Chapter 110: Push Forward! The Yorkshire Cup (Part 1)

——4th week of May, York Racecourse, England. The racecourse, nestled within a regional city steeped in historical charm, was experiencing an unusual surge of excitement in recent years.

There were two reasons for this. The first was that York Racecourse was currently hosting the Dante Meeting—that is, the Dante Festival, a concentrated period of high-stakes races.

In Europe, horse racing isn’t limited to weekends. Races are held even on weekdays, which, frankly, makes them feel less special and dampens spectator appeal. To counter this, the idea of clustering major races into festival-like events was introduced. While there were other reasons, this format had become deeply ingrained in European racing culture.

Japan, with its relatively fewer major races, wasn’t as familiar with this setup. But in Europe, where multiple countries formed the broader region, races were as numerous as the stars. Simply holding major races wasn’t enough to draw attention—so in a way, this approach was inevitable.

York Racecourse’s major events included the Ebor Festival in August (its biggest meet) and the currently ongoing Dante Festival in May. There were also smaller meets in June, July, September, and October. Among these, the Ebor Festival featured the world’s premier middle-distance G1 race, the International Stakes, which drew massive crowds.

The Dante Festival was a three-day event in May featuring five major races: the G2 Dante Stakes (a prep for the Derby Stakes), the G3 Musidora Stakes, the G2 Yorkshire Cup, the G2 Duke of York Stakes, and the G2 Middleton Stakes. And this year, whispers among fans suggested the Yorkshire Cup was the main attraction.

The second reason for the buzz was the horse girls running in the Yorkshire Cup. Two in particular had captured attention: Apollo Rainbow, a rising stayer from Japan, and Chiefsglider, a seasoned champion who had won the Cadran Prix.

Thanks to the media’s recent obsession with broadcasting Twinkle Series content, Apollo Rainbow’s fame had skyrocketed. Japanese documentaries and race footage had been translated, edited, and aired relentlessly, to the point where her recognition now eclipsed even local horse girls.

"A monster from a foreign land has arrived."

Merchandise stalls near York Racecourse were packed with fans clutching Apollo Rainbow Paka Puchi figures and fans. Her striking gray coat made her instantly recognizable, drawing even casual fans who usually avoided the races.

Among the crowds were young horse girls and their parents—talented fillies not yet enrolled in Tracen Academy but seen as future stars. And then there was Yates, a horse girl who knew Apollo Rainbow personally, arriving at York Racecourse.

"Wow…! It’s so lively! Amazing… just amazing!!"

Yates, holding hands with Double Trigger on her left and Lumos on her right, let her chestnut ears bounce excitedly as her eyes darted around the bustling venue.

Elegant ladies in formalwear, fans in casual jackets, families in everyday clothes—all were rushing to the stands to witness the pinnacle of horse-girl racing. As Lumos and Double Trigger shielded Yates from the crowd, they basked in the electric atmosphere.

"Lumos, it seems our plan is progressing smoothly."

"Mhm, so far. Now it’s up to the 13 runners."

"...Once they’re on the track, not trying isn’t an option. Whether there’s an upset or the favorites win, the Twinkle Series future is bright."

"What are you two talking about?! It’s Apollo’s race today! Let’s talk about her!"
"...Right. Let’s focus on the race!"

Led into the stands, the trio secured spots near the inner rail—a prime viewing area. Blending in with families, they settled in.

European racecourses traditionally encouraged formal attire, but recently, the URA had relaxed dress codes in some areas. Whether due to this or other factors, attendance seemed higher than usual.

That said, the prestigious Grand Stand still enforced strict dress codes—hats, ties, dresses—to uphold tradition. Royal Ascot-level formality wouldn’t vanish overnight.

Europe’s Twinkle Series, with its aristocratic leanings, had struggled to appeal to younger fans. But thanks to efforts by Lumos and Double Trigger, it was shifting toward mass appeal.

Just as Oguri Cap had revolutionized Japan’s racing scene, hopes were high for Apollo Rainbow to spark similar change. The URA saw this as a golden opportunity—not just for business, but to strengthen the sport’s foundation. Other Japanese stars, like sprint king Green Titan and the unstoppable long-distance phenom El Condor Pasa, were also part of this wave.

——Back to the three horse girls. With time before the Yorkshire Cup, they chatted, eventually landing on Apollo Rainbow—just as Yates wanted. Predictions flew.

"Yates, who do you think will win? Apollo? Chief? Or someone else?"

"Apollo will win!!"

"Why?"

"...Because she’s strong!!"

"Makes sense." "Fair point."

"Hey! Don’t tease me!"

"We’re not. Just curious."

"Apollo’s facing European turf for the first time, plus a rabbit—a pace-setter meant to burn out. If she hasn’t prepared for that, Chiefsglider could take it..."

The G2 Yorkshire Cup had 13 runners out of a maximum 16. The entries were as follows:

1. Office Pixy（オフィスピクシー） – Tactics: Front-runner – Recent Record: 1-0-1-2 – Major Win: G3 Barbeville Stakes

2. Cash Monse（キャッシュマウス） – Tactics: Front-runner – Recent Record: 0-2-0-2 – Major Win: G2 Curragh Cup

3. Classy Censorship（クラッシーセンサーシップ） – Tactics: Mid-pack closer – Recent Record: 1-1-1-1 – Major Win: Open Class Race

4. Exceller Mania（エクセラーマニア） – Tactics: Front-runner – Recent Record: 1-1-0-2 – Major Win: G3 John Porter Stakes

5. Blushing Charm（ブラッシングチャーム） – Tactics: Pacesetter – Recent Record: 0-0-0-4 – Major Win: Open Class Race

6. Sharpen Dancer（シャーペンダンサー） – Tactics: Deep closer – Recent Record: 1-2-1-0 – Major Win: G2 Greffulhe Stakes

7. Deputy and Royal（デュピティアンドロイヤル） – Tactics: Mid-pack closer – Recent Record: 0-0-3-1 – Major Win: Maiden Race

8. Impressions Dinner（インプレッションズディナー） – Tactics: Front-runner – Recent Record: 0-0-1-3 – Major Win: Maiden Race

9. Chief's Glider（チーフズグライダー） – Tactics: Mid-pack closer – Recent Record: 1-1-2-0 – Major Wins: G1 Prix du Cadran, G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier, others

10. Out of Orange（アウトオブオレンジ） – Tactics: Deep closer – Recent Record: 0-2-2-0 – Major Win: Open Class Race

11. Satisfied Theater（サティスフィードシアター） – Tactics: Mid-pack closer – Recent Record: 1-0-0-3 – Major Win: Maiden Race

12. Apollo Rainbow（アポロレインボウ） – Tactics: All-out escape – Recent Record: 3-1-0-0 – Major Wins: G1 Japanese Derby, G1 Kikuka Sho, G1 Arima Kinen, G1 Tenno Sho (Spring), others

13. That's a Sovereign（ザッツアソヴリン） – Tactics: Front-runner – Recent Record: 1-0-0-3 – Major Win: G2 McDiarmida Stakes

The overwhelming fan favorite was Apollo Rainbow. Still undefeated in long-distance G1 races, she was pushed to the top of the betting charts due to her impressive performance in her previous race—the Tenno Sho (Spring). While she still had some unfinished elements in her racing form, that very incompleteness was seen as a sign of potential growth, which only added to her appeal.

Coming in as the second favorite was Chief’s Glider. Having won last year’s Prix du Cadran, this horse girl had experience racing against the likes of Kayf Tara and Double Trigger and had consistently posted solid results, which secured her place just behind Apollo Rainbow in popularity.

In her last outing, the Dubai Gold Cup, she had finished third behind Kyff Tara and Apollo Rainbow. Furthermore, with a teammate acting as a pacemaker (a "rabbit") for her in this race, many believed she was the only one who could truly challenge Apollo Rainbow.

As Yeats had said, “Strong is strong,”—a simple truth that no one could deny. However, racing history was full of upsets where dark horses toppled the odds-on favorite. Inside, both Lumos and Double Trigger felt conflicted. "It’d be great if Apollo Rainbow won, of course," they thought, "but would the public get excited if someone else stole the win?"

“You listening? Apollo-san’s strength lies in her explosive kick in the mid-to-late stages of the race—”

Yeats was passionately explaining the race dynamics while hugging an Apollo Rainbow plushie when suddenly the grandstand grew noticeably louder. As they tuned in to the commotion, it seemed Apollo Rainbow and her trainer, Tomio Momozawa, had just arrived on-site.

It was unusually late for them, but even from a distance, Apollo Rainbow's healthy, glossy coat suggested she was in top condition. Lumos felt hopeful for her performance in the main event.

“…Shall we go say hi?”

“I’d like to, but better not. We’d only be in the way.”

“Ehh~! But I really wanna go…”

“Yeats. Restrain yourself.”

“Okaaay…”

The silver-haired girl, surrounded by local fans clamoring for autographs, was spared further crowding thanks to her trainer’s gentle but firm refusal. She disappeared toward the prep room. Although she had tried to engage in fan service as usual, there wasn’t enough time before the race, so she had to give up on it.

With just a few hours left before the paddock walk, Lumos and the others lay back on the turf of the infield, enjoying what little peace and quiet they could find.

As the afternoon wore on and the crowd thickened, fans started flocking to the paddock in front of the grandstand. A distinctive feature of York Racecourse was how tightly its main facilities were packed near the finish line.

The stands, paddock, food stalls, terraces—all clustered together. With only a narrow space between the stand and the turf, it gave off a rather cramped impression. But that closeness also amplified the noise and cheers, contributing to a unique sense of excitement and energy.

Then came Apollo Rainbow, stepping into the rectangular paddock. The moment she appeared, the previously lively air of the stands shifted dramatically. The stir that spread wasn’t just from seeing her in person—more than anything, it was the shock of how delicate and graceful she looked, contrasted with the overwhelming intensity she exuded.

Compared to European or American horse girls, she was certainly more slender. But her core strength, cardiovascular endurance, and above all her competitive spirit were world-class.

That drive to win was so intense, it bordered on unstable temperament—among all horse girls in history, few could match it. Her burning passion radiated like molten lava, almost visibly distorting the air around her, as if a patch of steam had formed in the corner of the paddock.

Her pale limbs peeked out from her gym uniform—delicate and ephemeral from afar, but up close, the dense muscle beneath was nothing short of stunning. Especially her legs. With each step she took, her muscles flexed and rose, casting defined shadows like those of a seasoned male athlete.

The paddock presentation hadn’t officially started yet, but everyone watching already understood one thing clearly.

—This horse girl is strong.

While drawing all eyes to herself, the pale-coated girl glanced around, chatting casually with her trainer.

“It’s really packed out here… They weren’t kidding when they called it the Dante Festival.”

“…You don’t seem nervous at all. I hear this crowd rivals the peak days of last year’s Dévoir Festival.”

“Lots of people are carrying my plushie, huh? It’s kinda embarrassing.”

“I’m honestly just happy to see it. For the fans who cheer you on—and for us—we have to win this race.”

“…Yeah.”

“All right, that’s enough small talk. Time to focus.”

“Got it. If I spot anyone besides Chief’s Glider who looks dangerous, I’ll let you know. You do the same, okay, Tomio?”

“Count on it.”

With that usual back-and-forth, Momozawa and Apollo Rainbow made their way toward the paddock presentation stage. Lumos and Double Trigger, though not privy to their words, smiled as they watched the two interact.

“Those two are so cute…”

“I can’t put it into words… but yeah, I’m kind of jealous.”

“It’s unfair, really. They’re both so fresh, so pure, trying so hard it’s almost too much… They’re a little reckless, but that only makes you want to root for them more.”

“I wonder if the fans feel the same way.”

“After that documentary aired? I think so. Everyone saw just how much they care about their dreams, about each other. I’d say Apollo’s the kind of horse girl you can’t help but want to support.”

The documentary in question had closely followed Apollo Rainbow’s winter training in preparation for Dubai. While the premise was fairly standard, what caught public attention was the sheer madness of her training regimen—and the intensity of the emotions the silver-haired girl held toward Momozawa, which some viewers found a little heavy.

First off, the training itself was shocking. To build stamina, Momozawa had her sprint 4,000 meters at full speed every day. Then, to sharpen her fighting spirit, he had her drag industrial tires or swim ten 1,000-meter butterfly sets in an indoor pool. Footage of her completely exhausted while he calmly said, “There’s still more to do, hang in there,” aired nationwide.

Naturally, this earned him teasing labels like “natural sadist,” “total hard-ass,” or “I wish I were Apollo-chan, too!” But what truly stunned viewers was the follow-up interview with Apollo Rainbow, where she openly spoke—perhaps too candidly—about her feelings for Tomio Momozawa.

The interview opened with a rather unhinged comment: “The training is tough, but I’m aiming for the world, so there’s no room to slack off. Besides, I got used to that level of training pretty quickly. It’s just part of my routine now.”

Apollo Rainbow began recounting, in a relaxed tone, the accident that happened during her debut race, its aftermath, her current popularity, and her goals.

When asked about her trainer, Momozawa, the gray-haired girl gave an answer that made it immediately obvious—even to those who didn’t know them well—that “Oh, this girl’s seriously into her trainer,” and that moment was broadcasted across the globe.

——What does your trainer (Momozawa) mean to you, Apollo Rainbow?

——Um, it’s hard to sum it up in just one word, but… he’s a really important partner to me. I don’t think I’ll ever meet someone like him again. I feel like we’re compatible in so many ways, and honestly, I think we were destined to meet. …Huh!? Ah, no! I mean, I don’t want people to take that the wrong way… But still… Um… yeah. Anyway, T—he’s just a really great trainer. He doesn’t just guide me with his knowledge—he gives me instructions after really understanding what I’m trying to do. Whenever I’m feeling down, he’s always there for me, and when he’s having a rough time, I like to tease him a little to cheer him up… giggle Ah, sorry. I just remembered a bunch of things. Please cut the part where I laughed, okay? It’s embarrassing… Yeah, anyway, he’s a really good trainer. …You’ll cut that part earlier, right? …Ah, you will. Thank you. Oh, and listen to this—just the other day, Tomio—uh, my trainer—well… [content omitted].

Even the parts where she asked “please cut this” (though the truly problematic sections were likely edited out) were left in the aired documentary, which stirred up a massive response in Japan. People were charmed by the realization that even one of the nation’s top Uma Musume had such an age-appropriate, adorable side to her.

Recalling that interview, Double Trigger burst into laughter.

“That fresh innocence—or maybe it’s her approachability? Even her slight airheadedness probably adds to her charm.”

“Yeah, yeah… Definitely. A girl like Apollo is rare in Europe, and she really brings something new to the scene.”

“She’s refreshing to us, too. A racehorse girl who isn’t always brimming with murderous intent…”

“Though I bet she’s about to flip that switch any second now.”

“Fufu… ‘Flip that switch,’ huh. Well, her serious mode is just as much a part of who she is.”

Yates, being led by both hands, stared transfixed at the paddock. Then, her body gave a sudden shiver—and in that instant, the presence that hit Double Trigger and Lumos felt as sharp as the killing intent they’d experienced back in their own racing days.

‘Number 9, Chief’s Glider. She’s the second favorite.’

‘She’s in phenomenal form. The main goal is the Gold Cup a month from now, but she’s said that unless she can win here, she won’t be able to leave a strong result in the real deal either. I’d bet they’ve put serious work into prepping for Apollo Rainbow.’

The source of that razor-sharp tension—perhaps it was Chief’s Glider, ablaze with the will to win. Or maybe it came from Apollo Rainbow, captivated by the dream she was chasing.

They locked eyes across the paddock, their gazes colliding with intense sparks. The fighting spirit between them had reached its peak. Lumos and Double Trigger were so drawn in, they forgot to breathe. At that moment, the ratings, the merch sales—all that little stuff—ceased to matter. The paddock had utterly consumed them.

It wasn’t until they managed to tear their eyes away from the two girls at the center of it all that they finally came back to themselves. Both swallowed the saliva that had built up in their mouths and, without a word from anyone, glanced down at their arms—where goosebumps had erupted across their skin.

“…This is it—”

Lumos had no doubt. This was real. That indescribable pressure. That sense of anticipation that couldn’t be put into words. The heartbeat caught between excitement and dread.

Something was going to happen in this race. No—Apollo Rainbow was going to make something happen. She would defy expectations, maybe even achieve something worthy of legend. It was a premonition that only those who had once run the turf themselves could truly understand.

Without looking at each other, Lumos and Double Trigger clenched their fists in unison. And in that moment, they cast aside their roles as racing officials and became nothing more than fans. Along with the crowd in the stands, they raised their voices and became part of the swelling tide of support for the Uma Musume.

Do your best, Apollo Rainbow. Do your best, Chief’s Glider. Don’t let either of you lose. Show us the greatest race.

『Number 12, Apollo Rainbow.』

『Her build, the sheen of her hair—everything is on point. She wasn’t able to claim her first overseas graded win at the Dubai Gold Cup, but perhaps this will be her moment at the Yorkshire Cup. If she wants to fulfill her dream of becoming the strongest stayer, defeat is not an option. Let’s look forward to what she can do.』

Now then—this is what Apollo Rainbow had said during the documentary interview.

——I want to make my dream come true. I want to become a racehorse girl loved by everyone…

To make that dream a reality, and to reach the very core of herself—

The challenge of the gray-haired girl begins now.