The Emperor's Cup (Spring) begins, the longest G1 at 3200m in Kyoto's demanding course. Power and stamina, plus pacing, are critical. Who'll lead?
"Dokkan Turbo!" Turbo roars. "No losing with a grand escape!" Palmer echoes.
"Twin Turbo and Mejiro Palmer surge ahead! Not McQueen, Teio, or Ryan—they set the pace! Turbo's speed is blistering for 3200m—can she sustain it?"
Everyone knew Turbo's style, but her dazzling Dokkan Turbo stuns even Palmer, who gapes at the reckless pace.
"Turbo's got her way!" she grins, charging up the slope like in the Autumn Flower Award. Teio laughs.
"Always you, Turbo. I won't lose!" "Same here!" Nature chimes. "Agreed," Ikuno adds.
Canopus's duo, tempered by defeats in Chrysanthemum and Autumn Flower, climb the slope effortlessly, Shinzan irons making it child's play.
"I'm the Triple Crown! No defeat!" Teio declares. "Can't lose either!" Nature retorts.
"Turbo leads, Palmer follows. Two lengths back: Ikuno, Teio, Nature. One length behind: McQueen, Ryan."
Turbo's relentless pace mirrors Rampage's Arima, turning the race blistering. Passing the stands, dust rises.
"Track's trashed…" Rampage mutters.
The course is chewed up, tough to navigate. Palmer struggles, but Turbo skips over pristine patches with uncanny precision.
"No big deal!" Turbo hums.
Teio blinks. Turbo's hitting tiny good patches—magic-like course-taking for her small frame.
"Not just any Tiara," McQueen muses. "No challenge, no fun," Nature adds.
McQueen expected Turbo's collapse, but her momentum rivals Palmer's. Flora, climbing, feels the thrill too.
"Ha… haha!" Flora laughs.
"She's holding that speed at this distance…" Tachyon marvels. "Tiara's no joke," Pocket agrees.
Turbo's endurance surprises, defying the rough track.
"Training paid off," Rampage says. "Stamina drills?" Cafe asks. "Partly."
"When's stamina drained?" Rampage quizzes. "Running, duh," Pocket says. "Specific moments, Pocket," Tachyon corrects. "Annoying…"
Cafe answers, "Changing pace?" "Good. More?" "Bad footing, adjusting posture," Tachyon adds. "Pressure!" Pocket shouts.
All correct—pace shifts, footing, mental strain sap stamina. But Turbo's secret?
"Bad track tires you. Turbo picks pristine turf, minimizing loss." "For real?" Pocket gasps. "Reads the course mid-run." "That's split-second!" Tachyon says. "She's doing it," Cafe whispers.
Minamisaka struggled with Turbo's stamina—her engine burns it as fuel, boosting speed but not endurance. Rampage flipped the script.
"Embrace it. Shift to sustaining top speed," Rampage urged.
Using Turbo's lead, she trained her to spot clear paths—mountain trails, dodging roots and stones. Turbo mastered it fast, if clumsily.
"Turbo still leads! Unstoppable! Ryan surges—or others fade? Halfway in, Turbo's Dokkan holds! Third corner—Ikuno and Flora strike! They've battled the tyrant; this pace is nothing! McQueen creeps up! Fourth corner nears—does Turbo escape? Or does Teio, the Triple Crown, claim the shield? Will McQueen defend? Or Ryan seize it?"
"Turbo, escape!" Pocket cheers. "Grit it out!" Cafe urges.
The grand escape leads; the Emperor's Cup nears its climax.
On Nice Nature's Passing
Nice Nature, 35, lived a full life. Thank you for the memories. Perhaps she's racing old rivals in the afterlife, aiming for first. Rest in peace, legend.
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