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(Rikiai Northern = Kita Rikiai)
While Shuta An was diligently analyzing Oguri Cap's opponents, those same Uma Musumes paid little attention to her—even though the Gray Uma Musume had won this year's French 2000 Guineas. In their eyes, her distance adaptability had already reached its ceiling, and challenging a 2400-meter race was nothing more than wishful thinking.
This sentiment spread all the way from Paris to Tokyo. Tokai Teio even messaged Shuta An on Line, asking whether the rumors were true. The "consequence" of that question was a sudden increase in her training load—the Young man even sent a message to Symboli Rudolf, asking her to supervise Tokai Teio's extra practice.
"If Teio trusts her Trainer, then she should leave these judgments to him," Symboli Rudolf reminded her gently, watching the younger girl flounder in the pool. "If Oguri Cap found out you asked something like that, she would definitely be upset."
"I know, I know— I just saw everyone online saying those things, so I got worried and asked," Tokai Teio muttered, puffing her cheeks as she paddled. "I didn't expect Trainer to increase my training load right away—"
"That only means he thinks you're too idle right now," Symboli Rudolf replied, turning away. "Increasing your workload keeps you from getting distracted."
"Gurgle—" Tokai Teio let herself sink again, kicking resentfully beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, Shuta An reviewed the opponent summaries he had completed for the French Derby, washed up, and prepared for bed.
"Tomorrow, I'll review the outside-gate opponents with Oguri. And I need to check Berno's homework too." With those notes set in his mind, he stood from his desk.
———
The next morning, while Oguri Cap went through light training, Shuta An examined the homework he had given Berno Light. As expected, Berno Light believed the Uma Musume modeled after Alice had a clear advantage.
What surprised him was her choice for second favorite—not the official second pick, but rather the winner of the original race.
"Oh? Why do you think she has a good chance?" Shuta An asked, eyebrow raised, genuinely interested in her reasoning.
"Her pre-race data wasn't good, but she's the only one among them with multiple races on this course. And since this track layout is a bit unusual, I thought that experience might help her." Berno Light explained plainly.
Shuta An narrowed his eyes and nodded slowly. "Good. Berno still can't clearly articulate her whole deduction process yet, but her intuition is developing very well."
Hearing the praise, Berno Light lifted her head with a proud, glowing smile. "I worked hard!"
Shuta An couldn't stop himself from reaching out and patting her head.
———
That afternoon, he brought Oguri Cap to the hotel café again to continue the French Derby analysis.
"Last time we talked about the opponents inside of your gate. Today, we look at the ones outside." Shuta An paused. "But first, I need to confirm something."
"What is it?" Oguri Cap asked, tilting her head with a cup of carrot juice in hand.
"The race videos I sent you—Oguri, did you finish all of them?"
"Of course!" Oguri Cap nodded firmly. "I studied everything. I know the small movements they make and what they're aiming for."
"Good." Shuta An exhaled lightly, then returned to business.
"Gate 8, Hours After. She's clearly a heavy-track specialist and underperforms on dry ground. The forecast for Chantilly shows no rain before or during Derby day, so unless there's sudden rainfall, Oguri, you don't need to worry about her."
"Gate 9. She already announced a temporary withdrawal—ignore her." He crossed her name out.
"Gate 10, Ghost Buster's, is similar: also better on heavy tracks. Same treatment—unless it rains, focus elsewhere."
"Gate 11, Emmson. She won a 2000-meter G3 at Longchamp and likely has the stamina for this race. But she prefers a more forward position, and this gate is terrible for that. Even so, she'll probably force herself to contend early. Be careful not to get blocked on your acceleration line."
"Gate 12, Poliglote, won a G1 for debutantes last year and should manage 2400 meters. But she's too far outside. Ignore her early."
After briefly covering Gates 13–15, Shuta An's tone sharpened. He pointed at the most unfortunate draw—Gate 16.
"This year's Prix du Cadran winner. Without question, the biggest favorite. If she had drawn inside, she'd be overwhelming. Fortunately for us, she didn't. She prefers to take the lead, so Oguri, you must pay attention to her. Don't give up a good leading position."
"Understood." Oguri Cap straightened, her expression mirroring his seriousness.
"This time, we run an orthodox Pace-chaser tactics." Shuta An tapped the table. "The previous come-from-behind (late-surger) strategy worked, but they'll be prepared for it."
"Trailing saves stamina, but the risk is too high. So on this classic Derby stage, we take the orthodox pace-chaser tactic."
His decision wasn't just tactical—it was also because Oguri Cap had mastered Senko no Oni.
The skill read: When using Senko, reduce stamina consumption and increase acceleration.
Choosing a Senko/pace-chaser strategy was inevitable.
"With Senko, securing position after the start is crucial," Shuta An said.
"So I should rush forward as soon as the gate opens? To get into third or fourth?" Oguri Cap guessed.
"No need to rush." Shuta An shook his head. "The opening straight is about 1100 meters long. You have time. Even if you don't immediately get third or fourth, staying in the Senko group is enough."
"I see." Oguri Cap nodded.
"For the rest, it's standard Senko procedures. But each section is different, and I'll break down Chantilly's layout for you later." He wasn't about to plan only half the race.
Oguri Cap trusted him completely, but still whispered nervously, "We can win right, Trainer?"
"Of course." Shuta An squeezed her hand gently. "I believe in Oguri. Oguri must believe in me too."
"This is the stage we've been waiting for. And I'll be right there with you on the track."
Oguri Cap closed her eyes and leaned forward slightly, inviting him closer.
Instead, Shuta An touched her lips lightly with his finger. "After the Derby."
Oguri Cap sat back, pouting. "I won't be patient after that."
"I know." He flicked her forehead lightly.
———
His confidence came from several days earlier—
Shuta An had been assigned a riding request in the Dream World for the long-shot Uma Musume, Kita Rikiai, who barely made it into the Oaks through a lottery. She entered as popularity rank 20 out of 22.
"To perform an upset, you either lead or stay behind and gamble." But Kita Rikiai lacked the strength to lead 2400 meters, so he had only one option: hold-up and save stamina.
"She's always run as a front-runner switching her style might hurt her." He hesitated, but still chose the gamble.
When the gates opened, Trainer Shimizu Izumi and the owner watched, stunned, as Shuta An immediately restrained Kita Rikiai, keeping her at the back of the Senko group. Thankfully, Kita Rikiai trusted his judgment completely.
"In her past races, she covered the first kilometer in around 59 seconds." Shuta An planned to slow her to 62–63. A huge difference.
At the 1000-meter marker, Kita Rikiai sat in sixteenth place. Her split: exactly 63 seconds.
"The leaders ran 59s she's four seconds behind. Is this okay?" the owner muttered.
"We can only trust Shuta-kun." Shimizu Izumi replied, though he was no less anxious.
Entering the final straight, Shuta An had already chosen his acceleration route.
"If I swing wide, I lose too much ground. She doesn't have adaptability to spare. I have to take the risk—force my way out from the inside!"
His precise maneuvering let Kita Rikiai slip through the slowing pack, finding an opening. Yutaka Take also launched his move, choosing the outside. Both men gave their partners a warning whip, then began push-riding.
But here, Shuta An showed something no other jockey could replicate—he didn't follow the horse's rhythm. His push-riding was almost like doing push-ups on the saddle, adding a subtle upward lift to the reins to sync Kita Rikiai's movement to his own.
That explosive technique, with minimal whipping, launched Kita Rikiai to the front with just 100 meters remaining.
But Shuta An didn't celebrate—he saw her stamina was empty. He stopped pushing. Instead, he switched to a gentle rhythm to keep her safe.
One by one, the others overtook her. Yutaka Take only caught up at the very end—too late. Shuta An glanced at him and smiled as he crossed the line.
The results board showed number 5—Kita Rikiai—in fifth place.
Yutaka Take bit his lip. "I couldn't pass—"
After dismounting, Shuta An rubbed Kita Rikiai's head. "You worked hard."
When he awoke from the Dream World, he opened the attribute viewer eagerly. Just as he expected, the long-shot fifth place earned him a reward he had never encountered before—
"Insight"—a one-time item that makes it easier for a Uma Musume to pull out during the final stages of a race. (Trainer use)