Nearly a week had passed since Urara's debut race.
At the Tokyo Racecourse, cheers thundered through the stands.
"Congratulations to Barbatos for achieving a flawless victory, securing the second leg of the Triple Tiara! Only the Shuka Sho remains to claim the Triple Tiara title!"
"The momentum of Barbatos as a Triple Tiara candidate is now unstoppable!"
Even with all the pre-race chatter about the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), even though there's no such thing as an absolute certainty among Uma Musume, Barbatos had displayed a level of skill completely beyond the others during the Oaks, effortlessly seizing the championship!
Even though, for this Oaks, El Condor Pasa had been sidelined by injury, and many entrants, knowing they stood no chance against Barbatos, had switched to other races, leaving only five competitors.
No one would dare question the prestige of this victory.
A person's reputation is like a tree's shadow—it speaks for itself.
Among her peers, with El Condor Pasa absent, and with Silence Suzuka and Seiun Sky not participating, there was simply no one who could challenge Barbatos!
The race itself was essentially Barbatos's solo exhibition. Devoid of any real competition, it could be called utterly dull from a sporting spectacle perspective.
The other four Uma Musume seemed more like they were vying for second or third place, even though those spots didn't even earn a place on the Winner's Stage.
This outcome had been predictable before the race, an almost inevitable scenario barring some mishap.
Yet the stands were still packed to the brim. Even knowing the race would be uneventful, no one wanted to miss it!
No one would miss a race that was almost certain to witness the birth of a "Triple Tiara Uma Musume."
With the conclusion of the Oaks, after witnessing Barbatos claim her second crown, the audience—who should have shifted their focus to the upcoming "Tokyo Yushun" (Japanese Derby) and the "Yasuda Kinen," one of Japan's most prestigious races—couldn't help but speculate and debate about the outcome of the upcoming Takarazuka Kinen.
The "Yasuda Kinen" was a Grade 1 race.
If the "Japanese Derby" was about seeing if Seiun Sky had a chance to contend for the "Classic Triple Crown"...
Then this year's Takarazuka Kinen could truly be called a clash of eras—a showdown between the current prodigies and legendary Uma Musume, a battle among the monsters of Grade 1 and the rising stars, a contest between the prodigies themselves!
What exactly was the gap between Barbatos, who had shown such power, and Air Groove?
How did she stack up against Silence Suzuka, with whom she was often mentioned? And could she possibly overpower the other Grade 1 monsters at the Takarazuka Kinen?!
This was what all fans following Uma Musume loved to chew over. Many wished they could just fast-forward to the day of the Takarazuka Kinen.
Countless related posts flooded Japanese online forums.
Could Barbatos be called the strongest active Uma Musume?
Barbatos currently had an unbeaten record aside from the Winter Dream Cup.
Beyond her showdown with El Condor Pasa in the Oka Sho, she had demonstrated strength that overwhelmed the field, even winning the long-distance Tenno Sho (Spring), which wasn't her forte.
With four Grade 1 victories in less than a year since her debut, she could be called an all-rounder, adaptable to any track, much like the legendary Symboli Rudolf in her day.
Could there really be any active Uma Musume who could be her match?
If she beats Silence Suzuka at the Takarazuka Kinen, wouldn't she deserve to be called Japan's strongest active Uma Musume?!
Top Comment:
I really don't get why Silence Suzuka is mentioned in the same breath as Barbatos and El Condor Pasa.
Those two have multiple Grade 1 wins in under a year. Silence Suzuka doesn't have a single Grade 1 victory.
Seriously, are people really putting her on their level just because of some 'prodigy' comments?
The other Uma Musume in the Takarazuka Kinen include plenty of Grade 1 champions!
She's been racing for over a year with no Grade 1 wins, and she's not even planning to enter the Yasuda Kinen, which should suit her. She didn't even dare face Rigil's Taiki Shuttle. Probably her trainer at Spica knows her limits.
Reply 713:
Just an impartial observer here. Barbatos's strength is undeniable, but nothing's absolute in racing. Barbatos beat El Condor Pasa once, but we all saw it wasn't a crushing victory. When El Condor Pasa returns from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and they meet again, who knows who'll win?
Even if we're really ranking the strongest active...
We should wait until after the Takarazuka Kinen. Only by winning it, or by placing second (excluding the 'Empress' who's in a league of her own), could she barely be considered 'strongest active.'
Reply 1062:
True, Barbatos might be strong among the active racers, but if we're talking the strongest, we have to exclude Empress Air Groove first. Otherwise, forget Barbatos, even Silence Suzuka wouldn't stand a chance at the Takarazuka Kinen.
Reply 3077:
That top commenter, have you even watched Silence Suzuka race? That gorgeous front-running, the lengths she pulls ahead—can other Grade 1 Uma Musume do that?
Reply 3725:
By the standards of that 'current prodigy' label, couldn't Mejiro Bright be considered one too?
--+--
"Ugh! Why can't Suzuka-chan be considered a prodigy?!"
"Exactly! What's so great about having a few Grade 1 wins?"
On the Tracen Academy training field, Special Week was dragging a huge tire, training for the upcoming Japanese Derby.
Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka, who were watching her pre-Derby training, scrolled through the online discussions.
The two, who usually argued over everything, were oddly in agreement on this issue.
Even if what was said online seemed to make sense, as fellow members of Team Spica with Silence Suzuka, they were definitely siding with their teammate.
"When the Takarazuka Kinen comes, we'll show all those people who don't know how amazing Suzuka-chan is just how powerful her 'Great Escape' tactic is!"
"She'll definitely leave both Barbatos and Air Groove in the dust!"
Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka declared, then glanced at each other, a sudden flicker of doubt crossing their minds.
The same thought flashed through both their heads: with a Legendary Uma Musume and Barbatos, who was at the peak of her fame, as opponents... could Suzuka-chan really run away from them?
Against other Grade 1 Uma Musume, they had faith in Suzuka-chan. But the reputations of these two were just too intimidating.
"Did you guys just mention Suzuka-chan?"
"How's Suzuka-chan's training going?"
Hearing the voice, Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka looked up. Special Week, who had been far away just moments ago, had rushed over upon hearing Suzuka's name, now standing right in front of them.
Spe-chan really is...
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! 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.