"What a speed race! The competition among the fourteen Uma Musume is incredibly fierce right now! As expected, most of the Uma Musume have chosen the Sashi and escape tactics this time. Perhaps the 1600-meter track isn't enough for them to fully enjoy themselves."
"Right now, Seiun Sky is leading the Sashi Uma Musume! Her speed is almost comparable to the Uma Musume employing escape tactics! Will she continue to maintain this advantage?"
"It seems there are some quite excellent ones among this batch of new Horse Girls." Although he hadn't heard any Uma Musume names that sounded familiar, as a Trainer, Wada still felt that the overall quality of this batch of Horse Girls was good.
Imanami also nodded slightly, his gaze currently focused on two Uma Musume below: Seiun Sky in front, and Gold Ship, who was still lagging at the back of the pack.
"...Gold Ship, you're Big Sister Orfevre's younger sister, right?" Imanami suddenly turned to Gold Ship beside him and asked, "Have you ever run with Big Sister Orfevre? Do you have any thoughts on her running style?"
"Ah, Big Sister Orfevre... Hmm... I don't think I've really run many races with her in my memory..."
Gold Ship on the side was also constantly recalling her past memories with Big Sister Orfevre. However, her memories were full of sisterly squabbles, 'today you hit me, tomorrow I'll hammer you' kind of memories. Memories about racing seemed to be very few.
"Oh! I remember now, it was several years ago! Big Sister Orfevre, Oldest Sister, and I ran a race together under Oldest Sister's guidance!"
Gold Ship suddenly clapped her hands and said to Imanami, "I remember Oldest Sister said at the time that Big Sister Orfevre had a potential to master all running styles, but her biggest enemy was only her own heart."
"Although I don't quite understand it either, Oldest Sister said those same words to me back then. I suspect she says that to everyone in the Gold Family."
Gold Ship casually covered the back of her head with both hands, looking nonchalant. However, the "Oldest Sister" in her words did catch Imanami's attention.
Based on Imanami's understanding of Gold Ship, the evaluation of this "Oldest Sister" in Gold Ship's mouth was indeed apt—for Uma Musume like Gold Ship and Gold Ship, their biggest enemy was never their opponents, but themselves.
Gold Ship's true potential was not about where her limits lay, but about what level she could push herself to.
The wild beast within her was like an ocean, and how much could be drawn from this ocean depended entirely on how much Gold Ship herself could scoop out with her own ladle.
And now, 800 meters of the 1600-meter distance had quickly passed. Time was running out for Gold Ship... "Ha... Ha..."
"Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
Gold Ship had been running behind the pack for 800 meters, yet she was completely unaware of it, still immersed in the embarrassing moment of her delayed start, cursing silently in her heart.
She had actually made such a rookie mistake. Wouldn't Ikezoe make fun of her now? She had clearly promised to bring him victory, at least to be worthy of the running shoes he gave her, but she had messed up right at the start!
It's all that Seiun Sky's fault! She deliberately distracted me! It must be her fault!
However, Gold Ship, with a surge of Presence in her chest, didn't notice that she had inadvertently overtaken several Uma Musume. Although her position was indeed still at the back of the pack, she was no longer in last place due to her delayed start.
Now, instead of running a chase, she had... joined the Sashi queue. It was just that there were no Sashi Uma Musume in this race, so she hadn't noticed this.
And at this moment, Gold Ship's mind also recalled what Seiun Sky had just said about the technique of running a chase.
"Stay at the back of the pack, conserve energy, and then sprint in the final straight."
"No... that guy deliberately distracted me back then, she's so sneaky, I won't listen to her!"
Gold Ship's thought process immediately led to an answer: Seiun Sky was an Uma Musume who distracted her for victory, completely disregarding sportsmanship. Even if her advice sounded correct, it absolutely couldn't be adopted.
And so, a hint of fierce smile appeared at the corner of Gold Ship's mouth, hidden by her mask.
You want me to run a chase? Fine, I won't run a chase anymore!
Ikezoe was right, I don't have a preferred running style anyway, so why bother agonizing over which one to use—just charge straight ahead!
"Imagine the finish line of the track as Ikezoe..."
Gold Ship gently closed her eyes, imagining Ikezoe's face at the front of the track. Soon, a perfect outline was sketched in her mind.
The next moment, as Gold Ship suddenly opened her eyes, her legs also powerfully pushed off at that instant!
Her sturdy hooves stomped a clear imprint into the grass! The Gold Family's consistently powerful explosive strength was finally demonstrated by Gold Ship at this moment!
"Get — out of my way!!"
— "How could this be! Gold Ship! It's number eight, the second favorite, Gold Ship! She actually chose to unleash her leg power! Overtaking Uma Musume number five, six, and thirteen!"
"So fast! So fast! Gold Ship is already closing in on the Sashi Uma Musume! She's completely made up for her delayed start distance in one go! What astonishing explosive power!"
"What?"
However, Seiun Sky, who was currently in the leading Sashi formation, behind the escaping Uma Musume who were shielding her from wind pressure and intending to conserve energy for a final sprint, was startled by the commentator's voice. She instinctively looked behind her, only to meet the menacing eyes of the rapidly approaching Gold Ship!
Wasn't she running a chase? Why did she suddenly burst out? What kind of running style suddenly bursts out halfway through the race!
And this girl, she's really fast! How did she get in front of me so quickly!
In a flash, cold sweat was already beading on Seiun Sky's face. Gold Ship, who was originally behind her, was now incredibly close. Seiun Sky could almost see Gold Ship's figure out of the corner of her eye, bringing immense pressure.
Where did this monster come from!
"Hmph."
And the moment Gold Ship's gaze met Seiun Sky's, Seiun Sky clearly felt a hint of disdain from Gold Ship. That scornful look... Could it be... this girl was messing with her? She was actually playing dumb to trick her? Seiun Sky's expression also darkened slightly. She never expected that as a senior, she was earnestly imparting experience to a junior, only to be outsmarted by this deceptive girl!
However, Seiun Sky wasn't one to give up so easily. She was Representative Chihaya's disciple; how could she be defeated by this girl in such a place!
Seiun Sky also gritted her teeth, clinging tightly to Gold Ship, not daring to be careless, with a Presence much like Doto's relentless pressure on Opera O back then.
However, it was regrettable that Seiun Sky was not Doto, and Gold Ship was not an Uma Musume who would calmly wait at the back, whose tactics would be completely understood by someone who knew her well.
Gold Ship's tactics were something even Ikezoe himself might not fully grasp: spontaneous improvisation.
"Bang!"
"What?!"
Suddenly, Gold Ship stomped her foot hard again, and with a second burst of power, she completely shook off Seiun Sky. Seiun Sky gasped in surprise, unable to react to the scene before her.
"How could this be! Gold Ship's burst hasn't ended yet! She has already overtaken Seiun Sky and is running directly towards the escape Uma Musume!"
"Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Gold Ship is still accelerating! The number one escape Uma Musume has lost speed! Will Seiun Sky catch up?"
"Of course I have to catch up!" Seiun Sky was so surprised by Gold Ship's reckless running style that she almost lost speed, but fortunately, she stabilized her mindset. At this point, she didn't care about anything else; even if it wasn't her bursting point, she had to burst and keep up.
If she let this monster charge through like this, her championship would truly be gone!