Chapter 48: Opening - The Sprinters Stakes

Nakayama Turf, 1200 meters — the Sprinters Stakes.

It’s my very first short-distance GⅠ race—and, in a way, the grand finale of my year.

My natural aptitude is for short distances. That’s right—this is the first GⅠ I’ll be running at my true specialty range.

“Whoa… look at all these people. I thought short-distance races didn’t draw much of a crowd. Even the Fillies’ Review wasn’t this packed, right?”

“Well, it is a GⅠ. And short-distance races have been getting a lot more popular lately.”

“Huhhh…”

The crowd was so dense that I couldn’t possibly walk in without a disguise.

I hid my ears and tail beneath a hoodie and a long skirt, sticking close behind Trainer as we moved through the gates.

“Hmm. That person over there.”

“Yeah, probably. Still, it’s bad manners to talk to them before the race—so don’t say anything.”

…Wait, don’t tell me they recognized me!?

Hold on, that’s actually a rule? Well, I guess it makes sense. Distracting a Uma Musume before a race would definitely be taboo.

“Um, Trainer…”

Feeling uneasy, I tugged lightly at the hem of Trainer’s coat.

“It’s fine. No one’s going to bother a Uma Musume in disguise. Now, if you weren’t wearing one, that’d be a different story.”

“Oh, right. Some even show up in their race outfits for interviews as they walk in.”

So that’s how it is. In fact, only a few people even noticed me. The ones sharp enough to see through my disguise are probably die-hard fans—and they usually respect race-day etiquette.

Thanks to that, we made it into the venue without incident.

After changing into my race outfit, I brewed a cup of coffee to calm myself.

“…?”

The rich aroma and the soft trickle of water alone helped sharpen my focus.

“…”

“Lux? Um, are you okay? Your coffee’s getting cold.”

I drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

Right now, I can say with certainty—this is the best condition I’ve ever been in.

Even while still in the waiting room, I can feel myself slipping into that perfect zone.

“Phew…”

“Are you sure you’re okay? If you’re not feeling your best, we can still withdraw.”

“No, I’m fine. Actually—it’s the opposite.”

“…I see. In that case, I can expect a lot from today’s race, can’t I?”

Trainer must’ve understood everything from that single line.

Wearing my race outfit, I stood up and walked toward the door.

I opened it, took one firm step forward, and said, “Well then, I’m off. Watch me—from the very front.”

With that, I walked away without looking back.

Any more words would only dull my determination—water down what I feel inside.

When I reached the paddock, it was, as expected, packed with people.

“What do you think will happen today? With Taiki Shuttle absent, this race could really go any which way.”

“No, even if Taiki Shuttle were here, it’d still be unpredictable. She’s a textbook miler—she wouldn’t dominate a short-distance race like this.”

“You’ve got a point. Plus, the rain from yesterday left the track a mess. Wet turf breeds upsets.”

Just by standing in the paddock, I could tell—the ground still held a lot of moisture. It hadn’t fully dried.

That means the track itself is going to be… interesting.

How very lucky for me.

“Hey, they’re all coming out! Who should we keep an eye on this time? Hard to say with how open this race looks…”

“Hmm… my pick would be Duo Aspis. She won the Keeneland Cup—that trial race up in Sapporo.”

“Sapporo, huh? That course demands real power. If she won there, she should handle today’s rough track well.”

“Exactly.”

I glanced toward the Uma Musume in question—that must be Duo Aspis. Her form looked good, her condition even better.

Still… I wonder how she’ll do.

As I watched, Duo Aspis stepped forward for her introduction.

“That said, most of today’s top contenders are already GⅠ winners. For Duo Aspis, who hasn’t won one yet, the key will be how long she can keep up.”

This year’s Sprinters Stakes had quite the lineup of GⅠ runners.

There’s King Halo and Bridge Comp—both short-distance GⅠ winners.

Then there’s me and Mihono Bourbon, winners of mile GⅠs.

If Taiki Shuttle were here, that would’ve made one more.

“Every Uma Musume who’s won a GⅠ has something—that special quality. Unless Duo Aspis can break through that wall, it’ll be tough for her.”

“Yeah. If she manages to do it when it really counts, though… it’ll be something to see.”

The paddock introductions continued.

A Uma Musume in green and black stepped onto the stage—King Halo.

As always, she struck her trademark confident pose at center stage, laughing boldly to the cheers of the crowd.

“King Halo, huh? She looks great today. In her last race—the Yasuda Kinen—she lost steam down the final stretch, though.”

“No, that one’s not a fair reference. Her rhythm got thrown off when Mithialx surged from behind. Without that, she probably would’ve finished higher. Even so, she still made the board.”

“Then she’s definitely one to watch closely.”

Hearing King praised like that made me genuinely happy.

…This time, the ones I need to watch out for are Mihono Bourbon and King Halo.

Even on a rough track, King Halo’s finishing speed will shine like a blade of light—that much I’m sure of.

And today, she’ll probably run in a way that targets my weaknesses head-on.

King Halo’s a kind-hearted Uma Musume—the type to care for those she beats. But once she’s on the track, she never holds back.

“Looks like King Halo’s fully switched to the short-distance and mile route. Her results have been great since then.”

“Yeah. She was strong before, but not this strong.”

And those legs… she must’ve trained hard during summer camp.

At the very least, I don’t expect the same kind of slowdown as last time.

“All in all, she’s definitely one to watch. She’ll be leading this distance category from here on out.”

Brimming with confidence, King Halo stepped off the stage, and I took my turn.

When I glanced her way, King met my gaze with a fearless grin. …Yeah, she’s not someone I can afford to underestimate.

“Next up, Mithialx. Her recent performances have been turning heads—she’s the talk of the circuit.”

I stood center stage and pointed sharply toward the sky.

Today, I’m winning.

Yes, King Halo is someone to be wary of. Mihono Bourbon is without a doubt a formidable rival. And Bridge Comp? She’s another who can’t be taken lightly.

But here, today—

“I’m the one who’s going to win…!”

The crowd probably couldn’t hear me—but that’s fine.

“She’s in incredible form. I didn’t expect her to look this sharp. She’s definitely grown since before summer.”

“Her hindquarters have really filled out, too. And that intensity—you can feel it from here. That finger-pointing pose must be her way of showing confidence.”

“Yeah… I don’t know why, but she’s giving me chills.”

I flipped my cape and turned to head back.

That little show of spirit probably didn’t rattle any of my rivals—but that’s fine.

King Halo just smiled wider, as if to say I’ve been waiting for this.
Bridge Comp looked a bit tense, but her calm, gentle smile stayed.

“Here she comes—Mihono Bourbon…”

“Her condition’s incredible. It’s like breaking through that wall at the Yasuda Kinen pushed her to an entirely new level.”

And as always, Mihono Bourbon stood there with that composed, emotionless face—as if the world around her didn’t concern her at all.

But that doesn’t mean she hasn’t changed.

Her breathing was just a little quicker. I could tell—she was excited.

“She’ll probably give us another terrifyingly fast escape today. Nakayama’s full of ups and downs, and Bourbon’s ability to handle slopes like flat ground will be a huge weapon.”

She’s the one I’m most wary of—the one I can’t stop thinking about.

“This race will likely come down to which Uma Musume can catch Mihono Bourbon before the finish.”

“Right. You can practically assume she’ll take the lead early.”

“Yeah. …If it were any other Uma Musume, the big question would be, ‘Can she keep her pace?’”

“But with Mihono Bourbon, that question doesn’t even apply.”

A true powerhouse—that’s the only way to describe her.

And just as Bourbon stepped off, the next Uma Musume took the stage.

“Bridge Comp, huh. She won last year’s Sprinters Stakes, didn’t she?”

“Yeah, she beat Taiki Shuttle to take first place. A brilliant win. This time, we’ll see how well she can hold her ground against Mihono Bourbon.”

Bridge Comp.
On paper, she’s at a disadvantage, with Mihono Bourbon also in the race.
But it’s not that simple.

Her running style is what you’d call a front-leaning lead—the kind that could allow her to pull off a win by overtaking Bourbon right at the end.

“It’s going to be a tough fight, no doubt. But she’s a GⅠ winner too—she’ll show us what she’s made of.”

“Yeah. …Actually, I’m a big fan of Comp-chan. So, I really want her to win…”

“Wanting your favorite to win—well, that’s something every fan understands.”

The introductions continued after that.

Once everyone had finished, we moved through the underground passage leading to the main track.

The moment my hooves touched the turf, I knew it instantly. This track was in rough shape.

“Not quite muddy… maybe soft… no, it’s definitely heavy.”

In modern times, it’s rare for a course to be labeled muddy. Thanks to improved maintenance and drainage, most tracks only reach heavy unless the weather is truly terrible.

“The inner rail near the finish line looks pretty chewed up. The grass isn’t stripped bare yet, but…”

That inner lane will be a disadvantage. On a surface where dirt and grass are mixed and the ground’s half-soaked, it’s nearly impossible to run at full speed.

Well—unless you’re a Uma Musume with exceptionally strong legs, perfect balance, and flawless core strength.

During warm-up, that impression only grew stronger.

Even at a light jog, bits of grass clung to my legs. I could feel how much more power it would take just to build speed.

“If you push too hard on those patches where the turf’s peeling up, it could end badly.”

The others must’ve noticed the same thing.
Several Uma Musume trotted by with grim, tense expressions.

After warm-up, everyone gathered near the starting gates. The race was about to begin.
Then came the blare of the fanfare.

“Here we are—Nakayama Turf, 1200 meters! The Sprinters Stakes! The race to decide the true ruler of the short-distance division—who will seize the crown of victory!?”

“We had rain yesterday, but the weather’s held up today. However, the water hasn’t fully drained, and the track has been rated Heavy!”

So, it really is heavy.

Most short-distance runners rely on sheer speed. Which means, in conditions like this—where the turf drags at your stride—it’s bad news for nearly everyone.

“The Uma Musume are now starting to load into the gates. Let’s introduce today’s major contenders!”

“In third place in the betting—Mithialx! Known for her explosive finishing burst, she’s one of the brightest rising stars in the sprint division. She finished third in her last race, the Yasuda Kinen, but her battle against Mihono Bourbon and Taiki Shuttle—two stars of the Golden Generation—was nothing short of spectacular!”

“A performance that showed her true strength beyond what the results alone can tell. This popularity is well-deserved!”

So, I’m the third favorite, huh.

I tuned out the announcer’s voice and stepped into my gate, letting my focus narrow.

“In second place, King Halo! One of the shining figures of the Golden Generation. After shifting to the short-distance route following the Takamatsunomiya Kinen, she’s been posting consistently strong results!”

“She couldn’t quite pick up speed in her last race, the Yasuda Kinen, but she did win the Takamatsunomiya Kinen—that explains her solid popularity today!”

My focus sharpened.
Unnecessary color drained from my vision.

Only what mattered remained. My body fine-tuned itself—optimized to take in the maximum information with the minimum effort.

“And in first place, Mihono Bourbon! In her last race, the Yasuda Kinen, she engaged in a fierce duel with Taiki Shuttle! And before that, in the NHK Mile Cup, she delivered an overwhelming front-running performance!”

“Will Mihono Bourbon claim victory again today with her incredible runaway speed!? That’s the key question of this race!”

“All Uma Musume are now loaded into the gates!”

The crowd fell silent.
For an instant, it felt as though time itself had stopped.

And then, in the next heartbeat, the gates burst open—!

“The Sprinters Stakes has begun! Which Uma Musume will claim the glory of victory!?”