Australia.
"Winx, is the Mejiro McQueen and Mejiro Dober lived in?"
"Yes, Black Caviar-senpai. By the way, could you move a step? You're stepping on my foot. It hurts."
Winx looked at Black Caviar with a bit of a grievance.
Feeling the weight on her foot, she looked Black Caviar up and down, feeling as though the other had put on even more weight.
Winx's powers of observation were quite sharp, as Black Caviar's weight was indeed rising rapidly.
In the Uma Musume project, the heaviest girl is undoubtedly Hishi Akebono, weighing in at a massive 560kg.
And yet Black Caviar is even heavier than Hishi Akebono.
So, how heavy is Black Caviar?
Here is a brief introduction to Black Caviar: She debuted as a two-year-old in 2009 and was a world-class mare. She later competed in Australia and the UK, sweeping the world's sprints without a single rival before her honorable retirement.
Black Caviar had a career record of 25 starts and 25 wins, including 17 G1 victories, remaining undefeated. In 2013, she shared the title of World Horse of the Year with Treve.
Of course, Black Caviar's peak era was around 2013.
Many say it was a pity she never faced Frankel in a sprint, otherwise, it would have been a bloodbath. A clash between the two strongest sprinters of the era would've been a sight to see.
However, considering her time in active service and her peak, it is an even greater regret that she never battled Japan's Lord Kanaloa in the Sprint Stakes.
Lord Kanaloa's dominance was evident when he broke through in the Hong Kong Sprint, even surpassing Orfevre to win the JRA Horse of the Year title.
For a Japanese horse to break through and win a G1 Hong Kong Sprint is no less difficult than winning the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France.
If it had been Lord Kanaloa vs. Black Caviar, it would have been one of the most spectacular races of all time.
Furthermore, although Black Caviar was a sprinter, her peak career weight reached 585kg, which is 25kg heavier than Hishi Akebono.
In reality, on European tracks, a heavy weight like hers was actually an advantage.
Despite her size, she was a power-type runner, making it easier for her to dominate the soft turf of Europe.
Japan, after its turf reforms, had essentially turned its tracks into concrete, requiring less explosive power to run fast.
However, there are horses in Japan who are better suited for Western turf, such as the Gold Generation's most difficult noble, King Halo. He actually preferred Western turf.
In the Uma Musume game, if you let King Halo run at Hakodate or Sapporo (tracks featuring Western turf) her performance is often much better.
"Ah, sorry, sorry! I didn't notice you. After all, Winx, you're still a bit short right now. You need to eat more to grow tall quickly."
Black Caviar's smiled and patted Winx's head, giving off a refreshing, breezy vibe.
"Not everyone eats all day like you. I need to maintain my figure," Winx replied.
She wasn't exactly thin herself, with a peak career weight of 530kg.
However, as the "sister" of the American Empress Zenyatta, she was still 26kg lighter than Zenyatta, who weighed 556kg.
Because of this, in Australia and the US, foreigners considered Winx to be "lightly framed."
If McQueen went to America, her weight would likely be considered very slender as well.
But McQueen is called a "fat horse" partly because her body shape completely changed— she was covered in meat rather than muscle.
Even when Black Caviar was 585kg, her body shape wasn't as distorted as McQueen's.
"So what? I want to eat more to have more strength. Right now, I'm the boss of the Australian second-year group, everyone follows my lead."
"It's all because I have enough power."
As Black Caviar spoke, she took another bite of beef, chewing away at the high-quality protein.
"Fine, fine, eat away. But speaking of which, with the Mejiro family gone, I'm worried. Will the families we rely on and even the schools we rely on vanish one day too?" Winx said anxiously.
"Definitely not. Because I'm here! I'm invincible!"
"Trainer Mizuki hasn't been talking about Australian Uma Musume in her diary, but if she did, I bet I'd be at the top of the list. I bet my career record will be amazing, right."
"Also, Trainer Mizuki should introduce more sprint experts. I've already marked several people."
Black Caviar looked at her notebook with a grin, her handwriting was surprisingly cute.
"Let me see... Frankel, Silent Witness, Sacred Kingdom, Chautauqua, Enable, Lord Kanaloa, Taiki Shuttle, Flightline, Baaeed..."
"Oh my Goddesses, you've recorded so many people. Are you planning to challenge them all to a race?"
After flipping through the notes, Winx looked at Black Caviar in surprise.
Among them was Silent Witness, whom Winx had heard about from Phar Lap.
Silent Witness was the Hong Kong Sprint King, who, like Lord Kanaloa, won one of Hong Kong's most prestigious races, the G1 Hong Kong Sprint, twice.
Silent Witness had a career record of 18 wins in 29 starts.
Between December 26, 2002, and April 24, 2005, he achieved a 17-race winning streak, breaking Co-Tack's Hong Kong record and Cigar's world record.
Sacred Kingdom and Chautauqua were also Hong Kong Sprint Kings.
This shows how high the caliber of Lord Kanaloa's victory was, given he broke through in a place like Hong Kong, where elite sprinters are countless.
As for why Phar Lap told Winx about Silent Witness and Chautauqua, first, it was because she was grooming Winx as her successor.
Second, Chautauqua and others were born in Australia, just like Phar Lap, the difference was that these Sprint Kings chose to develop their careers in Hong Kong.
'Come to think of it, if Silent Witness and Chautauqua were in Hong Kong, would they become geldings?'
Thinking about this gave Winx a very complicated feeling.
"Winx, what's with that look? What, you think I can't outrun them?" Black Caviar said, lightly rapping Winx on the head.
"It's not that. I just think you're sneaky for recording these rivals without telling me so I could record them too."
"But the current content isn't about records. Trainer Mizuki's diary is about the history of Mejiro Farm."
"Thinking about it is really sad. A farm that operated for over fifty years actually went bankrupt," Winx said, her voice tinged with sorrow.
"Honestly, don't get so emotionally invested. We have to be optimistic. We'll learn from Mejiro Farm's experience to prevent ourselves from having such problems in the future."
"Our main strategy is to keep the happiness for ourselves and leave the sadness to others."
Black Caviar sounded serious, but despite her words, she felt a pang of regret for the Mejiro family.
She, too, wished the Mejiro family could have produced more experts for her to battle.
"You... I..."
Hearing this, Winx's CPU fried.
She rubbed her head, not knowing what to say.
'What kind of logic was "leave the sadness to others and keep the happiness for yourself"?!'
She really was too young. Facing Black Caviar's quote, she was completely stunned.
It seemed to make sense, but she couldn't pinpoint why.
She quickly shook her head, deciding not to worry about it for now.
Regardless, she planned to keep reading. She was still very sad about the disappearance of Mejiro Farm and hoped that after reading the log, the tragedy might be averted.
She also wanted to learn from the logs to avoid the mistakes Mejiro Farm had made.
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong.
"Invincible, what are you thinking about?"
Silent Witness called out to Invincible.
She was currently training Invincible, and she felt Invincible's strength was quite good. With the Chinese racecourse about to open, Invincible might shine brilliantly in China.
"I just feel it's a pity. When the Mejiro girls were at Tracen, they were all very kind to me. McQueen-senpai even invited me to the Mejiro family banquet."
"Ryan-senpai guided me through many muscle-building exercises and breathing techniques. Dober doesn't talk much, but she's very strong, the days competing with her are still vivid in my mind."
"And of course... the most important senior, Mejiro Ardan."
"She looked after me in every way, played games with me, and took me out to eat."
"Seeing the Mejiro family disappear like this, she must be so heartbroken. I'm sad that I'm not by her side."
Silent Witness didn't say anything for a moment. She took a sip of water, looked at the sky, and then spoke slowly:
"Invincible, don't think too much. You are the most excellent Uma Musume from Mainland China I have ever seen."
"In all my years in Hong Kong and my many trips to the Mainland, I have never seen a child as talented as you."
"You know I mean this from the bottom of my heart, without any flattery."
"Do you understand why I say this? I know Mejiro Ardan is your 'father'— to be precise, your sire in the world of real horses. It's only natural that you want to help her."
"But you must be clear: If you want to help her, you need enough power. Otherwise, everything is just empty talk. Instead of being sad and depressed here, run."
"An Uma Musume's run is meant to bring dreams to others. If even you fall into a state of confusion and lose your dreams, then what?"
"Furthermore, it's not just the Mejiro girls who need your help, but countless people in China."
"I think in China right now, many people are facing setbacks or even despair. They might be suffering from illness, academic difficulties, or emotional struggles."
"If you can stand up at this time and give everyone strength again and again through your running, that might be more powerful than any words."
"So don't be lost. Don't forget the meaning of our existence as Uma Musume."
Silent Witness spoke quietly, inwardly mocking herself for getting old and becoming a chatterbox.
However, after hearing this, Invincible was incredibly grateful.
She clenched her fist tightly, knowing what she had to do now.
Continuous training, continuous running.
She believed Mejiro Ardan wouldn't sink into despair.
Ardan was so strong. Even though she suffered from various ailments due to her ankles and constitution from the start, she never gave up.
After long training, she still stood on the racetrack.
Invincible deeply believed that hardship would not break her.
Ardan would surely work with the rest of the Mejiro girls to solve the family's crisis.
As for herself, Invincible's goals and energy should be focused more on China. She had to keep getting stronger and continue bringing dreams and hope to everyone there.
Invincible knew in her heart that in the world of real horses, she might not have been so lucky.
At the time she debuted in the real world, the approval for Chinese racecourses still hadn't passed.
But now, she had a chance to show her strength on the track.
She cheered up, intending to train with Silent Witness again to work not only on her endurance but also her speed and explosiveness.
At the same time, she wanted her friends at Tracen to see— and for Ardan to see —that she was working hard and improving.
She wanted to convey a more positive spirit to her friends at Tracen.
Not a sense of dejection.
In her heart, she cheered for everyone at Mejiro Farm. She believed more than anyone that if everyone worked together, this tragedy could be overturned.
Meanwhile, in the UK.
Brigadier Gerard was watching this scene as well.
She was quite calm. In her view, many things aren't about lasting forever, but about the heights they once reached.
To Brigadier Gerard, it was like life itself. Everyone's life eventually fades, the key is not its length, but whether it once radiated a brilliant light.
Indeed, Brigadier Gerard was born in 1968 and died of heart failure on October 29, 1989. A lifespan of 21 years isn't particularly long for a horse. It was an early death.
Yet Brigadier Gerard's strength was peerless. He was the world's highest-rated horse for two consecutive years, 1971 and 1972, which was equivalent to being World Horse of the Year twice in a row.
This is a terrifying record that shows his staggering dominance.
One could say it was unprecedented and, essentially, will never be repeated.
In later generations, to ensure the safety of the horses, runners like Equinox, Flightline, Sea The Stars, or Frankel usually retire after proving their strength as World Horse of the Year.
Thus, the situation of reigning supreme at the top of the world for two consecutive years rarely occurs.
Brigadier Gerard's most famous race was the British 2000 Guineas.
In this G1 event, he fought a great battle against two rivals, including another World Horse of the Year, Mill Reef. Their 1971 race is still praised to this day.
In that race, Brigadier Gerard took advantage of the other two horses fighting each other in the final 400 meters, bursting through from the outside to win by 3 lengths over his rival, Mill Reef.
It was likely because of this race that Brigadier Gerard's rating eventually surpassed Mill Reef's.
In the Timeform ratings at the end of 1971, both Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef reached a staggering 141 points.
But the following year, Brigadier Gerard topped the Timeform list with 144 points, the second-highest score in history at the time, and it still ranks third in history today.
Of course, as for the first place, countless people can easily name that horse: The one and only World Horse of the Year, Frankel.
That's practically a freebie question.
As for the second?
That's right— the famous French horse, the legend that shocked the world: Sea-Bird.
His Timeform score reached an incredible 145 points.
He is the true GOAT-level horse of France, though also perhaps the most tragic in terms of recognition.
Sea-Bird's record, even looking at it today, is unbelievable.
His peak performance was an absolute masterclass in the 1965 French G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
In the final 400 meters, he veered diagonally, slowed down, then accelerated again, winning by a staggering six lengths in a way that defied everyone's imagination, dominating the world.
To put it in perspective, Orfevre is one of the strongest in the JRA.
In the 2012 Arc he participated in, Winx sat out, and the overall field wasn't that strong, it was arguably the year with the most hope.
Yet Orfevre lost in a shock upset to the Irish mare Solemia because of his veering.
But what about the year Sea-Bird competed? Was the competition weak?
On the contrary, the 1965 Arc that Sea-Bird entered was packed with titans.
The luxury of the lineup ranks among the best in the entire history of the Arc, there were five Derby winners competing that year alone.
Yet, in such a terrifying lineup of powerhouses, Sea-Bird still pulled away from his opponents by six lengths with his terrifying leg strength, even after accidentally veering.
One can see his horrifying power.
Of course, Sea-Bird's dominance in other races was equally terrifying. Horses of the same generation were all overshadowed by his light.
Ranking second in Timeform history, only behind Frankel, is proof of his might.
However, Sea-Bird is humble by nature, so French Uma Musume actually know less about her story.
Instead, more people know about Montjeu or Treve.
Some French Uma Musume who meet Sea-Bird on the street treat her as a character similar to Hayakawa Tazuna.
Little do they know her strength is far more terrifying than Montjeu's or Treve's.
"Mejiro Farm... Perhaps the new generations born in the future won't have many people who know your story, but I believe there will definitely be those inspired by your past."
"It's likely the same as now. Many people might not know the name of Brigadier Gerard anymore, but there will surely be some who are moved by my races, and that is enough."
"So, though I don't know what will happen, please let me see your most glorious years."
"I will surely keep them in my heart," Brigadier Gerard said earnestly, her eyes fixed on the log, wanting to see what would come next.
"How modest, Brigadier Gerard. Who could forget your glorious past?"
As she spoke, a familiar voice suddenly appeared.
Brigadier Gerard turned around to see Mill Reef. The expression on her face changed, looking somewhat surprised.
"What wind blew you here, Mill Reef?"
"Can't I come here for a vacation? Are you not welcoming your old friend?"
Mill Reef was somewhat displeased by Brigadier Gerard's reaction.
After not seeing each other for so long, the response was unexpectedly flat.
"Hmph. Don't talk to me about welcomes. If you're just here to vacation, you might as well head back."
"You should know by now that I have no interest in doing 'boring' things with you. I only care to spend time with you in the way I prefer," Brigadier Gerard said, her tone suddenly shifting sharply.
"Haha! Still as overbearing and confrontational as ever. So, do your eyes still turn red with fury every time you see me?"
"Or is it that in all these years, you haven't been able to find a rival more excellent than me?"
Mill Reef spoke with a smirk, but her expression betrayed a look of intense anticipation.
Perhaps these two world-renowned horses, whose names are etched in history, were about to begin a peak confrontation once more within the campuses of Britain.
"Heh... rather, I want to extinguish any thought you have of coming to find me ever again."
"I'll make you realize who is truly stronger so you don't have to keep flying from America to Britain every day."
"The money you save on airfare can be used to buy me a few detective novels."
The air between Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef was thick with the scent of gunpowder.
Regarding her love for detective novels: Brigadier Gerard's style and clothing even carried a hint of the great detective Sherlock Holmes.
The reason for this was simple.
Take Detective Conan, for example.
Most people know that the name "Conan" was inspired by the famous detective author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
When the young mangaka Gosho Aoyama was brainstorming a name for his protagonist, he happened to see the name of the man who wrote the world's most famous detective series, Sherlock Holmes.
Thus, he took the first half of the name for his hero, and soon after, a cross-generational manga, Detective Conan, was born.
Brigadier Gerard was named in the exact same fashion.
His name came from another series by Arthur Conan Doyle, The Complete Brigadier Gerard. That book featured a boastful and arrogant protagonist: The titular Brigadier Gerard.
However, back then, no one could have known that this legendary racehorse named Brigadier Gerard would eventually become far more famous than his literary namesake.
If Brigadier Gerard were ever to join the Uma Musume project, it's certain her design would be detective-themed, and she might even be as arrogant as the novel's protagonist.
After all, her achievements gave her the capital to be so, and before Frankel burst onto the scene, Gerard was undeniably the #1 Horse in Britain.
Even in the eyes of the older generation of British fans, Brigadier Gerard remains the eternal first legendary horse of Great Britain, representing their defiant and brilliant youth.
Whenever these white-haired, hunched elders hear the names of horses like Brigadier Gerard or Mill Reef, a dazzling light always flickers in their cloudy eyes.
"You're still as obsessed with detective novels as ever. It was the same during our races. You were like a detective constantly uncovering evidence, deducing things bit by bit to catch your enemy's flaws."
"Just when everyone thought they could escape from the track where they competed with you, they'd realize you were the mastermind who had been controlling the entire board from the start."
"But I am different from them. Don't forget, we are known as the Twin Stars of Britain"
"You won't find my flaws so easily. In our game against each other, I am the one who will make it to the end,"
Mill Reef said with a smile, a flash of battle-readiness in her eyes.
There was no rival more difficult than Brigadier Gerard, and certainly none more excellent.
And Mill Reef knew that Brigadier Gerard felt the same way.
As a side note, Mill Reef was actually born in the United States. He was called one of the "Twin Stars of Britain" because despite his birth, his entire racing career was spent in the UK.
With 12 wins and 2 seconds out of 14 starts, he was hailed as the fated rival of Brigadier Gerard.
His record as a three-year-old was staggering. He swept four top-tier international G1s: The Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Unfortunately, Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef only faced each other once, in the British 2000 Guineas. The result was Brigadier Gerard pulling away to win by a full three lengths.
However, countless people argue that the 1600m distance was not Mill Reef's specialty, so the debate over who was truly stronger has remained unsettled for years.
Furthermore, Brigadier Gerard was so dominant at 1600m that his team initially felt running him over 2000m would be a waste of talent.
But after he finished dominating the shorter races, he did move up to 2000m and proved he was still championship-caliber.
Mill Reef's ease in sweeping the Derby and King George as a three-year-old was partly because Brigadier Gerard was busy ruling everything under 2000m.
Fans generally believe that while Brigadier Gerard was invincible under 2000m, Mill Reef was likely more dominant at distances above 2000m.
Regardless, Brigadier Gerard has one more win over Mill Reef, and his overall record and win rate were more extreme, being an incredible 17 wins and 1 second out of 18 starts.
Thus, Brigadier Gerard's Timeform score remains higher than Mill Reef's.
Together, these Twin Stars of Britain are absolutely among the top 50 legendary horses in global history, the era they shared is a bold, colorful stroke in the annals of racing.
These two were actually scheduled to have a rematch with one-another, but unfortunately, Mill Reef got a virus, healed from it, and then obtained a career-ending injury when he shattered his leg.
It's truly a shame. If that injury hadn't happened, then perhaps these two would've put on another legendary race.
Hearing Mill Reef's words, Brigadier Gerard let out a cold snort.
She didn't demand an immediate race, however, Mill Reef had just arrived in the UK. It would be more interesting to let her rest and then defeat her when she was at full strength.
For now, these two old friends wanted to see the history of the Mejiro family.
Soon, under everyone's watchful eyes, Mizuki's log updated.
[Speaking of Mejiro Farm, it truly brings a sigh to one's lips.]
[First, to talk about Mejiro Farm, we must mention Takahashi Farm.]
[In a way, Takahashi Farm was the benefactor of Mejiro Farm, but it also dealt them their first heavy blow.]
[Takahashi Farm was founded in 1910 by Takahashi Korekiyo, the Vice Governor of the Bank of Japan. Located near Hokkaido, it originally spanned 24.79 square kilometers.]
[After the land reforms following WWII, much of the land was redistributed. In 1958, the third-generation owner, Kenichi Takahashi, began horse breeding.]
[In the 1960s— the prime of many of your grandparents' youth— Takahashi Farm began ceding land to establish three other farms.]
[These were Date Farm, Ougon Farm, and Mejiro Farm.]
[In 1967, Kitano Toyokichi, the president of the Japanese construction company Kitano Construction, obtained part of the land ceded by Takahashi Farm.]
[Alongside his wife, Madam Kitano, he founded Mejiro Farm.]
[The name "Mejiro" comes from the Kitano family's former residence in Mejiro-machi, Toshima Ward, Tokyo.]
[The name Mejiro itself comes from the "Five-Colored Fudo" in Japanese culture: Meguro (Black-eyed), Mejiro (White-eyed), Meaka (Red-eyed), Meao (Blue-eyed), and Mekiiro (Yellow-eyed).]
[Among them, Mejiro represents "Peace under Heaven."]
[Therefore, every Uma Musume bestowed with the Mejiro name carries the wish for world peace.]
[Before founding the farm, Kitano Toyokichi shared ownership of some stallions with Symboli Farm, so he had a very good relationship with them.]
[At the same time, Kitano Toyokichi was a breeder himself and understood horses deeply.]
[But his goal was different from others. Kitano described himself as a very traditional man. More than the Japanese Derby, he dreamed of winning the Tenno Sho to claim the "Glory of the Shield."]
[This is why the Mejiro family is known for their obsession with the Tenno Sho.]
[His persistence became the Mejiro creed. From its inception, Mejiro Farm worked with the singular goal of "breeding Tenno Sho horses."]
At Tracen Academy.
"Kitano Toyokichi, the president of Kitano Construction... so that was the head of the Mejiro family I never met," Mejiro Dober murmured.
He was the person most respected by the entire Mejiro clan. Only the older generations had seen him, including Mejiro Asama, Mejiro Titan, and Mejiro Bousatsu.
By the time Mejiro Ryan and Mejiro McQueen's generation arrived, the family head had already passed away, leaving only the Grandmother of the Mejiro family.
Though Mr. Kitano Toyokichi was gone, his conviction and dreams lived on. All the Mejiro Uma Musume took great pride in winning the Tenno Sho.
"A construction company president? I remember Dia-chan's parents are also presidents. Anyone who can reach that position must be very talented. You have to earn a lot of money to be a president, right?" Kitasan Black said admiringly.
"Of course. Mr. Kitano was extremely talented and very kind to all of us."
"I remember when I was ill, he spent a fortune to find doctors from various countries for me. The expenses were countless, and I have nothing but gratitude." Mejiro Asama added.
Whenever she spoke of this, tears would inevitably well up in her eyes.
This indeed had a real-life basis.
In 1970, Mejiro Asama won the 3200m Autumn Tenno Sho (before the distance was changed).
It was the Mejiro family's first Tenno Sho.
However, after Asama retired, it was discovered his sperm activity was extremely low, making it difficult for him to become a stallion.
After 28 failed breeding attempts, the media mocked him as a "seedless watermelon."
Most owners would have given up on him or perhaps tried a few more times out of humanitarian concern before calling it quits.
After all, even in those days, the price of a breeding session was very high.
But Kitano Toyokichi refused to give up. He was obsessed with continuing Asama's line, spending massive amounts of money on medical treatments, to the point where it caused significant financial strain on the Mejiro family.
But Kitano's dedication paid off. Mejiro Asama finally had a son: Mejiro Titan.
If not for Kitano's sacrifice, Mejiro McQueen would not exist, let alone the Gold Generation born from the union of Stay Gold and the Mejiro McQueen line.
One can only imagine Kitano Toyokichi's feelings back then.
Perhaps sitting at his desk, reading the media's cold mockery of Mejiro Asama while recalling the horse's first Tenno Sho victory, he held his breath and swore a silent oath: He would absolutely let the bloodline of Asama, the horse he loved, continue.
"Wait... could it be because I spent too much money? I remember the Mejiro family's finances weren't great back then," Mejiro Asama suddenly said.
"That definitely wasn't it. After all, Asama-senpai, many Mejiro Uma Musume appeared after you, so it wasn't your fault." Biwa Hayahide chimed in, pushing up her glasses.
"But it likely was a money problem. From my analysis, the collapse of Nishiyama Farm and Tamamo Cross's farm was due to poor management,"
"It's easy to say but hard to do. Economic risks always exist. Sometimes even if you try to avoid them, bad luck can leave you with nothing."
"That's why studying economics is important, you must understand investment to mitigate risk and prepare for a rainy day."
"What does 'prepare for a rainy day' mean?" Winning Ticket asked, scratching her head.
"It means preparing an umbrella before it actually starts raining. That way, when it does rain, you won't get soaked," Biwa Hayahide explained.
"I see! I definitely don't have a big head like Hayahide's. If it rains, my clothes would get way wetter!" Winning Ticket held up a finger, grinning, showing off her quick thinking.
She quickly realized she had said something wrong and waved her hands frantically to show she didn't mean it that way.
"..."
A tick-mark vein appeared on Biwa Hayahide's head.
Talking economics with Winning Ticket was worthless.
Finding it impossible to communicate, she felt frustrated. None of her peers seemed to understand economics.
Her head felt like it was literally growing larger from sheer irritation.
"Hahaha! This is where you need a Feng Shui master like me! Sometimes Feng Shui is very important. No matter how well you mitigate risks, if you hit a financial crisis, everything vanishes."
"But if you understand Feng Shui, it might better protect your peace and safety," Copano Rickey said, her eyes sparkling.
Whenever the topic of Feng Shui came up, her energy completely shifted.
However, her grand declaration didn't receive the expected praise. Instead, everyone continued discussing the Mejiro family.
She felt a bit awkward, but it was only temporary, a few seconds later, she was back to full health.
"Preparing for a rainy day... those are wise words. We must have a plan for our spending," Yayoi Akikawa, the Chairwoman, said seriously.
She had been there all along.
"So you do understand planning, Chairwoman," Hayakawa Tazuna said, her composure finally breaking.
If Yayoi Akikawa weren't so extravagant with the academy's expenses, Tazuna could save a fortune to use for other things.
But Tazuna also knew that the Chairwoman spent the money on the Uma Musume. Even when her spending seemed reckless, it was often precisely targeted, which Tazuna admired.
Admire her or not, she still got angrym because every time this happened, the person with the massive headache was her.
Sometimes she even felt like giving the Chairwoman a good beating.
"Ahem..."
Feeling a chill from behind, Yayoi Akikawa immediately changed the subject.
She told the Mejiro Uma Musume that if they ever faced trouble in the future, they could come to her.
That was the Chairwoman for you, always willing to bring out the wallet to help Uma Musume.
At that moment, Mizuki's log updated again.
Everyone looked over, wanting to know why Takahashi Farm, Mejiro's benefactor, dealt them their first heavy blow.
[The horses at Mejiro Farm's founding in 1967 were mostly fostered by trainer Mikichi Okubo. Many of these fostered mares became vital maternal lines for the farm.]
[Before the farm was officially established, Mejiro Asama was born in 1966. He was the gray horse who would win the 1970 Autumn Tenno Sho.]
[Just as Mejiro Farm was beginning to see progress, Manager Uchida of Takahashi Farm proactively offered to help Kitano Toyokichi with breeding and rearing work.]
[Thus, Kitano Toyokichi began his breeding work on the land ceded by Takahashi Farm, building breeding stables, rearing stables, and training grounds.]
[This was a massive project. It consumed the blood, sweat, and tears of Kitano Toyokichi and countless Mejiro employees.]
[They built various facilities, conducted field surveys, invested massive effort, moved the horses, and helped them adapt to the new grounds.]
[But shortly after the construction on Takahashi Farm's side was completed, disaster struck.]
[In 1970, Manager Uchida of Takahashi Farm passed away from cancer.]
[Having lost their support, the breeding grounds Mejiro Farm had just established on Takahashi's land were entirely reclaimed.]
[There was no room for negotiation.]
[The words on the page may seem calm, but for Kitano Toyokichi and Mejiro Farm at that moment, the blow was devastating.]
[From my perspective, it'd be as if I were halfway through a thesis, had my computer shut off, and found it hadn't saved.]
[I would collapse. Imagine a brand-new farm built with massive effort and capital being taken away.]
[Not everyone has the courage to start over from scratch.]
[But at that time, Kitano Toyokichi showed the responsibility of a Mejiro Patriarch.]
[He said calmly: "The horses of the Mejiro family taught us to fight in life. We will not be knocked down by hardship. If we are going to do this, then I will make us number one in Japan."]
[Kitano Toyokichi decided he would no longer rely on anyone else to found his breeding farm. He asked around to find the right land.]
[Finally, in 1971, he found Toya Village, the location of what is now Toyako-cho.]
[However, after signing the contract, he suffered another setback.]
[The Toyako area has a temperate monsoon climate, and under the influence of the winter monsoon from the Sea of Japan, it is one of Hokkaido's most representative areas for heavy snowfall.]
[Before signing the contract, it looked like a flat, high-quality site covered in snow. After signing, the snow melted over time, revealing the mountains and valleys beneath.]
[Such terrain was clearly not as ideal as it first appeared.]
[But this wasn't a fatal problem. After an inspection, Kitano Toyokichi graciously accepted the land, using Date Farm as the breeding farm and the Toyako site as the rearing farm.]
[In other words, while the Mejiro family was founded in 1967, it wasn't until 1971 that they owned their own dedicated rearing grounds.]
[It wasn't until 2003 that both the rearing and breeding farms of Mejiro Farm were consolidated at the Toyako site.]
[Furthermore, it was the Mejiro family's rearing farm that played a revolutionary role in the future of Japanese horse racing training.]
[Firstly, due to the characteristics of the temperate monsoon climate every winter, the rearing farm at Mejiro Farm near Lake Toya was covered in a thick mantle of white snow.]
[However, this had little negative impact at Lake Toya. Kitano Toyokichi used rollers to pack down the thick snow, discovering that it didn't hinder the horses' work at all.]
[On the contrary, they could continue training throughout the winter.]
[Today, many Shadai farms have followed the methods established by Mejiro Farm, building indoor winter training facilities so that the horses' training volume doesn't decrease.]
[Even those without the means to build indoor facilities will spray antifreeze on the snow to continue training.]
[One could say Mejiro Farm acted as a pioneer in winter training.]
[In reality, horse husbandry is a massive field of study.]
[If China were to establish a stud farm now, considering the variable temperatures, discussions would be needed on which climate is most suitable for survival and training.]
[Should it be a temperate monsoon climate (hot/rainy summers, cold/dry winters) or a subtropical monsoon climate (hot/rainy summers, cool/dry winters)? What would be the respective impacts of each?]
[I suppose if Cygames ever added a winter training camp plot, we might see a scene of a group of Uma Musume running at the Mejiro estate.]
[And we'd likely see the "Little Witch" Sweep Tosho standing stubbornly still in the middle of the snow.]
[Moreover, beyond just the winter training model, Mejiro Farm established a "Spartan" style of training at the time, adding chase training and mounted drills to increase the competitive spirit of the Mejiro horses.]
[During this period, Mejiro Farm grew in strength.]
[In 1975, Mejiro Phantom arrived, later winning the 1979 Tokyo Shimbun Hai and the 1982 Meguro Kinen.]
[However, during this time, Mejiro Farm also encountered an unprecedented disaster: A volcanic eruption.]
[On August 7, 1977, Mount Usu, an active volcano southeast of Mejiro Farm, erupted for the first time in 32 years. Records show the smoke reached a height of over 12,000 meters.]
[For context, anything over 10,000 meters enters the stratosphere. The plume truly reached those heights.]
[By the next day, volcanic ash from Mount Usu completely covered Mejiro Farm. Trees were knocked down, and ash tens of centimeters thick piled up on the pastures.]
[According to Madam Kitano's recollections, he was incredibly panicked and anxious. The ones he pitied most were the horses, as he feared their lungs would be affected.]
[At the time, he and Kitano Toyokichi worked together, evacuating the horses while calling other farms, hoping someone could temporarily take them in.]
[Fortunately, there weren't many horses being bred at the time, so the losses were minimal, with only a few horses needing medical treatment.]
[Until December 1977, there wasn't a single horse at Mejiro Farm. It was only with the help of local residents that operations gradually resumed.]
[Everyone grabbed shovels to help transport the volcanic ash covering the farm.]
[However, because the pastures became extremely fertile due to the volcanic ash, the Mejiro colts became incredibly fat, losing their lean physiques after retirement.]
[This caused great distress for Mejiro Farm. Mr. Nobumichi Iwasaki considered it a mixed blessing.]
[Following the volcanic incident, Mejiro Titan, who came to Mejiro Farm in 1978, seemed to respond to the kindness the villagers showed the farm.]
[In the 1982 Autumn Tenno Sho, he bravely seized the championship, achieving a father-son Tenno Sho double following Mejiro Asama.]
[For Kitano Toyokichi, this was a moment of immense happiness.]
[Mejiro Titan was also the first homebred Tenno Sho champion for Mejiro Farm.]
[While Mejiro Asama was the first to take the Autumn Tenno Sho, he was not actually bred by Mejiro Farm.]
[At the time, a jubilant Kitano Toyokichi gifted every single employee a custom-tailored high-end suit, which was a very precious gift for that era.]
At Tracen Academy.
"I'd heard about the volcano, but I didn't expect the smoke to reach 12,000 meters. The establishment of the Mejiro family was truly a series of ups and downs," Rhein Kraft said, her voice full of shock.
She thought to herself that if she had encountered such problems, she might have fallen into despair.
"Yes, I participated in the evacuation work back then," Mejiro Asama recalled. "Along with Mejiro Bousatsu, Mejiro Phantom, and others, we led many Mejiro Uma Musume to escape."
"I remember that day. We couldn't see our surroundings even with our eyes open. The entire sky was like a scorching, grey volcanic mist."
"We gathered everyone first, and then, under the leadership of Mr. Kitano and Grandma Kitano, we ran out. Of course, we had help from the residents along the way."
Asama's words conveyed just how dangerous the situation was.
The blistering heat felt like it could sting the skin, and the air was filled with ash that caused non-stop coughing if inhaled. The entire Mejiro Farm was veiled in a thick layer of volcanic ash.
"But I suppose the bitterness led to sweetness. Senior Mejiro Titan later won the Autumn Tenno Sho."
"I can imagine how happy the Mejiro Patriarch was, otherwise, he wouldn't have gifted everyone an expensive suit," Special Week said with a smile.
Reading these words, she could almost feel the happy atmosphere of that time.
'Mr. Kitano must have been very, very happy.'
Special Week suddenly wondered what she would look like wearing a suit.
"Sigh, it reminds me of the old man at our Nishiyama Farm. Mr. Kitano Toyokichi was truly full of love for the Mejiro horses," Seiun Sky said, hands behind her head with a look of sentimental reflection.
She suddenly felt that if Mr. Kitano Toyokichi and Mr. Shigeyuki Nishiyama were to meet, they would surely have a lot in common.
Both loved their horses dearly, though Mr. Kitano called himself a traditionalist while Mr. Nishiyama was a bit more radical.
If they met, who knows what kind of chemical reaction would occur?
Seiun Sky's thoughts were well-founded.
If Kitano Toyokichi were still alive and met Shigeyuki Nishiyama, he would surely understand why Nishiyama was so obsessed with passing down Seiun Sky's bloodline, because Kitano himself had braved immense public pressure to continue Mejiro Asama's lineage.
However, since Kitano Toyokichi was a relatively traditional person, if he heard that Shigeyuki Nishiyama permitted "R-18" fan creations, he would likely be gobsmacked.
"True. And Mr. Kitano Toyokichi was amazing. Not only did he rise from hardship, but he also innovated at Lake Toya." Tokai Teio remarked with admiration.
"Many of us can continue training outdoors in winter now because of the reforms he made."
As for Mejiro McQueen, she watched intently, her expression shifting constantly.
She had heard similar stories from Grandma Mejiro before, but the hardships had always been glossed over.
Seeing it now, she realized how dangerous it truly was.
Since she was a child, the phrase McQueen remembered her grandmother saying most often was:
"McQueen, you have a strong talent for long distances. The Tenno Sho is the Mejiro family's obsession."
"hope more than anything that you can win the Tenno Sho. This might be unfair to you, but I hope in the future you choose the path to compete for the Spring Tenno Sho."
"However, if you wish to choose other races, I will support you."
Back then, McQueen hadn't thought much of it and clearly stated her goal was the Spring Tenno Sho championship.
Whenever she said that, a smile would always appear on Madam Kitano's face.
'Perhaps there is still something Grandma hasn't told me.'
McQueen decided to keep reading. She desperately wanted to know why it had to be her.
At the Mejiro Estate.
Many Mejiro Uma Musume were gathered around Madam Kitano.
Since Madam Kitano couldn't see the contents of the logbook herself, many of the girls were reading Mizuki's entries aloud to her.
When she heard that Mejiro eventually went bankrupt, she only clenched her fists and said nothing.
She simply closed her eyes, listening to the account of the farm's founding and the volcanic eruption.
A faint smile lingered on her lips as if she were reminiscing about the days of striving alongside Kitano Toyokichi, though a few tears escaped the corners of her eyes.
Mejiro Dober murmured, "Grandma, if possible, could you teach us about managing a farm? We want to learn."
Dober's brave statement surprised everyone, as she was usually the shyest.
But no one cared about that now, they all stepped forward, expressing their desire to learn more about farm management.
Previously, they had only thought about running, they never imagined the Mejiro family could simply vanish.
Mejiro Phantom, Mejiro Bousatsu, Mejiro Durren, and others all made requests to help shoulder the Mejiro family's burden.
Grandma Kitano replied softly, "You all have grown quite sensible. Once, I thought I could keep Mejiro Farm running on my own, but now, it is better to choose to believe in you."
"But listen well: The work of nurturing Uma Musume is very complex. It involves so much that it is no less difficult than anything else you study."
"I will explain patiently, so make sure you listen carefully."
In the Uma Musume anime, the Mejiro Grandma often gives off an indescribable sense of pressure, but in reality, she is a very gentle and strong person.
Now, she intended to pass on her knowledge to these lovely little ones bit by bit.
However, the knowledge of racehorse farm management was dense and difficult.
Though it was all about running and maintenance, many of the Mejiro Uma Musume felt like they were listening to a foreign language.
How to avoid heatstroke in summer, how to pack snow in winter, how to purchase magnesium chloride for de-icing, how to collect various medicines, farm humidity, nutritional management for pastures...
The faces of many young Uma Musume immediately filled with the look of being painfully tortured.
With all these new terms appearing, the level of difficulty... they'd rather go through a brutal training camp.
But several of the older girls were nodding frequently.
These tasks wouldn't be hard for them, and if they could reduce some of Grandma Kitano's stress, they were more than willing.
Back at Tracen Academy.
"Seriously! Mentioning that snow incident again! You'd better cut it out, Trainer!"
Sweep Tosho grit her silver teeth, declaring that Trainer Mizuki was absolutely annoying.
Of course, there was also Ikezoe. She she didn't even know what he looked like, but she knew he was just as annoying as Mizuki.
But when she thought of Ikezoe, her mind natrually drifted towards other jockeys like Yutaka Take, Wada, and Lemaire.
Sweep Tosho also wondered...
'Who among them is the strongest?'
Actually, looking at all the jockeys in the JRA, in terms of purely Japanese jockeys, one could say Yutaka Take is invincible "on the horse," while Ikezoe, as the master of temperamental horses, is invincible "on the ground."
But if one followed that logic: If Yutaka Take were to "ride" Kenichi Ikezoe, wouldn't they be invincible in the world?
Good heavens, a new World Horse of the Year might be born right there in the fusion of Yutaka Take and Ikezoe.
Let's call her "Take-zoe" or "Ike-take."
"By the way, Hokko Tarumae, the volcano over in Tomakomai won't erupt, will it?" Copano Rickey suddenly asked with genuine concern.
In her heart, she hoped Tomakomai would continue to prosper.
"It shouldn't, right?" Hokko Tarumae was also shivering.
She later looked up some data and found that the area around Tomakomai doesn't erupt easily, which put her mind at ease.
If she had found bad news, she wouldn't have been able to sleep.
"Still, Takahashi Farm had no choice. It was their gift, after all. Once Mr. Uchida passed away, it was legal and compliant for them to want the land back, but it was still a heavy blow to our Mejiro Farm."
"Regardless, we are still grateful to Mr. Uchida. As for Takahashi Farm, there's nothing more to say."
Mejiro Ardan maintained her elegance.
Anyone else would likely have started cursing. If the Mejiro family hadn't had sufficient financial support, such an act would have been a killing blow.
Ardan now understood the importance of "preparing for a rainy day."
Of course, as for Mejiro Asama and Mejiro Titan, they now knew of their father-son relationship, as did Mejiro McQueen.
McQueen was very shy about it for a moment, but now was not the time for a family reunion, they all had a greater goal: The revival of the Mejiro clan.
At this point, countless people were discussing the story, but then Mizuki's log continued to appear.
Everyone immediately turned their attention back, not wanting to miss a single word, especially the Mejiro girls.
[However, the good times did not last. Shortly after Mejiro Titan won his championship, Mr. Kitano's health began to decline day by day.]
[On February 17, 1984, tragedy struck. Old man Kitano Toyokichi passed away from sudden heart failure.]
[In his final moments, he left one last wish.]
["I hope the offspring of Mejiro Titan can win the Tenno Sho."]
[I actually wondered: Why was this Kitano Toyokichi's final wish?]
[After thinking it over, I understood.]
[When Kitano Toyokichi first founded Mejiro Farm in 1967, it was Mejiro Asama who won the first Autumn Tenno Sho for him.]
[Later, Asama was diagnosed as unable to sire foals, his bloodline was nearly severed, and he was mocked by the media as a "seedless watermelon."]
[Facing immense pressure, Kitano Toyokichi used massive funds to treat Mejiro Asama, finally allowing his bloodline to continue. That continuation was Mejiro Titan.]
[Before Mejiro Titan was even born, Kitano Toyokichi faced the eruption of Mount Usu, leaving Mejiro Farm in a precarious state.]
[Under these circumstances, the Mejiro family endured. Half a year later, with the help of countless residents, Mejiro Farm resumed operations.]
[During their most difficult time, his beloved Mejiro Titan finally came to Mejiro Farm. In 1982, Titan proved to everyone that Mejiro Asama's bloodline could also win the Tenno Sho.]
[Who would dare say the expenses for Mejiro Asama were a waste? Who would dare say Mejiro Asama's bloodline was inferior? Who would dare say Mejiro Asama would never have a son?]
[All the mockery he had endured years ago vanished into thin air at that moment.]
[Mejiro Titan's success didn't just mean his shame was washed away, it meant a homebred horse of the Mejiro family had won the Tenno Sho for the first time.]
[But that was not enough.]
[Kitano Toyokichi still had worries: Would Mejiro Titan face the same issues as Mejiro Asama?]
[Furthermore, as the first homebred Tenno Sho horse for the Mejiro family, even though Titan had achieved great results, the success of his bloodline would depend on whether his offspring were strong.]
[If he could have lived just a little longer— if he could have seen Mejiro Titan's offspring achieve success— perhaps he could have truly rested in peace.]
[But on February 17, 1984, his body could no longer support him to see that day. He could only entrust his most precious dream to the person he trusted most: Madam Kitano.[
[And of course, to his partners, and even to his beloved horses.]
[If possible, let the offspring of Mejiro Titan win the Tenno Sho.]
[Looking at Kitano Toyokichi's whole life, he was a man who truly loved horses.]
[He once said: "We do not sell any horses produced by Mejiro Farm, nor does Mejiro Farm operate for profit. I founded this farm only to realize my dreams."]
[However, he fell at the very last moment before seeing his dream realized.]
[But what was the final result?]
[Carrying the entrustment of Kitano Toyokichi's final dream...]
[Three years later, the child of Mejiro Titan and the strongest long-distance runner of the Mejiro family, Mejiro McQueen was born.]
[And that wasn't all.]
[In 1987, under the Mejiro bloodline, three G1 horses appeared simultaneously.]
[They were Mejiro McQueen, Mejiro Palmer, and Mejiro Ryan.]
[It was from this year onward that the Mejiro family ushered in an unprecedented Golden Generation!]