A week ago, during Doto and Wada's discussion about tactics against Opera O, Doto clearly remembered Wada emphasizing this step. It was even more crucial than getting ahead of Opera O at the start.
But Doto didn't understand. Wasn't the best time to unleash her Last Spurt during the final straight? With such a good opportunity, why exert force on a bend, which would affect her sprint? Wouldn't that be a net loss?
"Doto, your Last Spurt's explosive power is excellent. It can be said that you and Opera O, whether in stride, preferred tactics, or strategies, are very similar. Your running styles and preferred race methods are almost identical."
Wada, having noticed Doto's confusion, spoke calmly, "Then Doto, do you think your Last Spurt, compared to Opera O's Last Spurt, can guarantee stronger explosive power than Opera O's in the final straight sprint phase?"
"...No."
Doto opened her mouth, wanting to confidently say she could do it. However, thinking back to the Yukinayanagi Sho, where Opera O, still unfamiliar with the leading running style, relied on a single Last Spurt to close a significant gap with the first-place Uma Musume, ultimately winning by a third of a Horse Length... she still recognized her own limitations.
"Doto, although your Last Spurt has undergone targeted training during this period, I can say it might even surpass Mejiro McQueen's. But compared to Opera O, who excels in Last Spurt, we are still a step behind."
Seeing that Doto had understood this point, Wada was greatly relieved. His biggest fear was Doto being overconfident, believing her Last Spurt could contend with Opera O's, and then not following instructions on the track, thereby letting a glimmer of hope for victory slip away.
Competing with Opera O in Last Spurt might be possible after Opera O's peak, but Opera O is currently in her ascendant period, capable of a new Last Spurt record at any moment. At such a time, competing with Opera O in Last Spurt... is truly an unwise choice.
But if they didn't rely on Last Spurt, how could they win? Wada thought for a long time before finally coming up with a feasible solution.
"Doto, you need to unleash your Last Spurt earlier than Opera O. Before Opera O finds a suitable breaking point, quickly establish a large enough lead. This way, even if Opera O's Last Spurt can catch up to you in a short time, we still have a chance to win."
"We have no chance of winning by competing with Opera O in Last Spurt. Instead, let's try to create a gap. Doto, as long as you can create a large enough gap within a limited time, Opera O might not be able to catch you."
This was a clumsy method. If Doto were a frontrunner like Silence Suzuka, then Wada wouldn't have to worry about Opera O catching up. However, Doto, unfortunately, has a running style that is almost identical to Opera O's.
If one had to describe it, Doto was a lesser substitute for Opera O—of course, such words couldn't be said in front of Doto, or it would make the child cry.
But now, if Wada wanted to use this lesser substitute to defeat Opera O, he absolutely could not compete with Opera O in her strongest Last Spurt; that would be a guaranteed loss.
So, it would be better to use a strategy similar to a frontrunner in the middle of the race, creating as much distance as possible.
Opera O's Last Spurt also has its limits. As long as the distance created is large enough, even Opera O would find it difficult to catch up.
"But where should I unleash it?" Doto, hearing this, understood Wada's tactics but still asked with some unease:
"I don't know where Opera O's breaking point is at all. How can I know in advance where I should unleash my Last Spurt to quickly create a gap?"
"—I know."
However, suddenly, before Doto's murmur faded, Wada's extremely decisive words made Doto instinctively flinch, staring blankly at Wada in front of her.
And the next moment, Doto saw a confident smile on Wada's face that she had never seen before... "Trainer really did it! He really analyzed Opera O's breaking point. The gap between me and Opera O is constantly widening."
At this moment, Doto, having unleashed all her power, was making her final sprint without reservation, pushing against the wind pressure. She had already passed the first bend and was now leading all Uma Musume in the flat straight sprint zone!
"What an unexpected sight! Meisho Doto has unleashed an astonishing Last Spurt and is creating distance from Opera O!"
"Can she maintain this Last Spurt all the way to the finish line? Opera O hasn't caught up in time. Is she still waiting for her moment?"
"This is... unexpected." Opera O also didn't expect Doto to unleash her Last Spurt early, attempting to win by creating a lead.
The explosive power of a Last Spurt also has its limits. If it's during the final straight sprint phase, there might be a chance to sprint all the way to the finish. But if she starts sprinting on the last bend, even Opera O couldn't maintain that burst of power all the way to the finish line.
Therefore, Opera O always chose to unleash the power of her Last Spurt when she had covered about a quarter of the distance in the straight. This allowed her to maximize the power of her Last Spurt, quickly close the gap, and ultimately win by a small margin—this was the experience Opera O had summarized.
Although Tojo Hana, as her Trainer, knew Opera O's tactics, on one hand, Tojo Hana couldn't tell Wada Opera O's tactics. On the other hand, even Tojo Hana herself didn't know where Opera O's breaking point was.
A Trainer can only set tactics and determine running styles; timing, however, can only be grasped by the Uma Musume herself.
In other words, an Uma Musume's mastery of the timing of her burst is born from her own feelings, insights, or even a sudden inspiration. No one else would know where an Uma Musume's breaking point would be.
But now, this rule had just been broken.
"Wada... do you understand me even better than I understand myself?" At this moment, a bitter smile appeared on Opera O's face. She suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness... this feeling of having no secrets, of all her actions being calculated... But even so, Opera O only felt helpless, not angry. Instead, an inexplicable sense of pride and arrogance deep within her was slowly consolidating.
—But even so, as the Overlord, I will not surrender victory!
Opera O suddenly opened her eyes wide. As she rounded the bend, all the muscles in her legs tensed, and her gaze fixated on Doto in front, like a spring coiling and then launching, she surged forward!
"Opera O has unleashed it! Opera O has unleashed it! Astonishing Last Spurt power! The gap between Opera O and Meisho Doto is constantly closing! Three Horse Lengths!"
"!"
The commentator's voice undoubtedly ignited the atmosphere of the entire stadium to its peak. Doto's heart also skipped a beat, but at this moment, her Last Spurt had reached its limit, and there was still a short distance to the finish line.
Tired, struggling, even breathing felt painful in her lungs, her legs and feet ached... How could this be? It was an 1800-meter turf race; she hadn't struggled this much in a 2000-meter Friendship Race. Why did she feel so exhausted this time?
But why was she still not giving up? She actually still wanted to keep running!
"Doto! Do you feel it?! My full effort, as the Overlord!"
Behind Doto, Opera O, who was constantly closing the distance, also shouted breathlessly, "Now—in front of me, the Overlord! Retreat!"
As soon as Opera O's words fell, an unprecedented pressure surged towards Doto. This was Opera O's long-hidden final gamble—her "Presence" as the Overlord.
A few exceptionally talented Uma Musume naturally possess a "Presence" that makes other Uma Musume feel fear. This Presence, with continuous training, will steadily increase, thereby exerting immense psychological pressure on other Uma Musume on the track.
For example, Symboli Rudolf, the "Emperor," Air Groove, the "Empress," and Narita Brian, the "Blinder Monster," their auras alone were enough to make other Uma Musume nervous, and their Presence on the track felt overwhelmingly oppressive.
Of course, a few Uma Musume can also unleash extraordinary oppressive power under special circumstances. Opera O knew that the senior Uma Musume named Rice Shower had such potential, as did Gold Ship. They all had such potential, but had not yet found suitable training methods.
Opera O also possessed this ability, but it was still immature, and she usually wouldn't use it. But now, for victory, to uphold her victory as the Overlord, she chose to use it.
Because she knew this was also Doto's weakness. Doto was much braver on the track than in daily life, but under extreme pressure, Doto's stress would suddenly increase, making her prone to revealing her true nature.
Her previous defeat in the Friendship Race was also like this. At that time, Doto was closely tailing Mejiro McQueen, about to win, but due to the sudden influx of Tokai Teio's immature Presence, Doto panicked and dropped from first to third place.
And now that Opera O had used her last trump card, it also indicated that Opera O was truly giving her all; she had no more moves left to employ.
Just as Opera O thought her Presence could affect Doto, she saw Meisho Doto in front involuntarily tremble. However, the next second, Doto gritted her teeth tightly, squeezing out words that shocked even Opera O.
"Don't—get in my way!!"
Accompanied by Doto's unprecedented roar, suddenly, the faint phantom around Doto, which had been slowly dissipating, became even clearer.
Opera O even heard a roar from that phantom, as if angrily venting its fury, glaring fiercely at Opera O.
At this moment, Doto's mind was instantly filled with many... inexplicable things.