Chapter 16: Heading Toward the Classics!

Finishing the race was great and all, but it turns out that G1 races come with all sorts of unnecessary extras stuck on like clutter.

The first thing that started was the photo shoot. Just as I was trying to hurry back to my room, I was herded off to some mysterious space near the course. They began by taking photos of me alone, tossing out requests for various poses.

I was fumbling, unsure what to do, when suggestions started bubbling up from all sorts of very important-looking people around me.

They said things like,
"Stand tall and proud."

"Extend your right hand forward, put your left on your hip."

"Face forward with your mouth closed, looking confident."

"Only extend your right index finger."

By the end, even comments shouted from the nearby spectator seats were being taken in, and they kept making tiny corrections to my pose. I had basically become a toy for everyone around me, but apparently the resulting pose—intense, strong, full of spirit—was pretty well received. I did worry a little that photos that don’t match my image might cause trouble later, but it’s not like they’d hurt anything. The trainer will probably deal with it eventually anyway.

And just as I thought of the trainer, they finally rushed over. I heard later that they’d been held up by an interview.

The moment they reached me, they threw their arms around me. When I looked at their face, their eyes were red, and a blended mix of tears, snot, and drool had formed. Considering they’re the one who made my racing outfit, I really didn’t want to get it dirty…

Once the trainer calmed down, the next round of photos began—this time with a gigantic towel-thing printed with the race name draped around my neck. It’s really long and narrow… maybe it’s like how Olympians wrap themselves in flags? On someone short like me, it just drags and looks kind of silly.

By the time the shoot finally ended, preparations for the Winning Live were already underway.

Because everything was so hectic, it was right before the live started that I noticed Grass-chan wasn’t around. When I asked the people nearby, they said she’d gone to the hospital with her trainer because of pain in her leg.

I really hope it’s nothing serious…

As for my own performance in the live—whether thanks to practice or not—it was better than ever.

Once a race ends, what comes next? Talk about the next race. That said, there aren’t any more races left this late in the year.

Apparently, there’s something called the Fairy Stakes, but for some reason I felt like I shouldn’t enter it. More importantly, my trainer isn’t the type of heartless demon who would make me train all the way through the year-end holidays, so there’s no reason for me to race.

So what we needed to decide was which races I’d run starting next year, once the Classic season begins.

Surprisingly, it seems my race frequency so far has been extremely high. Now that I think about it, plenty of girls go one or even two months without racing. Others race constantly depending on their motivation, so maybe it varies from person to person.

Under the current plan, we’d just been entering whatever races I seemed able to participate in, but the higher the grade—like graded stakes or G1s—the more carefully you’re supposed to choose, reducing how many you run.

It’s true that graded stakes feel exhausting, and I’d really like at least three weeks of rest afterward.

After discussions in the trainer’s office, it was decided that I’ll run in the Keisei Hai at the start of the New Year, just as originally planned. And although the next race had been scheduled as the Junior Cup two weeks later, we decided not to enter it.

I’d been listed as a possible runner depending on my results in the Junior races, but apparently it’s not really appropriate for a filly who’s already won a G1 to run in an open-class special race like that. I don’t totally get the logic, but aside from exceptions like returning from injury, it’s just not done.

An “open” race that isn’t actually open… huh.

Since I won’t be running in the Junior Cup, my next race after that will be the Kyodo News Hai in February.

Also, following a graded stakes race, I’ll now get two weeks of rest, plus an additional week of light training. The conditions are a bit odd, but a privilege is a privilege. I’ll make full use of it!!

After that, I was taken to a hospital for a check-up on my legs. Until now, I’d only gotten health exams or leg checks at the hospital/research facility attached to Tracen Academy, but this time they dragged me out to a bigger hospital farther away.

That alone made it feel like a major “bad luck event,” but I never expected them to take away my phone and even my earphones, then shove me into a roaring donut-shaped machine. I suffered through several different donuts, but in the end, my legs were apparently perfectly fine.

My trainer really is a first-class worrywart…