On the day of the February Stakes.
The February Stakes is held at the Tokyo Racecourse, and with the race scheduled as the 11th race with a start time of 3:40 PM, there's plenty of time. We were planning to have Urara run at the Tracen Academy in the morning, have lunch, and then head to the Tokyo Racecourse.
However...
"Japan's Smart Falcon has been defeated by a narrow margin! A neck difference! She's in second place by a neck against a world-class rival!"
Because Urara insisted on watching, I was playing the video of the Saudi Cup race that I had recorded the night before in the clubroom. Urara was watching the race with a serious expression, a stark contrast to her usual smiling face.
Since the morning, various news programs had been reporting on Smart Falcon's run in the Saudi Cup and her second-place finish, and UMA fans in Japan were ecstatic. Although she didn't get first place, coming in second against global powerhouses, and by such a small margin, was a great result in the eyes of the UMA fans.
I've been looking through information online, and of course, there are some who are disappointed that Smart Falcon lost. However, most are praising her for a valiant effort.
— The queen of Japan's dirt racing scene is incredible after all.
— She was the only one in the Classic class last year to win three G1s for a reason.
— Second place in her first international challenge is a monumental achievement.
Such voices were overflowing on the internet.
Saudi Arabia, where the Saudi Cup was held, has a different climate and racing environment from Japan. Of course, she went there in advance to acclimatize, but to finish second in her first race abroad, an environment completely different from her familiar Japan, is something else.
And it was a second-place finish in a race that attracted top competitors from all over the world, with a first-place prize of 10 million dollars. Even in second, the prize money was 3.5 million dollars. At the current exchange rate, that's a little over 400 million yen, which surpasses even the highest prize money races in Japan like the Japan Cup and the Arima Kinen.
After crossing the finish line and realizing she had finished second, all emotion vanished from Smart Falcon's face for a moment—then, as if it were a trick of the eye, she gave a wry smile. She then hugged the UMA who won first place, celebrating her victory with a smile. The winner hugged her back with a smile in return.
"I see... Falco-chan lost."
Urara muttered softly. I was about to say something in response, but after seeing her expression, I gently placed my hand on her head.
"The world is vast."
"Yeah... there are opponents that even Falco-chan can lose to..."
If the Saudi Cup had been held in Japan, she probably would have won. Still, I think finishing second in an unfamiliar environment and her first race abroad is a great accomplishment. She finished second out of 16 competitors. The Saudi Cup itself isn't even a G1 race, let alone a major race, but its high prize money attracts UMA girls who have won G1 dirt races in their respective countries.
In other words, in Japan, the competitors would all be UMA girls who are excellent at dirt racing, like Urara, El Condor Pasa, Oguri Cap, and Taiki Shuttle. With a prize of 10 million dollars for first place... over 1 billion yen, the motivation would be high.
(Smart Falcon also seemed highly motivated... but no, surely not...)
Thinking this, I continued to stroke Urara's head. She seemed to have thoughts about Smart Falcon's defeat, but she wasn't dejected. Instead, she shivered slightly and watched the winning live performance on the TV. Urara gripped her fists tightly as she watched Smart Falcon dancing in the winning live.
In the afternoon, after arriving at the Tokyo Racecourse with Urara and the others, I raised my eyebrows at the different atmosphere.
"Hey, did you watch the Saudi Cup last night?"
"Yeah, I did. Smart Falcon was amazing, wasn't she?"
"Second place in her first international challenge... and at the Saudi Cup at that."
Many UMA fans were talking about the Saudi Cup from last night instead of today's race. This was probably because today's main race at the Tokyo Racecourse was the dirt February Stakes, and many people were there to support dirt-running UMA girls.
Well, there was still time until the February Stakes started, so it was to be expected. As I was about to walk past a group of UMA fans chatting, one of them noticed something and their eyes widened.
"Oh, it's Haru Urara!"
"What?! No way?! Where?!"
"It's true! Wow, she's so cute! Rice Shower and King Halo are here too... Excuse me, can we take a picture?"
I gave a wry smile at the sight of the UMA fan pointing their smartphone at us.
"We have a race soon, so just one picture, okay? Is that alright with you, Urara?"
"Yep! Of course! Say cheese!"
Urara hugged Rice, who was next to her, and made a peace sign with a smile. King gave a wry smile at Urara and stood next to her, looking at the camera.
"Ah, Big Br... Trainer-san, please join us!"
"Huh? Why?"
I reacted without thinking. Isn't this supposed to be a picture with just the UMA girls? Well, I don't mind if they want me in it... When I stood next to King, a click sound came from the smartphone. The UMA fan who checked the photo had a huge smile on their face.
"Yes! Thank you so much!"
"Just getting this one picture was worth coming to the racecourse for!"
"I'm setting it as my wallpaper! Oh, and I won't post it on Uma-tter or anything!"
It seemed they had no intention of uploading it to sites like Uma-tter where a large number of people could see it. I was glad their internet literacy was high.
When we let them take a picture like this, we had to move quickly, or more UMA fans would gather. As we moved, a voice carried on the wind.
"Speaking of which... what would have happened if Haru Urara had been in the Saudi Cup last night?"
"It's 1800 meters, so it would have been tough, right? But with Haru Urara, I feel like she might have won."
"But yeah, I would have liked to see Haru Urara run there... I feel like she could win, and even if she lost, I'd cheer for her with all my heart."
I stopped in my tracks when I heard these words of praise for Urara. But I didn't turn back and continued to escort Urara to the waiting room. Just before she entered, I placed my hand on her head.
"Urara."
"Yeah."
"What is in front of us right now?"
"The race."
There was no hesitation in her answer. Confirming this, I gave her a final pat on the head and left.
『This is the Tokyo Racecourse as spring approaches. About to begin is the 11th race, the G1 February Stakes, a 1600-meter dirt race. The starting field is a full gate of 16 UMA girls. The track condition has been announced as "Good."』
『The main race today, the February Stakes, would usually have fewer spectators as it's a dirt race, but perhaps due to the influence of the Saudi Cup last night, it's a rare full house for a dirt race.』
As the fanfare blared, the race announcer and commentator spoke. I listened to them and looked back from my spot in the front row of the spectator stands.
(They're right... while the Tokyo Racecourse has a huge capacity, there are more spectators than usual.)
The Tokyo Racecourse has a capacity of about 200,000 people. While a full house is not uncommon for a G1 turf race, it's rare for a G1 dirt race. Even during the JBC series last fall, the atmosphere wasn't this electric. As the commentator said, the influence of the Saudi Cup last night must be significant. I think many UMA fans saw Smart Falcon's run on TV and were inspired to come see a live UMA race.
That's how great an achievement Smart Falcon's second-place finish in the Saudi Cup was. But it wasn't just that that brought nearly 200,000 people to the racecourse.
『Gate 3, number 5, Haru Urara. She's the number one favorite.』
『The current dirt scene isn't just about Smart Falcon. While she finished third in the Champions Cup last year, there's also this UMA girl in the dirt world... Haru Urara is here.』
As if to prove the commentator's words, a massive cheer erupted from the stands—a cheer so loud it seemed unbelievable for a pre-race moment. The start of the February Stakes is a straight turf section that connects to the exit of the second corner on the left. It's a bit far from the stands, but the UMA girls near the gate could be seen perking up their ears and tails at the thunderous roar.
However, Urara is used to the roar of a full house, having accompanied Rice and King to their races. I could see her face light up at the roar she usually heard from the stands.
『Oh, Haru Urara has a big smile on her face and is waving to the stands.』
『That smile is just great... but... the crowd... the noise...』
With a happy smile, Urara hopped in place before entering the gate, waving to the crowd. Her actions sent the energy of the stands soaring.
"Ow... Big Broth... Trainer-san? Today, the cheers are... amazing, aren't they?"
"My ears hurt..."
Rice and King said with wry smiles, their UMA ears flattened forward. The cheers really were incredible. My ears were hurting, too.
(...Hmm?)
As I watched Urara's smile from a distance, something caught my attention. It wasn't about Urara, but the other UMA girls.
(They're all so stiff... are they going to be okay?)
The crowd was many times larger than usual. And the massive roar coming from them seemed to be putting an incomparable amount of pressure on the UMA girls as each one was introduced and entered the gate. As a result, even UMA girls who had experienced G1 races before showed signs of tension on their faces. Some had their hands on their chests, desperately trying to catch their breath. Some moved their UMA ears frequently, unable to settle down.
(Urara is... okay, right?)
I looked at Urara, and she was calm. Or rather, she seemed to be waiting for the start with a focused expression, just as she always does before a race. When I showed her the Saudi Cup race video, she seemed to be conscious of Smart Falcon, but Smart Falcon isn't here. All there is is the course, the race, and the goal 1600 meters ahead.
It's not that she's underestimating her other rivals. Urara is focused on the race, but she is surely also conscious of them. However, in addition to being focused, Urara must also be thinking this: A race watched by over 200,000 people must be exciting. The feeling of excitement for a race is the foundation of who she is.
And more than that, Urara now has a strong desire to win against Smart Falcon, a desire to not lose anymore.
All the UMA girls entered the gate. Although it took longer than usual, the crowd gradually quieted down. The gaze of the 200,000 people gathered at the Tokyo Racecourse was fixed on the gate, and silence filled the air—and the gate opened.
『The UMA girls have started all at once. But this is...』
『It's a messy start, isn't it?』
The gate opened with a bang, but several UMA girls were slow to start. They probably stumbled due to the different... no, too different environment.
『The first to break away is number 1, Sword Dramatic. She's followed by number 4, Heart Caesar. And then number 14, Shorty Shot, number 7, Kunbakarna, number 5, Haru Urara, number 12, On Stage Revue, number 13, Gold Shushu, and number 16, Mini Daisy.』
As proof of this, Urara, who specializes in late-stage bursts, was among the leading group. It wasn't that Urara started too fast. The other UMA girls were slow to start.
『Next are number 2, Aqua Lake, number 8, Marine Seagull, and number 10, Mini Lotus. Slightly behind them are the second favorite, number 6, Slaín, number 9, Local Stream, and the laggards at the back are number 3, Insight Catch, number 11, Pristine Song, and number 15, Dragoon Spear.』
Three UMA girls were completely left behind. Perhaps because of this, Slaín, who beat Urara in the Champions Cup, was in a position more like a burst-type than her usual追い込み (oikomi - a late-stage surge from the back of the pack) style. Running in an unusual position is surprisingly difficult. It would be a different story if you regularly ran alongside and understood the movements of UMA girls who specialize in other strategies, like Urara...
『The UMA girls are running down the backstretch. They've passed the 1000-meter mark, and number 1, Sword Dramatic, is still in the lead. They're about to enter the third corner.』
『The Tokyo Racecourse has a lot of undulations, but the maximum elevation difference is a little over 2 meters. The key is how to use these undulations to make your move.』
I crossed my arms, watching Urara and the others running down the backstretch toward the third corner. And when I saw Urara's movement, I couldn't help but smile wryly.
(I knew it... no matter how much you focus on the race in front of you, you'll still be conscious of it.)
Urara's movements were clearly those of an UMA girl trying to pass the front runners. This is a common strategy for burst-type UMA girls, but Urara's movements had a clear objective.
『The UMA girls are exiting the third corner and entering the fourth. Number 1, Sword Dramatic, is still in the lead—but here she comes! With less than 800 meters to go, number 5, Haru Urara, is moving up to the front!』
『It seems a little early to make a move, but is it half-way there or half-way left? I wonder which one?』
Urara was making her move. Even though she hadn't entered the final stretch yet, she was slowly picking up speed. The 1600-meter distance of the February Stakes is the same as the Unicorn Stakes. The racecourses are also the same. The only difference is the track condition; since the Unicorn Stakes was a slightly heavy track, today's good track might make it harder to get a record time.
But Urara was burning with a desire to win. Perhaps it was because Smart Falcon wasn't there that she was even more fired up. I don't know why Smart Falcon chose to challenge the Saudi Cup. Was it for the prize money, or did she just want to race against the world's top UMA girls? I can't be sure.
If it was the latter... if she thought that UMA girls in Japan were no longer a match for her, then her rival, Smart Falcon, wasn't even seeing her in her sights.
(Urara wouldn't stand for that, would she?)
I have a hunch, just a hunch. Smart Falcon wasn't unaware of Urara. I think she challenged the Saudi Cup fully aware of Urara. But I don't know why. What was her reason for choosing the Saudi Cup over the same race at the same course as the Unicorn Stakes, where she lost to Urara? Why did she fly abroad instead of seeking a rematch with Urara?
『Here she comes! Haru Urara is moving up! The final stretch, with 400 meters to go! She's now right behind Sword Dramatic, who's desperately trying to hold the lead! Can Sword Dramatic hold her off?!』
『It's going to be tough for her to hold off Haru Urara with 400 meters left. It's the final stretch, and it's an uphill slope. The Haru Urara we know is just getting started here.』
Urara's eyes shone. The final 400-meter stretch. Her legs tightened, looking at the goal ahead, or maybe even beyond that.
『But an UMA girl is coming up from behind! Number 6, Slaín! She's picking up speed from the back, just like in the Champions Cup! And number 16, Mini Daisy, is also breaking away from the leading pack!』
Just a moment before reaching the front, the UMA girls from the back started to accelerate all at once. Among them was Slaín, who had defeated her in the Champions Cup—but...
『Haru Urara has finally taken the lead! Haru Urara is in the lead! But Slaín is flying up from behind! Is this the true power of a burst-type UMA?! Slaín is closing in on Haru Urara...』
『This is...』
『She can't catch her! Can't catch her?! Haru Urara is pulling away even more! The distance to Slaín isn't shrinking! What is this finishing speed?! Haru Urara is pulling away even more after her long sprint?!』
While cheering for Urara as she ran, I found myself muttering softly.
"What a shame..."
Lately, I've felt that the timing just hasn't been right. I wanted to see Urara and Smart Falcon run together in this February Stakes. I wanted to see them compete on this stage, at this distance of 1600 meters, a mile race where Urara can currently show her full strength.
『Haru Urara, she's first to the goal! A powerful! A magnificent run! She wins with a three-length lead over Slaín in second place!』
I knew that today, in this environment, Urara would have beaten Smart Falcon.
『The results are official. First place, number 5, Haru Urara. Second place, number 6, Slaín, three lengths behind. Third place, number 16, Mini Daisy, one length behind. Fourth place, number 2, Aqua Lake, by a nose. Fifth place, number 10, Mini Lotus, by a neck.』
『So Haru Urara has won her second G1... She's the first to win a G1 in the Senior class this year. It doesn't seem to be a new record, though...』
After crossing the finish line first, Urara shivered all over when she realized she had won. She then proudly puffed out her chest with a smile and raised a peace sign to the sky. The crowd erupted in cheers at her pose, which boasted of her second G1 victory. It was a pose that Rice often did and King also adopted. Urara might have imitated it, but she quickly broke into a big smile and jumped up and down with both hands raised. At the sight of Urara expressing her joy with her whole body, the crowd showered her with loud cheers and applause.
And right after that. As Urara headed back from the course to the waiting room to prepare for the winning live, I called out to her.
"Good job, Urara."
"Ah, Trainer!"
When I called out, Urara ran up to me with a smile. I thought she would jump into my arms, but she stopped just before, for some reason. She looked up at me with a serious expression.
"Hey, Trainer."
"Yeah? What is it?"
Her voice and expression were serious, which was unexpected for someone who had just won a race. I tilted my head.
"In today's race... if Falco-chan had been in it, do you think I would have won?"
Her question made me smile wryly. As I expected, Urara had been thinking the same thing.
"If Smart Falcon had been here, it wouldn't have been such an easy win... but you would have won today, Urara."
I said this, genuinely disappointed that she couldn't repay the debt she owed her. Urara chuckled. Her smile was more mature than usual.
"I see... Alright! I'll do my best in the winning live too!"
But she immediately returned to her usual self. I told her to be careful not to fall and muttered to myself.
(Timing, huh...)
I had thought the same thing earlier, but it felt like something had shifted. It felt like Smart Falcon's participation in the Saudi Cup had caused a fatal shift. I don't know what it was, but...
(So, I'll have to wait until the Teio Sho to repay the debt to Smart Falcon... No, four months is a long time until the end of June when the Teio Sho is held. I want to fit one or two races in before then.)
There would probably be another clash there. That's what I thought.
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