifth place is No. 18, El Condor Pasa, by a neck.』
The live commentator reads out the results. I hear it, check the results board, and raise both of my fists.
"~~~~!"
I'm so happy I can't even speak. I lost in a photo finish in the Osaka Hai, but this time I won. And with this, she's on the verge of the Autumn Senior Triple Crown.
In my line of sight, Rice, who has checked the results, clenches her fist a little and then turns to face the stands. And she thrusts her right hand into the air, spreading all her fingers to declare her fifth G1 win.
The crowd erupts in a huge cheer at Rice's performance.
Tokai Teio was grimacing as if she was disappointed, but she soon looked up at the sky and let out a big sigh. Then she smiled wryly, and I saw her lightly pat Rice on the back.
『With this, Rice Shower has also tied Tokai Teio with five G1 titles. It seems this will be settled at the Arima Kinen.』
『Oh, and Oguri Cap has moved up, so this year's Arima Kinen is going to be more exciting than usual.』
The cheers from the spectators get even louder at the voices of the live and analysis commentators. As I cover my ears from the sheer volume of the cheers, I see Mihono Bourbon talking to Rice after Tokai Teio.
Mihono Bourbon came in ninth. She chased Oguri Cap but couldn't catch up, and her legs didn't extend as much as Oguri Cap's. And she was passed by El Condor Pasa and Mejiro McQueen, who charged from behind, couldn't reach Seiun Sky, and was finally passed by Special Week.
Still, Mihono Bourbon's expression is bright. I could see her smiling, and then she said something to Rice.
At that, Rice's expression instantly breaks. I couldn't understand everything she said, but did she say, "Congratulations"?
Mihono Bourbon wraps her arms around Rice's back as if to hug her and deepens her smile as if she's satisfied.
—Back then, last year, I should have done this... Congratulations, Rice-san.
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