Chapter 82. The Encirclement That Was Just for Show [Part 1]
As the runner drawn in Gate 1, Mejiro Dober was naturally the first to enter the starting gate.
The moment she stepped inside, the live commentator introduced her for the third time that day.
"Japan's undefeated Triple Tiara Uma Musume, two-time Yorkshire Oaks champion, and an Uma Musume with eleven G1 victories—Mejiro Dober appears completely composed. To her, today's race is no different from any other race she has ever run."
"Indeed, there's no difference," a nearby Trainer remarked, his voice carrying a trace of envy as Shuta An overheard him. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, today should become her twelfth G1 victory. Truly enviable—Winning G1 races in Japan seems so easy."
Shuta An had no intention of arguing. He merely glanced at the man before quietly looking away.
If only it were as simple as you say, he thought. It would save me from constantly worrying about Teio's Kikuka Sho.
After today's race, his full attention would shift to Tokai Teio.
The Kikuka Sho later that year had already become a race drawing interest far beyond Japan's Twinkle Series followers.
Mejiro Dober, as an undefeated Triple Tiara champion, was already dancing upon the world stage.
The stronger and more decorated her résumé became, the greater the world's anticipation for Tokai Teio—the Uma Musume who had emerged from the even more demanding Classic Triple Crown path. Everyone wanted to see what kind of brilliance she would display during her senior season the following year.
Unlike Mejiro Dober, however, Tokai Teio was ineligible for the Triple Tiara-exclusive races.
If she campaigned in Europe, races like the Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille would never belong to her.
The stages awaiting her would instead be races of the highest prestige and greatest difficulty—the Epsom Derby, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and the British Champion Stakes.
Whether abroad or at home, her road would be merciless.
Campaigning overseas meant confronting the strongest fields in Europe. Remaining in Japan meant she could scarcely afford to lose even a single race.
"When I think about it, Dober losing that Arima Kinen really relieved a tremendous amount of public pressure," Shuta An murmured to himself. "Otherwise, with expectations soaring this high now, I'd have to walk on eggshells every step of the way."
All ten Uma Musume had now entered the starting gates.
Mejiro Dober never turned her head toward the right to examine the rivals beside her. Even so, she could clearly sense the attention coming from the runners in Gates 2 and 3.
She could already guess what was on their minds.
Nothing more than trying to target me right from the break.
Her expression remained perfectly tranquil.
Come, then. As long as you don't regret it afterward.
No matter what her opponents attempted, Mejiro Dober already knew exactly how she intended to run today's race. Their schemes could not create a situation she was incapable of handling.
Following the starter's signal, she lowered herself into her starting stance.
Click!
The crisp snap of the starting gates rang pleasantly in her ears.
Without the slightest hesitation, Mejiro Dober exploded forward.
Kaliana and Ridaiyma accelerated at the very same instant, immediately pursuing her. Taking advantage of the brief moment before Mejiro Dober had fully settled into her stride, Kaliana surged ahead by a length before sharply angling toward the rail, directly cutting off Mejiro Dober's path.
Ridaiyma tucked in immediately behind Kaliana, sealing off any opportunity for Mejiro Dober to move outward.
Then Brilliance, breaking from Gate 4, instantly recognized what the pair intended.
Without exchanging a single word, she understood.
Rather than contesting the early lead herself, she drifted inward as well, completing the trap.
If Mejiro Dober wanted to escape now, her only option would be to check her momentum, drop backward, circle around the outside of the field, and forfeit valuable ground.
It was an extremely passive position.
"MEJIRO DOBER HAS BEEN BOXED IN! THIS LOOKS RATHER DANGEROUS!" the live commentator exclaimed the moment he noticed the developing situation.
Many spectators lining the grandstand instinctively tensed.
Getting trapped immediately after the start was a disadvantage no matter how one looked at it.
Yet Shuta An, standing beside the track, remained utterly unconcerned.
To the Trainers of the other competing Uma Musume gathered nearby, that calmness itself carried tremendous weight.
"Shuta An doesn't seem worried at all," Guivani muttered quietly.
Before the race, he had instructed both Kaliana and Ridaiyma to pressure Mejiro Dober from the opening strides. He had never expected their execution to be this successful.
Ironically, Shuta An's composed expression now made him far less confident.
Does Mejiro Dober have some hidden tactic we don't know about?Or did he already see the flaw in this formation the instant it was created?
"The box is well constructed," Shuta An silently evaluated. "Completely airtight. The only apparent escape is to fall back."
Then he quietly finished the thought.
"It's just a pity~"
This was not stubborn pride. He genuinely found it unfortunate.
The timing is simply too early.
—
Mejiro Dober remained completely unhurried.
At this moment, she and her Trainer shared exactly the same understanding.
The trap Kaliana and Ridaiyma had painstakingly created could not generate even the slightest additional pressure upon her.
The Prix Vermeille shared the same course layout as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, beginning with an exceptionally long 1,000-meter straight that even included gradual uphill sections.
For Mejiro Dober, those opening thousand meters could be spent comfortably inside this so-called "encirclement."
Only one thousand meters, she thought calmly. Not even half the race.
She simply matched the rhythm of the pack, showing absolutely no intention of forcing her way out. Not until the front-runner Dust Dancer reached the end of the enormous opening straight.
Shuta An glanced toward the timer displayed beside the giant screen.
1:04.13.
"Sixty-four seconds for the opening kilometer," he commented quietly. "A textbook pace for Longchamp."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Now it depends on how Dober handles the bend and the opening section of the false straight. If she wants to break their early trap, those are the two ideal places to do it."
Currently sitting fifth, Mejiro Dober had arrived at exactly the same conclusion.
As the field entered the turn, she noticed Kaliana drifting fractionally outward under the pull of centrifugal force.
One eyebrow lifted almost imperceptibly.
The opening is going to come through Kaliana.
What an interesting coincidence.
She was the one who took the initiative in building this trap and she'll also be the one I use to break it apart.