Chapter 96. Public Opinion and the Goddess
Shuta An had no intention of actually letting Tokai Teio quit the team.
He turned around and ruffled Tokai Teio's head.
"No matter when, I hope Teio can focus on the present. Future races are something you, Teio, need to consider later. Even if you worry about the future, I'm here to help you plan. As for the Spring Tenno Sho—"
The young man paused, then said.
"I have only ever seen Teio being challenged by others, never Teio challenging others. If you want to compete with Mejiro McQueen, then next year's Takarazuka Kinen, Tenno Sho (Autumn), Japan Cup, and Arima Kinen are all suitable stages for you two."
"The Spring Tenno Sho cannot allow you, Teio, to give 100% of your strength—even if you and Mejiro McQueen are close, I think when she knows you're challenging her forte distance at a distance you're not good at, she definitely won't be happy."
Hmm.
Tokai Teio thought carefully, realizing her Trainer was right, and responded softly.
"If you want to have a good match with a rival you value, you definitely need to choose a stage where both of you can perform at 100% of your ability."
Shuta An said, and then remembered the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in the Dream World a few days ago.
"Teio can also try overseas expeditions starting next year. I believe there will be many strong Uma Musumes overseas, enough to ignite your endless fighting spirit."
The implication was clear: in Shuta An's eyes, Mejiro McQueen ultimately could not defeat Tokai Teio, who could perform at 100% of her ability, in middle and middle-long distance races.
Tokai Teio understood the implication, but she didn't respond. After all, her relationship with McQueen was indeed very good.
Back home, Shuta An, now alone again, quickly ate dinner. Then he pulled out his phone to browse news about the other Uma Musume participating in the Kikuka Sho.
Compared to them, news about Teio wasn't extensive, and 90% of it was speculative. Because Teio was hidden by Shuta An in the Mejiro Family villa, reporters had no way to ascertain her recent condition.
They could only ask other Uma Musume indirectly. However, Kurofune and Rice Shower from Team Sadalsuud were both tight-lipped, and the Uma Musume outside the team who had good relationships with Teio were also very discreet. So, if any other Trainer wanted to try to assess Tokai Teio's preparation based on news, like Shuta An, they would only be disappointed.
"It seems everyone's preparation is going well."
After scanning the news reports, Shuta An summarized. "Leo Durban should be in the best state of preparation; she's likely to be the top rival for the Kikuka Sho."
Soaking in the bathtub, Shuta An browsed the umakeiba bulletin board, looking at the fans' comments on Tokai Teio's board.
"Tokai Teio will definitely win the Kikuka Sho more easily than the Japanese Derby this time, right?"
"Isn't it too exaggerated for Team Sadalsuud to produce Undefeated Triple Tiara-Crowns for two consecutive years?"
"Mr. CB and Symboli Rudolf also had Triple Crowns for two consecutive years, didn't they? With past examples, I think it should be fine."
"Already loaning a Undefeated Triple Crown? Leo Durban will definitely turn the tables in the Kikuka Sho, you Tokai Teio fans just wait to be proven wrong!"
"Are the fans of the second-place horse, who was almost left far behind by Tokai Teio in the Japanese Derby, mentally challenged? Already daydreaming?"
Seeing the Tokai Teio fans and Leo Durban fans arguing below, Shuta An found it uninteresting and simply switched to Mejiro Dober's bulletin board.
Compared to the heated atmosphere on Tokai Teio's board, Mejiro Dober's side seemed much calmer.
"Everyone is looking forward to what kind of performance Dober will deliver at Santa Anita Park Racecourse."
After scanning a few pages, Shuta An nodded.
Anonymous bulletin boards like this were only maintained by umakeiba's official staff, and Shuta felt there was no need for him to intervene in fan arguments, so he simply put it out of his mind.
—
Entering the Dream World, Shuta An did not immediately return to Japan after finishing his rides in Europe. He rushed to the United States. In the Dream World in a few days, he would be riding Hokuto Vega to challenge the Goodwood Stakes.
And in the United States, to Shuta's surprise, all the American jockeys and Trainers actively sought him out to chat. What everyone loved to talk about most was the recently concluded Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"I thought they didn't really pay much attention to European races here in America."
The young man was very surprised. In his memory, when he was a child, discussions about races in class only covered local American races, and European races were almost exclusively watched by himself and his parents.
"While it's true we don't really watch European races much, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is still not to be missed, especially since this time we had our American Triple Crown jockey participating."
A jockey explained. "Although you, Shuta, are not registered in the United States, we all consider you one of us."
"Ahaha~~" Shuta An laughed awkwardly; he didn't consider himself an American jockey.
However, upon closer thought, America is, after all, a place that believes in its "Manifest Destiny," so it's not surprising to have the view of claiming anyone who achieves success there as one of their own~
—
For the next few days, Shuta would clock in at Central Tracen Academy every morning, giving pointers to Kurofune and Rice Shower's training, then clock out after lunch and drive to the Mejiro Family's resort villa to check on Tokai Teio's condition.
He had lost his temper with Tokai Teio a few days ago, but the young man now felt a little embarrassed looking back.
His reaction at the time was indeed so intense that it hurt Tokai Teio, so he proactively offered to give Tokai Teio palpation examinations and brought her favorite snacks every day, trying his best to counteract the previous impact.
However, after the palpation, Shuta An was pleasantly surprised to find that Tokai Teio's legs were much stronger than before, and the previous hidden concern of easy injury had completely disappeared.
"Is it because of the blessing of the Byerley Turk Goddess?"
After discovering this situation on the first day, Shuta An didn't tell Tokai Teio, worried that she might relax after knowing. He only pondered secretly on his way home.
"Yes."
Then he heard the response, a voice both familiar and strange, making the young man feel as if he had heard it before.
"Huh?!"
Shuta An was so startled he almost floored the accelerator.
"Who?" he demanded loudly.
"Who am I? I am Byerley Turk." The voice reappeared.
"Don't be ridiculous—" Shuta An shook his head, clearing his mind of stray thoughts. "Focus on driving, get some good rest when you get home. I must be hallucinating from exhaustion."
—
After returning home, Shuta An tried to communicate with the voice again, but received no response.
Of course, the three goddesses existed in this world. But Shuta An felt that since he wasn't an Uma Musume, he naturally couldn't receive revelations from the three goddesses. In fact, even a prodigious talent like Secretariat said she had never heard any revelations from the three goddesses, so the young man felt it was even less likely for him.
So Shuta An could only attribute it all to his hallucination. But he couldn't be 100% certain of this possibility.
The origin of the attribute viewer—perhaps it's a revelation from the three goddesses. He lay in bed, thinking to himself. Just like the reward of the Byerley Turk Goddess appeared in the rewards for the "Summer Fame" series of quests.
'Perhaps I really did receive the blessing of the three goddesses?' Thinking this, the young man closed his eyes. 'It's better to sleep early; I still have to be busy tomorrow.'
—
After entering the Dream World, Shuta An sat in the jockey's lounge at Santa Anita Park Racecourse, quietly waiting for the race to begin. In today's Goodwood Stakes, Hokuto Vega was undoubtedly the biggest favorite.
A total of 8 horses participated in this G2 graded race, with the biggest rival being Jolypha, a French Two Crowns mare and last year's Breeders Cup Classic third-place finisher. This horse's connections had already announced that their main goal this year was to re-challenge the Breeders Cup Classic.
If Hokuto Vega can defeat Jolypha here, then she definitely has the ability to win the Breeders Cup Distaff. Looking at the names of her competitors, Shuta An thought truthfully.
Of course, Jolypha wasn't the only opponent in this race. There were also several American G2/G3 graded race winners, like Flawlessly and Heart of Joy, so Shuta An couldn't focus all his attention on Jolypha.
Hokuto Vega drew gate 6 for this race. Although slightly wide, it wasn't an issue at Santa Anita Park Racecourse.
The 1800-meter dirt track starts 200 meters before the finish line. The entire Santa Anita Park Racecourse dirt track is 1600 meters in circumference, adding up to 1800 meters.
"The distance for Hokuto Vega and I to contend for position is about 220 meters, so we must be aggressive out of the gate." Shuta An mentally strategized how he would ride Hokuto Vega.
After guiding Hokuto Vega into the gate, the surrounding jockeys all turned their gaze to her and the young man in the saddle.
Shuta An, as the newly crowned Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winning jockey, goes without saying. Hokuto Vega's previous Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, her first attempt on dirt, showed super strong ability, definitely making her the second favorite in this race.
If Hokuto Vega can defeat Jolypha, then she might even be qualified to try the Breeders Cup Classic? Below, Jolypha's Trainer, Van Gaal, stared at Shuta An and Hokuto Vega, muttering to himself. However, I heard that Shuta An already has a partner for the Breeders Cup Classic... What a pity, I won't get to see what kind of performance Hokuto Vega would deliver in the Breeders Cup Classic.
Shuta An had also considered Hokuto Vega trying the Breeders Cup Classic, but he had a prior agreement with André Fabre's stable for Arcangues, so he could only abandon that idea. To be precise, it was a bit regrettable, but the young man remembered "don't cry over spilled milk." He was determined to approach the Breeders Cup Classic with the most serious attitude, even if he was riding Arcangues, who seemed to have little talent on the dirt track.
After the start, Shuta An did not intentionally make Hokuto Vega break quickly. Instead, he directly cut to the inside, moving into fourth place and entering the first turn steadily.
The first 400 meters were covered in 23.72 seconds. Shuta An chose not to let Hokuto Vega move forward to improve her position, but continued to control the pace. However, Have Fun, who had aggressively taken the lead from gate 3, slowed down early and fell directly behind Hokuto Vega. Thus, by virtue of her opponent's deceleration, Shuta An and Hokuto Vega moved up to third place.
As he was about to turn into the straight opposite the stands, the young man glanced to his right, seeing a mountain peak several kilometers away from the Racecourse.
This was a sight that could only be seen at certain Racecourses in Japan—at Tokyo Racecourse and Nakayama Racecourse, Mount Fuji could only be seen clearly on clear days, and even then, not very distinctly.
Shuta, who had taken in a few hundred meters of scenery, chose to slightly increase his pushing effort as he passed the 800-meter mark.
Move up to second place.
Because he noticed that Jolypha was also preparing to accelerate, Shuta, who considered her his biggest rival in this race, naturally did not want Jolypha to accelerate comfortably and prepared to put some pressure on her.
Lottery Winner, who was originally ahead of Hokuto Vega, felt the pressure from behind and suddenly picked up speed.
William, on the saddle, frowned, choosing not to hold back Lottery Winner, but to let her accelerate.
The feel is good, there's no need to slow down here.
William simply tightened the reins—
When they turned into the final bend, Trainer Shuta flicked his left whip, causing Hokuto Vega to move to the outside, then blocked in front of Jolypha, leaving her with no clear path.
The first 1200 meters took approximately 71 seconds. At this pace, we must move up earlier.
The young man's judgment was exactly the same as that of the top jockeys on the track. So, even though there were still nearly 800 meters left until the finish line, Jolypha, Hokuto Vega, and Lottery Winner all chose to accelerate forward.
As they entered the final straight, with 300 meters remaining to the finish line, Shuta's breathing synchronized with Hokuto Vega. After confirming that his partner was in good condition, he immediately began to push with all his might.
In just a few strides, Jolypha was left behind by Hokuto Vega.
Jolypha's reaction doesn't look good.
Shuta made this judgment with a quick glance, but he had no time to worry about his opponent's condition, because the moment he looked away, Hokuto Vega caught up to Lottery Winner.
In William's shocked eyes, Hokuto Vega secured her victory in this race after passing the 200-meter marker.
Considering this was a warm-up for the Breeders Cup Distaff a month later, the young man, at 50 meters from the finish line, after confirming Hokuto Vega's victory, simply reined her in, letting Hokuto Vega cross the finish line while decelerating, as if what had just been completed was not a G2 race, but an ordinary morning exercise.
Hokuto Vega has completed her final warm-up before the Breeder's Cup! It looks like SkyBeauty's biggest rival is coming! the commentator shouted.