The Broadcast Booth
Announcer: "Following the heat of last week's Shuka-sho, the Classic class returns today for another blistering battle! We are at the Yodo track in Kyoto, where these girls face an unknown world: 3,000 meters! It is often said of the Triple Crown trail that while the fastest wins the Satsuki and the luckiest wins the Derby, only the strongest Umamusume wins the Kikuka-sho! Which of them will the Goddess of Victory smile upon today?!"
Color Commentator: "Kyoto has been the stage for countless legends over the years. Looking at the field today, there is no doubt we are about to witness another chapter of history."
Announcer: "The girls are moving into the gates now! Let's look at the favorites. Holding the top spot in the polls is the undefeated dual-crown winner, Mihono Bourbon! Her aggressive front-running style has left the rest of the generation in the dust. But there is one girl who has stayed locked onto her heels—the second favorite, Rice Shower! She fell just short in the Satsuki-sho, but earned a dead heat for first in the Derby! Can she pull off something special today? And in third, we have Machikane Tannhauser! While she hasn't claimed a major title yet, her performance in the Derby proved she has the hidden talent to play spoiler. You cannot afford to overlook her!"
Color Commentator: "The fans are clearly split between Bourbon and Rice Shower. There's a significant gap between them and the rest of the pack. These two have truly defined this Triple Crown season."
Announcer: "It's a two-horse race in the eyes of the public! The final runner, Daiichi Joyful, moves into the outside gate—number eighteen! Bourbon took the Satsuki! Bourbon and Rice shared the Derby! Who takes the Chrysanthemum today?! At the end of these 3,000 meters, the title of the Generation's Strongest awaits! The final leg of the Triple Crown... the Kikuka-sho... is ready to begin!"
Bourbon: (The Triple Crown... I will achieve it!)
Rice: (Rice can do it... if I try, I can do it!)
Tannhauser: (Even an 'ordinary' girl like me won't back down!)
CLANG!
Announcer: "And they're off! Eighteen runners leap from the gates as one, charging toward the third corner! Mihono Bourbon makes her move for the front! But wait—Kyoei Bowgun is flying up on the outside! Bowgun has taken the lead and opened up a three-length gap instantly! Mihono Bourbon settles into second! Behind her is Meisho Centro, followed closely by Machikane Tannhauser! A length back, we find the group containing St. Lite City and Rice Shower! The favorites are all clustered at the front as they swing through the fourth corner and come past the grandstands for the first time!"
Hachiman (POV): So Bourbon didn't get the lead... Kyoei Bowgun won the Kobe Shimbun Hai by leading from the start, so I guess they decided they weren't going to hand the pace over to Bourbon today. A bold strategy.
Announcer: "Kyoei Bowgun maintains the tempo! Mihono Bourbon is in second, with a massive five-to-six length gap back to Meisho Centro! After another gap, it's Tannhauser in fourth, and Rice Shower sitting patiently in fifth! Gral Stone, St. Lite City, and Yamanin Miracle are bunched on the inside, with Bamboo Genesis on their hip! The field rounds the first corner!"
Rice: (Tannhauser-san is right in front of me... but the leaders are still too far. I have to get closer.)
Tannhauser: (How is Rice-san going to play this? And when is Bourbon-san going to make her move? No—stop. I have to focus on my own race!)
Announcer: "They've reached the backstretch! Kyoei Bowgun still holds a three-to-four length lead! Mihono Bourbon is stalking her in second! Behind them, the gap is closing—Meisho Centro and Machikane Tannhauser are moving up! Rice Shower is just behind them, but the front of the pack has opened up a staggering ten-length lead over the tail-enders! Gral Stone is making an early move! The leaders hit the climb of the third corner! They're over the crest and now they're hitting the descent! Kyoei Bowgun's lead is evaporating! Mihono Bourbon is looming! Meisho Centro swings wide, and look at this—Rice Shower is surging past Tannhauser on the outside!"
Rice: (I can do it... I can reach her!)
Announcer: "They're rounding the final turn! They're into the homestretch! Mihono Bourbon takes the lead! Bourbon is 400 meters away from the Triple Crown! But Rice Shower is coming for her! And Tannhauser is finding a gap on the inside!"
Bourbon: "I can... I can still go faster! HAAAAAAAH!"
Rice: "Rice isn't done yet! YAAAAAAA-H!"
Tannhauser: "I'm going to show you all!! UOOOOOH!"
Announcer: "Mihono Bourbon has the lead by a nose, but Rice Shower is flying on the outside! Rice Shower pulls level! Rice Shower takes the lead! SHE'S PULLED AHEAD! Rice Shower is opening up the gap! It's a desperate battle for second between Tannhauser and Bourbon! Rice Shower crosses the line! She's done it! After the Derby, she claims the Kikuka-sho! Rice Shower is a dual-crown winner!"
— Kyoto Race 10: Results —
1st: [8] Rice Shower — 3:05.0 (New Course Record)
2nd: [7] Mihono Bourbon — 2 Lengths
3rd: [10] Machikane Tannhauser — Head
4th: [2] Making Tesio — 7 Lengths
5th: [18] Daiichi Joyful — 2 Lengths
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