Some time later.
Location: Belmont Park entrance.
Countless spectators were murmuring to themselves or chatting with those around them, their voices filled with profound emotion.
"What an incredible race! I never got to see the legendary match race between Man o' War and Seabiscuit, but to have witnessed Nearl versus Ruffian in a match race… that's enough for me!"
"Who could have predicted it? Last year we had Secretariat, and this year we have Nearl! The number of monsters born in these last two years seems to exceed the total from the past ten or twenty years combined."
"What will Nearl run next? There's still a long time until the year-end Breeders' Cup and the legendary Dream Cup."
"Right, there's time for at least one or two more races in between. Which events will she challenge?"
"More than that, I'm curious about something else… that other one hailed as [Pegasus], the one standing at the pinnacle of turf racing, yet also mastering dirt—the strongest dual-surface threat, Platinum! Since she's come to America, will she run on dirt?"
"Unlikely, isn't it? She's already publicly stated she's challenging the Goodwood Cup! There's a world of difference between long-distance turf and dirt racing."
Currently, most spectators were marveling at Nearl's unimaginably dominant victory.
But besides that, there was another Pegasus, who had only appeared briefly as a temporary spectator, shown on the big screen for mere seconds…
Yet she wasn't completely overshadowed by this match race; her presence itself became super news, eagerly discussed by many excited fans right there on the scene.
The only one who could possibly command such popularity and influence was undoubtedly Platinum, the one who had conquered the turf, achieving a historic zenith!
--+--
Meanwhile, inside Belmont Park…
A certain silver-haired young girl, seeking to avoid the bustling crowds and the dreaded signature-seeking mob, had accepted an invitation to sit in the official race organizers' backstage room.
Before Platinum stood a playful yet mature-looking blue-haired senior, Seabiscuit, who was offering her some snacks.
"This is why I don't come to watch races live very often. It always takes forever to leave afterwards."
"So, I've gotten into the habit of bringing snacks and treats to the backstage area. After watching, I just stay here a while longer."
Seabiscuit lifted her head, smiling at the silver-haired Pegasus girl before her who, while not much smaller in stature, somehow seemed far more delicate and adorable.
Given Seabiscuit's universally acknowledged, top-tier popularity in dirt racing, she was, of course, familiar with this sweet nuisance.
In terms of popularity, she'd been fortunate to become an inspirational figure in a special era, regarded by many fans as an idol and pillar of support.
In Seabiscuit's own view, her skill didn't quite match her fame; she'd just been lucky. Seniors like Man o' War, and now Nearl, were more deserving of such popularity.
And now, with her victory in this match race, Nearl's popularity was set to soar, reaching heights comparable to the greatest in dirt racing history!
Seabiscuit had an element of luck, and she'd raced for years. Nearl, however, hadn't even been racing for a full year, and she carried no particular era's luck factor…
In fact, debuting a year after Secretariat, she'd even been cast by fanatic Big Red fans as… a [villainous] character!
No luck, only negative, reverse luck! The difficulty hadn't decreased; it had increased!
Yet under these circumstances, Nearl had step by step completed her reversal, transforming from the antagonist in the eyes of Holy Bull, third-generation Big Red fans—fans of Easy Goer—into the true Pegasus reigning over the orthodox path! The Radiant Knight!
Now, even the second-generation Big Red, Secretariat, had suffered a defeat, crashing and burning in a race, while Nearl, surpassing the tyrannical Triple Crown queen, maintained her undefeated status!
Such monumental achievements were enough for Nearl to shatter all unfavorable conditions, converting even her former opposing fans into devoted Pegasus enthusiasts!
And Seabiscuit knew perfectly well that it wouldn't be long. If Nearl could remain undefeated and capture new G1 race victories, surpassing her was only a matter of time.
Perhaps the only one in the entire world who could compare to the Radiant Knight, Nearl, in popularity now was…
The slightly lazy-looking silver-haired girl right in front of her, the world's first Pegasus before Nearl's time!
From a global perspective, Platinum's popularity, covering Europe and Asia, further boosted by her successful expeditions to Australia and Dubai, was soaring in those regions, surpassing Seabiscuit's, which was largely confined to dirt racing and America, by more than a little!
Venturing internationally undoubtedly did more for influence, popularity, and status than staying in one region. This was beyond doubt.
Platinum could probably say during a live stream, "Nobody knows more about expeditions than I do," and no one would refute it, because it was simply the truth!
And yet, this turf legend, who clearly didn't attend races often, had come straight from finishing an expedition race in Australia!
Without first returning to the turf to maintain long-distance training, Platinum had rushed straight to America to watch a dirt match race…
This seemingly simple act of spectating, considering Platinum's already announced long-distance race schedule, was rather intriguing.
Her opponents were Stradivarius and Kyprios, the widely acknowledged GOAT and the one closest to being the GOAT—two long-distance monsters!
How could the Pegasus be so composed, so unhurried? Could it be that Platinum was brimming with absolute confidence in her victory?
Seabiscuit gazed with intense focus at Platinum, who was currently looking down, eating the snacks, and couldn't help but voice her immense admiration inwardly.
Truly worthy of being the first Pegasus!
The silver-haired girl before her was like a little hamster that had stumbled into a rice barn, her cheeks stuffed full as she ate, mumbling between bites.
"Indeed, I didn't expect just watching a race could be this troublesome."
For someone like Seabiscuit, who was part of the official racing organization, it was easy to slip backstage to avoid the fervent fans, but she'd still have to wait a good while before leaving.
For someone like Platinum, constantly on expeditions, or other famous retired Uma Musume who weren't official members… choosing to rarely attend races was definitely the right call.
"So, Miss Platinum, have you arranged for a place to stay?"
"Shall I make the arrangements for you?"
Seabiscuit knew—who would take such a long flight, wait for the race to start, then wait for the crowds to disperse after it ended, all for those [few short minutes] of racing in between?
Especially not an Uma Musume, for whom time was incredibly precious. She must be planning to stay for a few days, right?
As both a senior and a representative of the race organizers, Seabiscuit was happy to properly host Platinum.
She'd extended an invitation before the race, while they were in the spectator seats, but the content then was… accompanying her on a tour of America.
Since Platinum declined the tour, and surely wasn't heading back immediately, she must be planning to focus on training, right?
"Accommodation…"
Platinum froze for a moment.
Her first thought was, 'The other me' lives there!
But… tomorrow, that scheming young doctor still has to work. He couldn't possibly maintain the Margaret Nearl transformation for the next few days.
And her own popularity in America seemed quite high too, thanks to defeating Dubai Millennium and winning a dirt G1, making her quite popular here as well.
If some fan or passerby noticed she was staying at the place where [Doctor Lin Anran] lived, wouldn't that be seen as [cohabitation] by the outside world?
Not that! Anything but that!
It would tarnish the image of her original self in the eyes of many young fillies, affecting future plans to 'farm gold coins'; and her future races would get dragged into pointless gossip.
No benefits, only downsides.
'Can't cohabit! It'll ruin my image with the foreign fillies. Farming gold coins is top priority!'
The love for earning gold coins inherited from Lin Anran, combined with the deep-seated aversion to trouble inherent in Platinum's very being, led her to reject that option.
Thus…
"Then I'll trouble you, Senior Seabiscuit."
Platinum then nodded, expressing her thanks to Seabiscuit.
Seabiscuit smiled slightly, seeming pleased.
"Then come to my house. I have a training track downstairs. Although I've been retired for years, I've maintained it regularly. It should be sufficient for your use, Miss Platinum."
Hearing this, the silver-haired girl's calm expression suddenly faltered, her body stiffening slightly.
"Let me see what the training regimen of the finest turf Uma Musume looks like."
For a moment, she fell completely silent.
Oh no.
What did she know about training?
"Th-That would be troublesome…"
--+--
A few days later.
Seabiscuit's home.
A dazed Seabiscuit was writing in her diary, recording her thoughts from the past few days since Platinum had moved in.
--+--
[Day 1: Finally going to see how the turf legend trains. I wonder how different it is from regular turf Uma Musume, or dirt Uma Musume?]
[The training of the strongest turf Uma Musume, a super monster rivaling Eclipse, must be very informative. Let's see if I can learn something to help train the local dirt racing juniors here in America.]
[Huh? It's already afternoon, and Miss Platinum still hasn't changed into her training gear?]
[Well, she only recently returned from her expedition in Australia, and then came straight to unfamiliar America. Taking a day off to rest isn't a big deal.]
--+--
[Day 2: Surely she'll start today? I'll go down to the training field to take a look.]
[No… wait? Where is she? Miss Platinum isn't in the training field at all!]
--+--
[Day 3: Th-This can't be right? How is it still…]
--+--
[Day 4: Finally! Finally saw her go train!]
[But this training volume… why is it about the same as my warm-up routine, and I'm retired!]
[Also, why does Platinum's training gear look so new? It looks like it was just bought?]
--+--
By the time she reached this latest entry on Day 4, Seabiscuit's gaze was as vacant as someone who, after painstakingly promoting Weedy to Elite 2 in Integrated Strategies, immediately encountered devious Sarkaz Lancers in the very next stage.
Or, like a League of Legends Kayle player moments away from hitting level 16 and ascending, only for the team to surrender at 15.
In short, the widely experienced legend's expression was one of utter stupefaction.
"No, why is this training…"
For four consecutive days, Seabiscuit had only witnessed Platinum training today.
And the training volume was actually comparable to her own, a 'retired old-timer'.
"Hah…"
"Could it be that Platinum simply doesn't train much, and with this incredibly low volume, she's been sweeping through races and tearing through the Coolmore siege?"
Upon realizing this, a tremor ran through Seabiscuit's heart. It wasn't disappointment she felt, but something closer to 'dread'.
After all, there were only two ways for an Uma Musume to grow stronger.
The first was training.
The second was racing.
Seabiscuit certainly knew that some Uma Musume chose the extreme, high-risk path of 'using races as training', 'sustaining growth through battle', but the risks and physical strain were far too high.
Consequently, this could usually only be sustained for a season, half a year at most. Any longer would almost certainly cause physical damage.
Those who did this were usually Uma Musume whose Maturation wasn't fully complete, forcing themselves to grow rapidly.
For instance, before this year's American Triple Crown, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer had both engaged in using races as training.
And now, right after the Triple Crown ended, their race frequency dropped significantly as they began recuperating and returning to training as their primary focus.
But Platinum should have long entered her classic years, completed her Maturation, and reached her peak… Could it be that Platinum could still grow stronger, that she hadn't yet reached her personal limit?
Instantly, Seabiscuit's heart flooded with boundless envy.
Just how exaggerated must her potential be?
How incredibly resilient must her body be?
"Even if she uses races as training…"
"Changing race schedules like this, facing strong opponents… she should at least need to readjust with long-distance training volume, right?"
Unable to comprehend it, and utterly shocked, Seabiscuit knew full well that Platinum's next race wouldn't be easy.
"The Goodwood Cup is a race where strong competitors abound!"
Seabiscuit knew the Goodwood Cup was an extremely influential long-distance race in the European Uma Musume scene, regarded by many long-distance specialists as a major event that must be contested.
And this year's Goodwood Cup lineup was absurdly, unprecedentedly strong.
Stradivarius, the strongest in long-distance from the Sea family, had won three consecutive Goodwood Cups, the undeniable [Longest Mountain] of long-distance, her peak stretching incredibly far.
Kyprios, the young super talent, who performed poorly in other distances, shocked all of Europe upon switching to long-distance.
She had recently defeated Stradivarius head-on in a long-distance G1 race, in a stunning, unbelievable performance. Her peak form was terrifyingly impressive, capable of achieving the rare feat of consecutive long-distance G1 wins, making her the [Tallest Mountain]!
Even if Platinum also possessed great long-distance talent… anyone following Platinum knew her last challenge at a long-distance race was a very, very long time ago.
In her entire career, she had only challenged two races: [The 3000m G1 Kikuka Shō] and [The 2500m G1 Arima Kinen].
In the Kikuka Shō, only Manhattan Cafe technically possessed a temporary domain, and that race was over a year ago. Neither the quality of the competition nor the timing seemed sufficient to be the source of Platinum's confidence.
As for the Arima Kinen, its short 2500m distance was barely different from the middle-distance 2400m. It was less a long-distance race and more an enhanced middle-distance one!
Looked at this way, while the Pegasus Platinum had run long-distance before, facing the European long-distance kings remained a venture filled with unknowns.
"Alright, can't record the Pegasus's training methods for the American dirt fillies to learn…"
"If they dared try this, they'd be physically broken or performance would plummet, leading straight to retirement within months."
Seabiscuit's voice was filled with decisiveness.
Who could possibly learn this?
Couldn't learn a single bit of it!!
"But it certainly broadened my horizons. To think such a rare genius, blessed by the Three Goddesses, exists in this world!"
--+--
In the room.
The silver-haired girl had just stepped out of the bath.
Having changed into her pajamas, Platinum casually picked up her phone from the table. There were over a dozen missed calls.
All from… the Japan Racing Association!
Seeing this, Platinum was taken aback.
The Japanese URA?
The lazy Pegasus promptly chose to call back.
The call was connected instantly.
"Miss Platinum…"
"The races named after you, the [Pegasus Kinen] and the [Platinum Cup], have reached the entry period."
"Might we ask if you intend to participate?"
The [Pegasus Kinen] and the [Platinum Cup]! They're coming!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.