"Honestly, I don't really understand what there is to be shy about," Sakura Bakushin O said softly, kneeling down.
"As far as I know, most Trainers seem to confirm various Horse Girl information by touching their legs. Even during Trainer training and assessments, there are questions about identifying Horse Girl information by touching their legs."
As she spoke, she gently squeezed Satono Diamond's fair thighs with both hands.
"The lines of your lower body are very good. Your explosive power seems excellent, and you can definitely surpass other Horse Girl very easily. In that case, choosing a 'chase' running style from the back of the pack and then accelerating in the final stage would be more suitable for you."
Sakura Bakushin O said, her hands gliding over Satono Diamond's delicate knees, and she squeezed her smooth calves a few times, her fingertips feeling the full and elastic feedback.
"Eek—"
Satono Diamond shivered all over, letting out a gasp.
"Hmm, your stamina is also good, very similar to McQueen's. It seems you can adapt well to middle to long-distance tracks."
Sakura Bakushin O said, releasing her hands and standing up.
And the blushing Satono Diamond was finally able to open her eyes and lower her arms, which she had kept clasped in front of her chest.
"Normally, I'd also check your feet to determine what kind of ground you're suited for, but we'll skip that."
"W-why? If it's a necessary procedure... Trainer-san, you don't need to consider me..."
Satono Diamond's face was flushed, and she started to take off her socks as she spoke.
"No need," Sakura Bakushin O waved her hand. "If the two of you want to achieve higher accomplishments, and obtain results equal to or even surpassing Teio and McQueen, you must participate in turf races."
"So, regardless of whether the two of you are accustomed to turf races or not, you must try to adapt to them."
"I see," Satono Diamond realized. "But Diamond and I are both suited for turf, Trainer-san can rest assured about that."
She pulled up her dark blue long socks, which she had pulled down to her ankles, clearly very happy to hear Sakura Bakushin O's assessment of her was similar to Mejiro McQueen's.
"Mhm."
Sakura Bakushin O nodded, then suddenly chuckled and teased Satono Diamond, "Speaking of which, Diamond doesn't seem to have shown any resistance to Kita massaging you."
Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, who were nearby, heard Sakura Bakushin O's words and both widened their eyes, cheering in an exaggerated manner.
"Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh!"
As soon as the cheering started, the three saw a puff of white steam 'whoosh' out from the tops of the two newly enrolled Horse Girl's heads, their fair faces turning crimson again, and neither of them spoke a word.
Sakura Bakushin O, along with Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen, chuckled, then turned her gaze back to the black-haired, red-eyed girl, Kitasan Black, who was watching from the side.
Kitasan Black had been staring at Sakura Bakushin O, and now seeing her look over, the girl's already flushed cheeks deepened in color.
She looked at Tokai Teio, then at Satono Diamond, and voluntarily pulled down her own long socks.
What Sakura Bakushin O mainly touched was the lower body area known as the 'tomo,' which refers to the entire region of a horse's loin muscles and hindquarters.
However, for an Horse Girl, simply touching the thigh area above the knee is enough to clearly understand the quality of her legs.
Kitasan Black's leg lines were also perfect, but her thighs felt less elastic when squeezed than Satono Diamond's, and were instead tighter.
"The lines of your tomo are also decent. Less elastic than Diamond's, but tighter, so overall, very good."
"Then what kind of position am I suitable for?" Kitasan Black asked Sakura Bakushin O, blushing and looking down.
"Given the quality of your legs, leading from the very front is most suitable. Not relying on bursts of speed, but on your own consistent pace to disrupt the rhythm of all other Horse Girl, staying in the lead from the start until the finish line."
"Okay~" Kitasan Black responded.
Sakura Bakushin O moved her hands to Kitasan Black's calves, and after her fingertips gently felt her smooth, firm leg muscles, she nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright, no problem with distance. Kita, you're also suited for middle to long-distance tracks."
With that, Sakura Bakushin O stood up, and Kitasan Black quickly pulled up her long socks.
"The two of you have almost no difference in distance adaptability. Both of you are very good at adapting to middle to long distances, average for mile races, and there's no real need to run short-distance races."
"Understood."
"Got it."
Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond nodded, still quite happy in their hearts.
Most major graded races are middle to long distance, and their excellent adaptability to these two distances means that both of them have great talent.
"However, there's a problem now."
Mejiro McQueen suddenly spoke, and after seeing Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond look at her in confusion, she continued, "For the Classic Triple Crown Race, neither of you has an issue. But for the Triple Tiara Race, the Oka Sho is a 1600-meter mile race. Both of you have average adaptability to mile races, but you still have to run it."
"So, have you decided who will run the Triple Tiara?"
Of course, this sentence had another layer of meaning in Sakura Bakushin O's mind.
That is—have you decided who will be the mother?
The Triple Tiara Race, also known as the Filly Triple Crown, is a Triple Crown Race exclusively for female horses.
In this world, there is a type of Uma Musume called an "elite Uma Musume," which is an Uma Musume born from a father who won the Classic Triple Crown and a mother who won the Triple Tiara.
Of course, races in the Uma Musume world do not differentiate by gender, but everyone is still accustomed to calling an Uma Musume who wins the Triple Tiara a "mother."
Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black both froze at Mejiro McQueen's words, but after a moment, Satono Diamond stepped forward, placed her hand over her chest, and looked resolutely at Sakura Bakushin O.
"Trainer-san, let me run the Triple Tiara Race. Kita wants to always aim for Miss Teio, so the Classic Triple Crown Race should be given to her."
"Diamond..."
Kitasan Black was somewhat moved.
However, Sakura Bakushin O did not immediately agree to Satono Diamond's request, but instead turned her blue eyes to Kitasan Black.
"If I asked you to win the Triple Tiara, would you be willing?"
"Eh?"
Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond both froze simultaneously.
"Kita, you said your goal is Teio, so you absolutely must win the Classic Triple Crown Race's Triple Crown, right? It's okay, I respect your decision," Sakura Bakushin O said.
"Uh, I didn't say I absolutely had to become a Classic Triple Crown Horse Girl... I just want to be as strong and dazzling as Miss Teio..." Kitasan Black murmured a few words, then her red eyes looked at Sakura Bakushin O.
"Trainer-san, what do you think?"
"Personally, I hope you run the Triple Tiara," Sakura Bakushin O smiled.
"Okay!" Kitasan Black nodded heavily.
"Then I'll listen to Trainer-san and run the Triple Tiara Race!"
Watching the delicate and lovely short-haired black-haired girl in front of her nod emphatically, Sakura Bakushin O's lips curved into a smile, and a daring idea solidified in her mind.
She wanted Kitasan Black, who was historically known as the 'Tokai Teio without injuries,' to attempt a running style that was practically impossible in this world—
The veteran style.