Chapter 36: Fierce Battle - The Yasuda Kinen

The Yasuda Kinen is a Grade 1 race held on the turf at Tokyo Racecourse, over a distance of 1600 meters.

Its biggest distinguishing feature? Both Classic-class and Senior-class Uma Musume are allowed to compete.

"Ah… it’s finally here. This day. So Taiki Shuttle and King Halo really did enter this one, huh."

"Yeah. Looks like a wild lineup. From the Classic class, it’s just Lux—no, Mithialx—and Mihono Bourbon, right?"

Man… the more I look, the more terrifying this roster gets.

The mile champion, Taiki Shuttle.
The lightning sprinter, King Halo.
The phoenix, Grass Wonder.

No matter who crosses the finish line first, it wouldn’t be surprising.

"Anyway, we’ve come this far. All that’s left is to run. Trainer, I’m heading out."

"Good luck. Don’t get swallowed up by the Senior-class atmosphere."

"Yeah, losing your fighting spirit before the race even starts would be no joke."

That day’s paddock was the most packed I’d ever seen. A sea of people stretched as far as the eye could see. There wasn’t an inch of space left in the stands.

The Yasuda Kinen determines the queen of the mile—the equivalent, in middle- and long-distance racing, of events like the Takarazuka Kinen or the Arima Kinen.

No wonder the crowd’s this huge…

"So, how do you see today’s Yasuda Kinen? From the Classic class, we’ve got GⅠ Uma Musume like Mihono Bourbon and Mithialx."

"The main focus will be on who can beat Taiki Shuttle. She’s still undefeated at the mile. Unless you can take her down, there’s not much point talking about the rest."

A crowd this big gathering just for the paddock parade says it all—this race has everyone’s attention.

One after another, the Uma Musume appeared on stage for their introductions. Every single one of them looked in top condition…

"King Halo—she’s the one who won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, right? Her mother was a famous miler. Think she’ll stick to the mile route?"

"Hard to say. Seems her true aptitude might be for shorter distances. Rumor has it she’s considering going full sprinter."

King Halo.

Dressed in her green-and-black colors, she didn’t show a shred of nervousness. She smiled gracefully, royally—as always… though, maybe her expression was a bit stiffer than usual. Even someone like her must have her doubts.

Still, her physical condition looked outstanding.

"Her greatest weapon is that finishing burst of hers. The question is, can she overtake Taiki Shuttle or Mihono Bourbon? That’ll be something to watch."

Yeah, King’s definitely a formidable rival. I’ll bump her threat level up a notch.

She’ll probably take a position similar to mine. No harm in being extra cautious. I’ll need to prepare for what to do if we end up side by side.

"Ah, Mihono Bourbon. She ran an excellent race in the NHK Mile Cup last time."

"That front-running speed of hers is downright terrifying. And the fact that every one of her losses so far has come from the same GⅠ Uma Musume—Mithialx—that’s pretty scary too."

Mihono Bourbon.

My rival and fellow front-runner, she looked to be in top form as well. But hang on—the NHK Mile Cup wasn’t that long ago, was it? How is she this ready already?

For most Uma Musume—myself included—there wouldn’t have been enough time to fully recover from the fatigue.

"But can she really keep away from Taiki Shuttle? Feels like she’ll need something extra if she wants to win this."

"Agreed. Watching her, I get the sense Mihono Bourbon’s missing just one last piece—something small, but crucial. No idea what it is, though."

Even so, she’s not unbeatable. Which means… all I can do is give it everything I’ve got and aim to catch her.

"Here she comes—Taiki Shuttle. Man, she’s huge…"

"Yeah. That powerful running style born from that massive frame—that’s her strength. Still undefeated in mile races. She could very well be this year’s queen of the mile too."

"And her conditioning looks great. The others are gonna have a hard time with her."

She really is huge… If she hugged me, I’d probably be crushed flat.

Taiki Shuttle isn’t the type to hide her emotions or her form, so it’s easy to tell she’s in top shape.

Still, seriously… she’s massive. Just imagining that body charging up from behind is pure horror. Thank goodness I’m not a closer.

…Oh, looks like it’s my turn.

I step to the center of the stage and strike my usual pose. It’s already my third time wearing my racing outfit and doing this paddock presentation. I’ve gotten pretty used to it by now.

"Mithialx, huh. Her last race was the Oka Sho. I thought she might enter the NHK Mile Cup instead."

"Yeah, but she came here to the Yasuda Kinen. Still, she’s a GⅠ Uma Musume. That final burst she showed in the Oka Sho—good enough to stand against even the Seniors."

"Right. Definitely one to watch. Curious to see how far she can go."

Being the center of attention like this feels pretty good. Maybe it’s because of the racing outfit too.

Once my turn ends and I step back, Grass Wonder walks forward to take center stage.

"Grass Wonder, huh. I honestly thought she’d go for the Takarazuka Kinen. Why the Yasuda Kinen?"

"Maybe she’s wary of Opera O. The run Opera O showed in the Satsuki Sho was nothing short of phenomenal. Sure, she fell short in the Derby, but—"

"That’s probably because the distance was too long. So that’s why she switched to the Yasuda Kinen… I see."

Grass Wonder looked well-prepared, but… she lacked her usual intensity. Was she holding back her power, or… something else?

Hard to say. I decided to keep her on my watch list just as before.

"That’s everyone, then. What’s your read on this race?"

"Honestly? No clue. The outcome’s gonna change drastically depending on each runner’s positioning. This one, we won’t know till it happens."

With the introductions done, we made our way toward the battleground. We exchanged a few words with some trainers in the underground tunnel, calming our nerves before stepping out onto the course.

"And now, the moment has arrived! The race that will determine the mid-year queen of the mile—the Yasuda Kinen! Who will claim the crown today!?"

The stands were a roaring wave of humanity.

An unbelievable crowd. Even bigger than at the Oka Sho, I’d say. Well, I suppose that figures.

"Due to the sheer number of attendees, entrance restrictions are in place today! That’s how much attention this race is getting!"

"And of course, all eyes are on whether Taiki Shuttle will extend her unbeaten streak in the mile! That’s the key question! The so-called Queen of the Mile has yet to lose a single race at this distance!"

Buoyed by the cheers of the crowd, we galloped across the turf. Every Uma Musume’s warm-up looked sharp—no signs of fatigue anywhere. The air was thick with the promise of a fierce contest.

The turf conditions were good again. It’s been good going for every race this year. Personally, I’d love to try a muddy track sometime…

"Warm-ups are complete, and the Uma Musume are gathering near the gates. They all seem to be in great shape today!"

My draw this time was slot 7 in gate 4. At Tokyo Racecourse’s 1600-meter turf, there isn’t much bias between inside and outside gates, so it probably won’t have much impact on the outcome.

"The skies above Tokyo are perfectly clear, and the turf condition has been declared firm!"

What really matters is the track’s unique layout. Just like in Mihono Bourbon’s previous race—the NHK Mile Cup—this Tokyo 1600-meter course is full of subtle gradients, constantly rising and falling. How you handle them can easily decide the winner.

"And now, as the fanfare rings across springtime Tokyo, the Yasuda Kinen is about to begin!"

"The Uma Musume are entering the gates! Today’s third-favorite is this one—Mihono Bourbon!"

"In her last race, the NHK Mile Cup, she delivered what could only be called a perfect runaway victory! We’re all eager to see what kind of lead she’ll show us this time!"

Once I’m inside the gate, I take a slow breath. My mind and senses sharpen. All five—no, six—senses focus on the race ahead. It’s the same feeling I had back during the Oka Sho.

"The second favorite—Grass Wonder! After a break since the Arima Kinen, she’s returned to the battlefield of the mile!"

"We can’t wait to see what kind of run she’ll show today. She’s raced mostly middle and long distances lately, but she’s also a true mile specialist."

The key this time will be the timing of the move. The Tokyo straight is long. If you launch your bid right after the final turn, there’s a real risk of burning out before the goal line. This is something you have to judge as the race unfolds.

"And the top favorite—Taiki Shuttle! Carrying the hopes of the fans on her back!"

"There’s no shortage of believers in Taiki Shuttle’s strength at the mile distance—she’s truly dominant in this range!"

Once every Uma Musume is settled into the gate, silence begins to fall over the stadium. Each one focuses completely, eyes locked on the bars before them. Then, total stillness—until the metallic clang of the gates bursting open signals the start of the race.

"The gates are open—and they’re off! Charging forward all at once! Taking the lead—it’s Mihono Bourbon! No contest for the front! Mihono Bourbon secures the head!"

Of course she does. I’d expected it—Mihono Bourbon was always the most likely to take the lead among this field. Her skill as a front-runner is among the very best—even compared to senior-class racers.

"Mihono Bourbon in front, followed by Taiki Shuttle! Taiki Shuttle’s pushing hard early on!"

"Looks like she doesn’t want to give Bourbon too much freedom. She’s applying pressure right from the start!"

I gradually relax my breathing and sink toward the rear. Even more carefully than usual, I hide my presence. After all, just ahead of me is King Halo. She’s probably already noticed my weakness. If she catches on to my movements, that would be bad.

"And on the outside, there’s Grass Wonder—positioned surprisingly far forward! Like Taiki Shuttle, she’s wary of letting Mihono Bourbon get away!"

The leading pack is Mihono Bourbon, Taiki Shuttle, and Grass Wonder. A few others are mixed in, but most won’t be able to hold on till the end. Some are already starting to fall back.

"And bringing up the rear—King Halo! Oh, and just behind her—Mithialx! These four form the trailing group!"

Tokyo races tend to be fast-paced. With the inclines entering the corners, it’s hard to find a moment to breathe, so stamina gets taxed heavily. That’s why the field has already split—those who charge ahead using their endurance, and those who conserve their strength in the back.

The front and rear groups have clearly formed, and the race continues.

"The race is still in its early stages! What kind of development will we see from here?"

"With only 1600 meters, it’s short—but there’s not a single moment to look away!"

And then, in this race, I witness it—the very moment of awakening. And with it, the overwhelming might of the Queen of the Mile—Taiki Shuttle.