Tokyo Racecourse.
Barbatos followed the staff's directions and stepped into the starting gate. She glanced to both sides.
Though the Tokyo Sports Hai Junior Stakes was already a G2-level race, it wasn't fundamentally much different from a G3.
She hadn't specifically studied her opponents for this race, only remembering her classmate—King Halo—and that nimble filly, Queen Berry, whom she'd encountered once before and caused to start late just by talking.
The other Uma Musume didn't leave much of an impression on her.
If this were a G1 or a high-stakes G2, she would definitely have looked into her rivals beforehand. But for this, she could focus all her energy on improving herself.
Barring any surprises, a G2 at the juvenile level shouldn't pose much pressure for her. The only one she really needed to watch out for was King Halo.
If some G1-level Uma Musume shamelessly showed up to snipe her in this race, Minamizaka would have given her a heads-up beforehand.
Since Minamizaka hadn't said anything before the race, that meant there were no particularly threatening contenders.
Figuring there was still about a minute before the gates opened, Barbatos turned to the Uma Musume on either side and called out, "In this race, let's all do our best—"
"Huh???"
The words had just left her mouth, hadn't even finished, when she saw the "unfamiliar" Uma Musume on both sides immediately cover their ears.
What the...
They even seemed to be muttering something under their breaths, trying to distract themselves.
"What are you all doing?!" Barbatos blurted out, utterly confused.
If last time "Dramatic Development" in the gates—where she covered her ears—was because she'd had the experience of starting late after exchanging greetings with her in a previous race, these fillies she didn't even recognize... It was clearly their first time meeting!
Wasn't covering their ears like this a bit too much?!
I just wanted to say hello.
Unbeknownst to her, while Barbatos hadn't studied them, how could the Uma Musume in this race not have studied Barbatos?
In race after race, how many had ended up with late starts because they talked to Barbatos?
That "Tacit Accord" race even had someone crash into the gate charging out because of her.
Almost all the G3-level Uma Musume had accepted one thing as default: you absolutely must not talk to Barbatos inside the starting gates.
You even have to cover your ears when she starts speaking. Otherwise, forget about placing second; you might even end up dead last because of a late start!
Probably in future races, only those G1 or G2-level Uma Musume, with their immense self-confidence, would dare to have a "pre-race chat" with Barbatos or something.
Seeing that no one would talk to her, and noting that King Halo and Queen Berry were some distance from her gate position, Barbatos gave up on the idea of shouting a greeting. She quickly began adjusting her own posture, waiting for the gates to open.
--+--
In the commentator's booth.
"Barbatos is receiving very high praise for this race. Nearly ninety-five percent of the audience is optimistic about Barbatos."
"Of course, that's only natural."
"Whether the Tokyo Sports Hai is a newly promoted G2 or a genuine G2-level event, Barbatos is undoubtedly one of the favorites for the top spot."
So said the commentator.
One of the favorites, not the absolute favorite.
This was because she was considering Barbatos in the context of all G2-level races, not just the Juvenile Stakes series G2. She believed Barbatos already had the ability to compete with—and defeat—those G1-level Uma Musume.
"Indeed, the Barbatos of today is no longer the Uma Musume who only had fame when she first debuted."
"Her strength is something everyone has witnessed."
"So let us all watch closely and see if we can witness once again Barbatos's terrifying, Wind God-like dash today!"
"Additionally, competitors King Halo and Queen Berry should not be underestimated."
"It's said that King Halo is Barbatos's classmate and friend. Since her debut, she has an undefeated record of 3 wins in 3 races. Like Queen Berry, she is a hot favorite to place second!"
The race announcer, taking advantage of the time before the gates opened, rapidly listed the popular Uma Musume. But as soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed some audience members glaring fiercely at the commentary box, making her shiver.
She realized she had misspoken.
She had called King Halo and Queen Berry, the second and third favorites, "hot favorites to place second." It should have been "hot favorites to win."
But subconsciously, she already believed this race was basically in the bag for Barbatos, so in her rapid speech, "win" had become "place second."
Judging by the strength Barbatos had displayed, who in this race could possibly stop her from winning? Who could break her undefeated record?!
The commentator beside her instantly reacted, helping to steer the topic away.
"King Halo with her royal running form, Queen Berry with the formidable power she shows in arm wrestling... Let's wait and see."
"Let's see who in this race can overpower the rest and become the winner of the first G2-level Tokyo Sports Hai Junior Stakes!"
As the commentator's words faded, the red light above the gates flashed, and the gates swung open.
All the Uma Musume burst out instantly. No one started late.
Barbatos's gaze was fixed on King Halo, noting her very fast start. "Is she planning to create distance to counter my acceleration?"
"Not good enough! Not good enough!"
She was no rookie Uma Musume anymore. She had a much more precise grasp of her own sprinting speed and positioning.
She could maximize the distance from the front-runners, keeping herself in the optimal spot, the place most suitable for her, allowing her to conserve energy during the race.
Not positioned at the very back, she quickened her pace. Red streamers seemed to flutter behind her as she moved into a midfield position.
And behind Barbatos, in the very last position, the Uma Musume—Queen Berry—watched Barbatos ahead intently.
Her eyes were filled with grim determination. She wanted to prove herself in this race, prove that she wasn't inferior to Barbatos and the others.
This might be her only chance in this lifetime, her only opportunity to beat Barbatos.
Otherwise, in the future, she'd probably only be able to watch Barbatos compete in G2 and G1 level races on streams—realms she could scarcely hope to reach.
In their last race, even going all out, she couldn't catch up to Barbatos. Under Barbatos's devastating sprint, now or in the future, she probably had no way to catch up and win against Barbatos.
If she couldn't beat her in speed, then she'd drag the contest into her own area of expertise—strength!
She was unbeatable at arm wrestling! When it came to raw power, she was confident that even Barbatos was no match for her. If she could just disrupt Barbatos, she was confident she could beat that King Halo!
Aiming for Barbatos, she instantly increased her speed, charging toward Barbatos's position. It wasn't time for Barbatos's sprint yet.
"This will work!"
The track, which had seemed fairly wide, now felt cramped as Queen Berry squeezed directly toward Barbatos's spot.
This bump will make you lose your balance, pull you into my rhythm!
Thump!
The moment she made contact, Queen Berry felt a sweet taste rise in her throat.
It felt like she hadn't bumped into Barbatos, but a speeding truck!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.