Under a miserable sky, the 11th race at Hanshin Racecourse begins. It's the G1 Osaka Hai. 2000 meters on turf, with 16 competing Uma Musume. The track is announced as 'Good.'
If the rain had been a little worse, the track might've been in a rougher condition. As the starting point for the Spring Senior Triple Crown, the spectator count has reached the maximum of 80,000. From the commentary box, you can see colorful umbrellas and raincoats filling the front rows of the stands.
The fanfare echoes through Hanshin Racecourse as the male voices of the commentator and analyst resound. Listening to them, I stand in the front row of the stands with Urara, waiting for the race to start.
Neither Urara nor I are holding umbrellas; we're wearing raincoats. Umbrellas block the view for people behind you and the ribs can be dangerous if they hit someone. Fortunately, it's not a downpour, so a raincoat is enough to stay dry.
"Third gate, number 5, Nice Nature. She's the fourth favorite."
"She looked very fired up in the paddock. She seems to be in good shape, so we can expect a lot from this Uma Musume in today's race."
Each Uma Musume is introduced as they enter the gate. As I listen, I can feel my heart pounding inside my chest.
This is Rice's first G1 race of the year. She wants to win here to build momentum for the Spring Senior Triple Crown.
(I'm about to start my second year as a trainer, huh... If it wasn't for Rice, I wouldn't be talking about the Spring Senior Triple Crown in my first year.)
I found myself thinking about this. All my同期 (同期 - peers/colleagues who started at the same time) scouted Uma Musume in the same generation as Urara. So I'm the only one who has had to put their Uma Musume in senior-class races and fight with some crazy-strong Uma Musume in their first year.
Well, considering the classic turf route this year, maybe I'm better off.
"Fifth gate, number 9, Rice Shower. She's the third favorite."
"The winner of last year's Kikuka Sho and Arima Kinen... will she run wild in the senior class too? We can't take our eyes off her."
As I give a wry smile, Rice is introduced. Cheers go up, but I don't hear any boos. It seems her victory at Arima Kinen has gained her more fans, and those who were unhappy with her don't have the courage to boo her now.
"Sixth gate, number 11, Ikuno Dictus. She's the sixth favorite."
"She also seems to be in good condition. There are many Uma Musume in top form for this Osaka Hai, so we can expect a fierce battle."
So, even to others, she looks to be in good condition. However, Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio looked even better. If those two weren't in the race, I might've told Rice to mark Ikuno Dictus.
"Seventh gate, number 13, Mejiro McQueen. She's the first favorite."
"This... is..."
As the commentator introduces her, a huge cheer erupts from the crowd, so loud that it drowns out the analyst's voice.
"Ugh..."
I look over at Urara, who is pressing her hands against her horse ears and has tears in her eyes, probably because the cheers are too loud.
Mejiro McQueen looks calm as if the cheers are only natural, but as she enters the gate, her expression becomes serious.
"Eighth gate, number 15, Tokai Teio. She's the second favorite."
"Like Nice Nature and Ikuno Dictus, this is the second competitor from the same team. But this is incredible, isn't it? A team monopolizing the first and second favorites... has that ever happened in the Osaka Hai before?"
A large cheer goes up, though not as big as for Mejiro McQueen. Tokai Teio raises her right hand in response and enters the gate with a determined look on her face.
One by one, all the Uma Musume complete their gate entry. As the Uma Musume in the outermost gate enters, the murmuring of the crowd subsides like a receding wave.
Silence fills Hanshin Racecourse, with only the gentle sound of the falling rain...
"All Uma Musume have entered the gate... and they're off!"
With a clang, the gates open. The Uma Musume all leap out at once.
"All the Uma Musume got off to a clean start. The first to take the lead is number 2, Electrified. Number 10, Breeze Plain, and number 12, Frilled Peach, are chasing her. A length behind, the leading group is formed by number 5 Nice Nature, number 13 Mejiro McQueen, number 9 Rice Shower, number 15 Tokai Teio, number 14 Mini Cactus, number 4 Cupid's Shoot, and number 6 Sacoche."
No one had a noticeable late start. However, it's a little worrying that Mejiro McQueen, who was in an outside gate to Rice, got ahead, and Tokai Teio is running alongside Rice.
"About two lengths behind, number 1 Let's Calling, number 11 Ikuno Dictus, number 3 Zipliner, number 8 Grand Feast, and number 7 Crishumald are in a pack. The rear is about two lengths back, with number 16 Oishii Parfait."
"Now, which Uma Musume will make their move? It's all to watch."
Hanshin Racecourse has both an inner and outer course, but this Osaka Hai will be run on the inner course.
The course's undulations are relatively flat. For the 2000-meter turf race, there's a very gentle downhill slope of about 600 meters from the third corner to the home stretch. Then, for about half of the final 200-meter straight, or a little over 100 meters, they have to run up a hill with a height difference of a little less than 2 meters.
However, despite the few undulations, the first and second corners are tight, while the third and fourth are wide. It's a course shaped like an onigiri (rice ball).
"Electrified, having climbed the hill in the first lap and passed the straight, has now entered the first corner. Breeze Plain and Frilled Peach are chasing her, about two lengths behind. The front group is jockeying for position as they advance."
"The first and second corners are short and sharp. The key will be how well they can maintain their speed without swinging wide."
The first and second corners combined are about 300 meters, while the third and fourth are about 600 meters, a significant difference. Rice is running with a beautiful form to avoid swinging wide, but Tokai Teio, who is competing with her, is also cornering beautifully.
Rice and Tokai Teio are feinting and fighting to get even a little bit ahead of each other. This is likely a result of my instruction to Rice to switch her mark to Mejiro McQueen if Tokai Teio tries to mark her.
However, Tokai Teio seems to be more aware of Rice than I thought. She's intensely vying with Rice, who's trying to get behind Mejiro McQueen. At the same time, she's occasionally glancing at Mejiro McQueen, suggesting she might move to the front at any moment.
"Turning the second corner and heading down the backstretch. The lead is still number 2, Electrified. But Breeze Plain and Frilled Peach have closed the gap to less than a length. Pulled along by these three... oh, a move from Nice Nature! She's gradually closing the distance to the front."
"They're about to pass the 1000-meter marker. She probably wants to get closer to the front. Right behind her are the three top favorites: Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, and Tokai Teio."
"They've just passed the 1000-meter marker. The time is 59.2 seconds, a decent pace. Further back, Ikuno Dictus and Mini Cactus are moving up. From here, it's just the third and fourth corners, and then the final straight."
The Osaka Hai is 2000 meters, so the time is usually around 2 minutes. With 1000 meters to go, who will make their move and when?
As I watch the race on the backstretch, Urara tightly squeezes my right hand. She must know that this is where the real race begins.
"Now, the leader, Electrified, is approaching the third corner. The curve here is gentle and allows for high speeds... but Nice Nature moves! Number 5, Nice Nature, is moving up to the front! She passes Breeze Plain and Frilled Peach and moves into second! The distance to the leader is two lengths! Will she pass her?"
"It feels a bit early to make a move. I'm worried if her stamina will last."
"They pass the 800-meter marker and head into the fourth corner! The leader is still Electrified! Nice Nature is closing in to just one length! Oh! Mejiro McQueen moves! At the same time, Rice Shower and Tokai Teio are also moving!"
The curve from the third to the fourth corner at Hanshin Racecourse is gentle, allowing them to run at almost straight-line speeds. Seeing this as their chance, the Uma Musume start to make their moves one after another.
In the Arima Kinen, Rice started her long sprint with about 600 meters to go, but this time, no one has a significant lead. Still, they are gradually, little by little, accelerating.
"Through the third corner and into the fourth! They've just passed the 600-meter marker! Nice Nature passes Electrified here! Nice Nature is in the lead! But three lengths behind, Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, and Tokai Teio are closing in! Can Nice Nature hold them off?"
"They're accelerating on the corner... Ikuno Dictus and Mini Cactus are moving up from behind, but they're currently in seventh and eighth place. Can they catch up?"
"They've just passed the 400-meter marker! The leader is still Nice Nature! They're coming out of the fourth corner into the final straight! But Mejiro McQueen is right behind her! Rice Shower and Tokai Teio are closing in too!"
Exiting the fourth corner, Rice enters the final straight. Nice Nature is in the lead, but the effects of her mid-race sprint are showing. Her expression is pained, and her legs are slowing slightly.
Still, there's no sign of giving up in her expression; she's desperately moving her legs, determined to cross the finish line first.
— But this is where Rice's true strength lies.
"The first to move on the final straight is Rice Shower! She accelerates and... oh, Mejiro McQueen! Tokai Teio has moved too! The three Uma Musume have moved at the same time! They're accelerating, gaining speed!"
However, as soon as Rice moves, Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio move too. Mejiro McQueen is accelerating to keep the lead, Rice Shower is trying to pass all the Uma Musume in front of her, and Tokai Teio is trying to pass both Rice Shower and Mejiro McQueen.
"Nice Nature is also accelerating to hold on! But the Hanshin straight has a hill from here! Passing the 200-meter marker and onto the hill... Mejiro McQueen passes Nice Nature! Rice Shower and Tokai Teio also pass Nice Nature! They're sprinting up the hill despite it!"
"Their speed is incredible at the end of the race. Who will cross the finish line first...?"
At the 200-meter mark, Rice also passes Nice Nature and accelerates toward the front. The first half of the remaining 200 meters is the hill, and the second half is a flat straight. The key will be how much of a lead she can get on Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio on the hill, but...
"They've topped the hill, with less than 100 meters to go! The leader is... they're neck and neck! Mejiro McQueen, Rice Shower, and Tokai Teio are side by side! A single line! They're sprinting! They've completely broken away from the rest! There's already a five-length gap to fourth-place Nice Nature!"
"Go, Rice! Just a little more! Get ahead!"
"Rice-chan, do your best!"
Urara and I are shouting desperately. The spectators around us also raise their voices to cheer for their Uma Musume, drowning out the sound of the rain.
Just a few dozen meters to the finish line. But Rice, Mejiro McQueen, and Tokai Teio are not giving an inch.
They're kicking off the turf, splashing through the rain, accelerating with every step. Nice Nature has already run out of steam and won't be able to catch up. Ikuno Dictus and Mini Cactus are moving up from further back—but they won't make it in time.
"No one is giving way! They are perfectly aligned! The three Uma Musume are running on the turf, sparks flying, competing fiercely! There is not a single difference between them!"
I keep shouting, my eyes wide, trying to see the moment they cross the finish line.
Just as the commentator says, Rice and the others are running in a single, straight line. All of them are giving it their all, with desperate expressions, trying to cross the finish line just one step ahead of the others.
"Mejiro McQueen? Tokai Teio? Rice Shower? Now! The three of them have crossed the finish line side by side!"
"This... can't be judged from the commentary box."
"First place is... who is it? Since they crossed the finish line in a single line, it's impossible to tell from the commentary box—and the 'Photo' sign has appeared on the scoreboard! Photo finish! The order of Rice Shower, Mejiro McQueen, and Tokai Teio will be decided by a photo finish! While we wait, Nice Nature is in fourth place! Followed by Mini Cactus, who has just crossed the finish line in fifth."
"A three-way photo finish... that doesn't happen very often. What's going to happen...?"
On the scoreboard next to the giant turf vision, the word 'Photo' is glowing, just as the commentator said. The numbers for Nice Nature (4th) and Mini Cactus (5th) are displayed first.
"T-trainer... what's happening?"
"They crossed the finish line at the exact same time... They couldn't tell who won, so they'll use a photo to decide the winner."
As a trainer with only one year of experience, this is the first time I've witnessed a photo finish in person. A murmur spreads through the crowd, and Rice and the others are all looking at the scoreboard.
We wait for about a minute. All the Uma Musume in the race have finished, but the winner still hasn't been decided. Confused, everyone looks at the scoreboard.
And finally, the scoreboard lights up...
"First place is Tokai Teio! It's Tokai Teio! The word 'Record' is also glowing on the scoreboard!"
When I see the results, the strength leaves my legs, and I collapse to my knees. Staring at the scoreboard, I see number 15, Tokai Teio's number, glowing in first place.
"Second place is Mejiro McQueen! A nose behind, it's Mejiro McQueen! And third place is Rice Shower! She also finished third by a nose!"
Along with the commentator's voice, a photo of the three of them crossing the finish line appears on the turf vision.
In the race, it looked like they all finished at the same time, but in the photo, it's clear that Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen crossed the finish line just a hair ahead.
The difference was only a few centimeters, but in terms of time, not only Tokai Teio but also Mejiro McQueen and Rice set a new race record.
"Wow, what a race... All three of them set a race record after competing so fiercely... I want to applaud not only the winner, Tokai Teio, but also Mejiro McQueen and Rice Shower."
"With this, Tokai Teio has won her fifth G1 race and her second consecutive Osaka Hai. We'll be watching to see how far she can extend her record."
As the voices of the commentator and analyst echo, the spectators not only cheer but also rise to their feet and applaud the course.
The applause becomes a roar, drowning out the sound of the rain, pouring down on Tokai Teio, who has won the fierce race.
She must have just realized she won. Tokai Teio does a little happy dance, then raises her right hand to the stands. She holds up four fingers, excluding her thumb, and then slowly raises her thumb and opens her hand.
Just as Rice did at the Arima Kinen, she is showing off her number of G1 victories.
The cheers and applause grow even louder. Seeing this, Mejiro McQueen walks up to Tokai Teio with a gentle smile. She whispers something to Tokai Teio, and they both smile at each other.
"Rice..."
"Rice-chan..."
I can't help but call Rice's name as I stare at her, watching the two of them. Urara also calls Rice's name, but Rice just clenches her fists and looks up at the rain-filled sky.
After the race.
I run towards Rice, who is about to leave the course for the winning live show. Urara follows me, looking worried. Rice must have heard my footsteps because she flinches and looks up at me with a nervous expression.
— In her eyes, large tears were glistening.
As soon as Rice sees my face, her tears overflow. She hangs her head, trembling, and whispers as if spitting blood.
"I'm... sorry... Trainer-sama... Rice couldn't win... I couldn't win... Rice is the leader of Team Kitalpha..."
"..."
At the sight of Rice, I instinctively wrap my arms around her small body. I pat her back to soothe her.
"Don't cry, Rice. That race could have been won by anyone... The three of you ran a record time and crossed the finish line at the same time... So don't cry. Be proud."
She went toe-to-toe with Tokai Teio, a middle-distance specialist, and took it to a photo finish. I try to tell her to be proud, even though I can feel my hand shaking on her back and my voice trembling.
"Rice-cha... ugh..."
Seeing me and Rice, Urara cries and hugs Rice as well. Embraced by Urara and me, Rice trembles and tears fall in large drops.
Seeing Rice like that, tears naturally well up in my eyes, too. No, these aren't tears. I'm the one who told Rice to be proud. So, while holding Rice, I look up at the rain-covered sky.
"Ah! It's that old man!"
Suddenly, I hear a voice. I realize it's Tokai Teio's, but I don't have the luxury of looking in her direction. But...
"How about that, old man! I'm stronger than Rice Shower, who you said was stronger than me... Oh."
She probably didn't notice Rice Shower because Urara and I were hugging her. When I look at her, Tokai Teio's face turns pale, as if to say, "I messed up."
From an outsider's perspective, it looks like she came to gloat over a loser, so her reaction is understandable.
Tokai Teio's eyes wander in a fluster, but then she puffs out her chest, puts her hands on her hips, and looks at Rice and me.
"Th-this time... I won! The next Spring Tenno Sho, we'll compete there too! Even though it's a long distance... I'll challenge McQueen and Rice Shower, and I'll win! So it's a challenge!"
At Tokai Teio's words, Rice's trembling stops. She whispers in a voice that sounds like she's suppressing her emotions.
"... Next time... I'll definitely win."
"Hmph... no! I'll win next time, too! This is my fifth G1 win! I'm going to be an Uma Musume who surpasses Kaicho!"
With that shout, Tokai Teio runs off. My eyes follow her, and I see Mejiro McQueen nudging Tokai Teio. When Mejiro McQueen notices my gaze, she gracefully curtsies, holding the hem of her uniform, and then walks away with Tokai Teio.
"Trainer-sama... Rice, I'll definitely win next time..."
"Yeah... We'll win next time."
I wipe away my tears and answer Rice, whose voice is filled with resolve, with my own determination.
And so, the last race of my first year as a trainer comes to an end, with rain, tears, and a bitter resolve.
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