The Slope Road at Nakayama Racecourse rises about two meters, while Kyoto Racecourse's famous "Yodo Slope" reaches nearly four.
Judging by height alone, Kyoto's incline should be the tougher of the two—but reality tells a different story. Nakayama's Slope Road spans roughly 200 meters along the main grandstand straight, whereas Kyoto's extends for more than 400 meters. The difference in length means the gradient at Nakayama feels far steeper, its impact far more punishing. And now, barely half a minute after the start, all thirteen Uma Musumes were already feeling the pressure crushing down on their legs.
"This is only the beginning—What will it be like when we face this slope again after a full lap!?"
At the head of the pack, Road Royal murmured under her breath. "Still, this is good. I'll stabilize my rhythm here and start conserving stamina. If I use this slope—where everyone slows down—I can hold my lead."
Out on the far side of the leading group, Oguri Cap remained calm. To her, the slope ahead was the most decisive stretch in the entire 2500-meter Arima Kinen course.
Both Shuta An and Berno Light had spent long hours studying this part of the track—though in truth, only Berno Light had carried out the research. Shuta An merely skimmed the data a few times before growing bored. Yet in the end, it was Shuta An with Berno's suggestion who let Oguri Cap the technique: shift into a pitch stride, lower the center of gravity, shorten each step, and apply steady forward propulsion.
If this had been the Oguri Cap who had never traveled to France, she might not have executed the instructions so cleanly. But before the French 2000 Guineas, she had learned a great deal from the Mile Queen Miesque—knowledge that included mastery of the pitch stride.
Even though she didn't use it often now, the skill had never faded. And because her proficiency surpassed that of every other runner on the field, the spectators could clearly see Oguri Cap's position inching forward with each powerful but compact step.
"Is she completely unaffected by the slope?" Road Royal's Trainer squinted. "How is she doing that? Just lowering her center of gravity?"
Miss Komiyama, watching closely, shifted her attention from Oguri Cap to Tamamo Cross.
At first glance, the White Lightning appeared just as steady as Oguri Cap on the climb—but Miss Komiyama knew this composure was a result of her rear position and greater stamina reserves. Despite the calm expression, Tamamo Cross was spending far more energy on this slope than Oguri Cap. Even so, she felt no anxiety.
"Tama-chan can run 3200 meters on turf. Even if she wastes a little stamina here, she'll recover it later."
On the innermost side of the leading group, Super Creek maintained serene focus.
"Before the race, Trainer told me that in this Arima Kinen, everyone would hold each other back until the decisive straight." Super Creek kept her gaze forward. "And it's happening exactly as she predicted. Which means the moment someone accelerates; the pace will spike like an avalanche. All I need is to catch that timing."
From the VIP box, Nase Fumino watched her with unwavering concentration.
"Creek—stamina, judgment, positioning—she's among the very best here. As long as we drag the rhythm out calmly, victory will fall to us."
Further back, Dicta Striker had fully regained her rhythm. Surveying the pack, her gaze finally settled on Tamamo Cross, running just ahead.
"It's still far from halfway. I can't accelerate. I have to endure—endure and hold on."
But almost as if she sensed Dicta Striker's thoughts, a single word slipped from Tamamo Cross's lips: "Foolish."
Dicta Striker's eyes widened. She didn't even have time to process the message before Tamamo Cross suddenly surged forward, accelerating right before the turn.
"Mutual restraint for a slow pace?"
"Planning to win with a final-straight sprint?"
"Think a 2500-meter race allows mid-race pace magic?"
The roar of movement and lightning reached Oguri Cap from behind, and she instantly understood.
"She's activating her Zone here?" Oguri Cap's brows drew together, a faint alarm rising within her. "Why is she showing her hand so early?"
In the VIP suite, Symboli Rudolf raised an eyebrow. "She's more adept with her Zone than she was during the Autumn Tenno Sho and Japan Cup."
"Turning it on and off at will?" Maruzensky narrowed her eyes. "A talent like Tamamo Cross retiring from the Twinkle Series—it really is a shame."
"Everyone has their own path." Symboli Rudolf waved her hand lightly. "For her, proving herself further here holds less meaning than aiming for the Dream Trophy Series."
"True enough," Maruzensky conceded.
At the same time, Shuta An also noticed the White Lightning's abnormal acceleration, a deep frown forming.
"She's confident in her stamina. With this long-distance acceleration, she's trying to erode the gap to Oguri. At this rate, by the time they reach the final straight, she'll be neck and neck with Oguri—"
He paused, clicking his tongue. "This must be Tamamo Cross's own decision."
"What do you mean?" Berno Light turned toward him. "Are you saying this sudden tactic wasn't planned?"
"It's not improvisation," Shuta An replied after a moment. "But it's definitely her acting on her own initiative. I doubt Miss Komiyama would come up with something like this."
A long-distance acceleration, followed by anchoring an accelerating position at the final straight—it was a plan no ordinary Uma Musume could execute. Against most competitors, he would confidently say Oguri Cap's final burst would outperform theirs. But Tamamo Cross was not "most competitors."
"This is the White Lightning—the one who only grows stronger the longer she runs." He exhaled slowly.
"In stamina, Oguri is definitely at a disadvantage. All we can do now is pray she holds out, doesn't accelerate too early, and pours everything she's gathered into her final sprint."
However, Oguri Cap had trained for this very kind of patience before the Japan Cup—much like dealing with being marked. It was a matter of suppressing the instinctive urge to accelerate, resisting the desire to shake off the ones chasing behind her.
"It's a good thing I asked Miss Rudolf and Miss Ramonu to give Oguri special training. If she could hold back her impulses even against the two of them, then handling Tamamo Cross won't be a problem now." The thought eased the Young man's tension. "And I don't believe it—Oguri's stored final-spurt energy will lose to Tamamo Cross's burst, which she's forcing out after a long-distance acceleration."
While Shuta An muttered to himself, the live commentator continued reporting with full focus:
"Road Royal still maintains a lead of about one horse length! All thirteen Uma Musumes are about to enter the final straight!"
But naturally, he didn't miss the highlight everyone was waiting for. "Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross are side by side! Neither is giving an inch! Will these two top contenders in Autumn deliver their usual brilliant performance today?!"
As Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross locked horns, Super Creek—positioned just behind them—waited for her moment.
"Trainer said that if I stay focused, I'll definitely find the path forward! I need to think carefully—how do I push through and contest victory?" Super Creek's feet moved while her mind raced.
Then, as if a veil had lifted, a vague opening appeared before her eyes. She didn't know what it was—but her instincts told her this was the opening she had been searching for.
"Good—since I found it, it's time to go!" Without hesitation, Super Creek surged into acceleration.
Everything seemed perfectly timed—yet in the audience, Nase Fumino's expression tightened. "Creek—didn't she check what's behind her?"
A few horse lengths behind, Dicta Striker noticed Super Creek's shift and curved her lips into a confident smirk. "Very good—extremely good! The path you found really is perfect. So let me take it too!!"
Earning a title is a rare honor for an Uma Musume—but Dicta Striker, with her explosive finishing power, had gained a special one: "Bullet Out of the Chamber."
"This rhythm— this is my favorite!!" She didn't even bother wiping away the blood running down her face. She poured every ounce of accumulated strength into her final, reckless sprint.
Within moments, she was about to "arrest" Super Creek.
But at this moment—Shuta An, Miss Komiyama, Symboli Rudolf, Maruzensky—every pair of eyes was locked onto the two Gray Uma Musume who had pulled a full horse length ahead of the rest.
"To be honest, being pursued is far more exhausting than pursuing." Symboli Rudolf's voice carried a rare hint of gravity.
"Oguri Cap has endured being marked by both me and Ramonu before—but now she's simultaneously being chased by the long-distance strongest 'White Lightning' Tamamo Cross, this year's stamina-based Kikuka Sho winner Super Creek, and Dicta Striker with her terrifying explosive finish. Considering this is a real race, the pressure she's facing now is likely the strongest she's ever endured in her entire career."
She concluded firmly: "Now it depends on whether Oguri Cap can convert that pressure into strength."
"If it's about using pressure to enter the 'Zone,' didn't she already do that once?" Maruzensky asked, genuinely puzzled. "It shouldn't be that hard for her now, right?"
"No—it's not the same." Symboli Rudolf answered, but she didn't elaborate.
"The 'Zone' Oguri Cap showed before wasn't entirely her own will. It felt more like Shuta-kun played a part somehow." The Emperor murmured softly. "But this time—Oguri Cap must open the 'Zone' by her own will alone."
Meanwhile, Super Creek and Dicta Striker had begun their own fierce chase—but whether it was the audience, the director's cameras, or the commentator, everyone's attention remained fixed on the two gray silhouettes at the very front.
"Who said 'gray Uma Musume' can't run fast?" Even with his heart pounding painfully, Shuta An couldn't hold back a radiant smile.
"Ann and Miss Komiyama have overturned people's prejudices." Berno Light clasped her hands together—though her smile wouldn't come. "But I…I still hope Oguri can win."
"Of course, I do too." Shuta An grinned. "Three consecutive G1 victories in Autumn turf middle–long distance races—if she achieves such an unprecedented feat in Japan—"
He didn't need to finish. Berno Light could imagine all too clearly how the world would react to Oguri Cap accomplishing such a historic achievement.
"It's just— incredible." The chestnut-haired girl lowered her head, voice trembling. "To have come this far with Oguri and Ann…"
"What's incredible?" Without taking his eyes off the two gray runners battling fiercely, Shuta An reached out and gently rubbed Berno Light's shoulder. "Your hard work—both I and Oguri see it. Your contribution deserves to be part of her glory."
On the track, a chill shot up Oguri Cap's spine.
"Oh no—Tamamo is catching up!"
And indeed—after chasing for more than a thousand meters—Tamamo Cross finally drew even with her.
"Ogurin—I told you I wouldn't lose to you here." Tamamo Cross said nothing aloud—but Oguri Cap understood everything from that fleeting glance.
"Oguri! Think! How did you defeat Tamamo in the Japan Cup?!" The Gray Uma Musume urged herself desperately. "Tamamo is stronger than she was then! What about me?! I…I must become stronger too!"
She bit down hard on her lip—nearly breaking the skin.
"At that time…I touched the 'Zone.'"
But she couldn't deny the instinctive truth confronting her: If she relied only on the level of "Zone" she had awakened in the Japan Cup—she would be completely overwhelmed by Tamamo Cross here.