Chapter 120: The Gold Cup in the Rain (Part 1)

—Week 4 of June, the Gold Cup.

It’s one of the races I’ve long admired—Europe’s pinnacle turf race for seniors, boasting the world’s longest distance: 19 furlongs and 210 yards, or 4,014 meters.

Held on the third day of the Royal Ascot Race Meeting—a five-day festival of major graded races hosted by the British Royal Family—it carries a legacy over 200 years old, making it the longest-standing race in the UK.

Nowadays, it draws stamina-strong competitors from across Europe—Britain, France, Ireland, Germany, and more. The Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, and Doncaster Cup together form the British Stayers’ Triple Crown. This has been achieved six times, with Mr. Lumos becoming legendary for accomplishing it two years in a row. The most recent winner of the triple crown was Mr. Double Trigger.

Finally arriving at Ascot Racecourse in the UK, I watched the extravagant parades unfolding all around.

“So this is Royal Ascot… I’ve heard stories, but wow, there are so many people.”

“Right~. It is hosted by the royal family, after all~.”

“Such elegance…”

Despite whispering like elementary schoolers sharing impressions, not one of us was smiling. There wasn’t even a hint of the relaxed atmosphere we usually have in the trainer’s room. Tomio looked tense, clearly influenced by the pressure I was radiating.

And I can’t blame him. Ever since that night ended, I’ve been exuding the same intimidating presence I bring to the racetrack. That led to a noticeably tense mood during my interview last week, and most other horse girls have been visibly shaken just approaching me. The aura swirling around me is that intense. The same went for Angely and Kayf Tara—our interviews took on a bit of an aggressive tone. In short, we’re more than ready to go.

…Now then. The Royal Ascot Meeting features 18 graded races—eight of which are G1s—and the energy here is off the charts.

The parade unit marches from nearby Windsor Castle to Ascot over more than 30 minutes, and even though it’s already Day 3 of the event, small festivities are still happening all around. The excitement needs no explanation. And if you win? You receive the trophy directly from a member of the Royal Family. There’s no greater honor in the racing world. For British-born horse girls especially, this recognition is probably more desirable than anything.

Apparently, the royals watch every race. After arriving in the parade, they’re likely watching us now from the stands. Nerve-wracking, isn’t it?

Even for someone like me, used to big races, this atmosphere hits differently. Maybe that’s because Royal Ascot isn’t just a sports event—it’s also a major affair in high society. It’s on the same level as Wimbledon, the Henley Royal Regatta, and The Open Championship. Only in Britain would you find such a perfect fusion of sport and social prestige.

As such, we’re surrounded by elegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies. Though, to be fair, there are also families in relatively casual attire—well, “casual” as in suits for Royal Ascot. Compared to the more elaborately dressed elite, though, they stand out, making the scene quite chaotic.

The sharply dressed ones are likely racing officials or people with premium seating. Some conservative types may not like the influx of casual fans, but from what I hear, Mr. Lumos prioritizes youth appeal, so there’s been a lot of careful planning to keep tensions low.

“Shall we head to the waiting room now?”

“…Yeah.”

Despite the colorful parades and festivities, the sky was overcast. It had been sunny on Day 1 and Day 2 of the meeting, but heavy rain fell last night, and by midmorning, the track was already rough.

The Gold Cup, the fourth race on Day 3, is set to start after 4 PM. There’s little hope the weather will hold. Conversely, it’s almost guaranteed that the turf will continue to deteriorate—at best, a heavy track, maybe worse.

The ground’s already squishy, and the smell of rain hasn’t gone away—in fact, it’s getting stronger. A blessing from the heavens to draw out a winning path, yes—but also a cruel prank from the Three Goddesses that demands courage.

Tomio led me back to the waiting room, and I began nibbling on a light lunch. I tore into my sandwich with my canines, like I was biting into frustration. My trainer chuckled nervously at the sight, but he’s the one who made me feel this way in the first place. It’s no laughing matter.

Over the past 10 days in the UK, Tomio kept stoking the flames of my longing for the Gold Cup. Not by pushing my body to its limits with a Spartan regime—but by tightening the psychological screws while I was in the final tuning phase and couldn’t go full speed. If we didn’t have the trust we do, his words would’ve felt like nothing but harassment. I endured them, and now my fighting spirit is close to exploding.

He forced me to relive all the admiration I’ve harbored since childhood. The days of relentless effort, the sleepless nights as my dreams burned inside me, the hidden gleam of ambition I kept buried, the weight of representing Japan, and the hopes of horse girls who couldn’t qualify for this race—he brought it all to the surface and sharpened my will to fight.

Now, just before the race, I understand. It was all to bring out my best condition. Still, Tomio’s provocations really hit deep—painfully so.

…The things he said while running beside me weren’t easy to stomach. If our relationship weren’t what it is, they might’ve had the opposite effect. As a result, I was pretty cornered mentally. And in many ways, my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. Of course, I also felt a surge of excitement. The stress even ignited a “Damn it, bring it on!” sort of fire in me.

Tension and anticipation. Thanks to the finely tuned balance between the two, I’m now in peak condition for this race.

I want to run already. I’ve been reminded again and again that the dream is right there in front of me—but I’m still on hold. Even sitting in a chair, I couldn’t stop pawing the ground in place.

“Apolo, you okay?”

“This is all your fault, Tomio.”

“S-sorry…”

“A horse girl’s drive to compete isn’t something to joke about, y’know? This kind of stress is seriously intense.”

“…Maybe I should back off on pushing so far during final prep—but our opponent is too damn strong. Holding back at 90% and losing would be the worst outcome, right? From now on, we’ll always go full 100%.”

“…………”

He’s not wrong. But Tomio seriously doesn’t get it. For horse girls, whose instincts are tied to running, putting stress on that instinct makes us hyper-sensitive. It’s like telling a starving beast to wait while placing a slab of meat in front of it—impossible. The mental instability is inevitable. Which, in turn, increases the explosive power when we do finally break free…

Craving that emotional release and reward after the race, I looked up at my trainer.

“Tomio.”

“What is it?”

“I’m grateful you got me this ready, but… make sure I get a big reward after the race, okay?”

“Got it. Let’s talk about it after the race.”

“…………”

…What. A. Heartless. Man. He won’t even let me think past the race. He’s stuffing my brain full of stress to force me into a mindset where all I can focus on is the Gold Cup. It’s what we both wanted, but his total commitment to that approach is a bit much.

“Apolo, let that frustration explode the moment the race begins. Do it—for your dream.”

“…Got it.”

As he soothed me with dry logic, I took a sip of tea and looked down at the starting list in my hands. The Gold Cup has gathered 15 competitors. Neither I, Angely, nor Kayf Tara have a rabbit (pacemaker), so most of us are running solo. Only two of the fifteen seem to be working as a team, meaning there’s just one rabbit. Not that this race ever sees many front-runners to begin with.

The race entry list is as follows:

1. Kayf Tara（カイフタラ）
Running Style: Closer
Recent Record: 3-0-0-1
Major Wins: G1 Irish St. Leger, G1 Gold Cup, G2 Dubai Gold Cup, etc.

2. Smoky Thrill（スモーキースリル）
Running Style: Front-runner
Recent Record: 1-1-0-2
Major Wins: Open-class races

3. Honey Heartbeat（ハニーハートビート）
Running Style: Pacesetter
Recent Record: 0-0-0-4
Major Wins: Open-class races

4. Choco Fondue（チョコフォンデュ）
Running Style: Mid-pack
Recent Record: 0-1-1-2
Major Wins: G1 Critérium de Saint-Cloud, G3 Classic Trial

5. Silent Joker（サイレントジョーカー）
Running Style: Closer
Recent Record: 1-0-3-0
Major Wins: G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil, G3 Ormonde Stakes

6. JJ the Jet Bicycle（ジェイジェイザジェットバイシクル）
Running Style: Versatile
Recent Record: 2-1-0-1
Major Wins: G1 South African Derby, G1 Cape Town Met, G3 Vintage Crop Stakes, etc.

7. Busto Arsizio（ブストアルシーツォ）
Running Style: Front-runner
Recent Record: 2-1-0-1
Major Wins: G1 Gran Premio Nacional, G1 Gran Premio de Honor, G2 Oleander-Rennen

8. See You Later（シーユーレイター）
Running Style: Mid-pack
Recent Record: 3-1-0-0
Major Wins: G1 British St. Leger, G3 Gordon Stakes, G3 Sagaro Stakes, etc.

9. Orange Sapphire（オレンジサファイア）
Running Style: Closer
Recent Record: 1-0-2-1
Major Wins: Open-class races

10. Switch On（スイッチオン）
Running Style: Front-runner
Recent Record: 2-1-0-1
Major Wins: G1 Prix Royal-Oak, G2 Grand Prix de Deauville, G2 Vicomtesse Vigier, etc.

11. Jara Jara（ジャラジャラ）
Running Style: Pacesetter
Recent Record: 2-1-0-1
Major Wins: G2 Hanshin Daishoten, G3 Diamond Stakes, etc.

12. Angely（アンゼリー）
Running Style: Front-runner
Recent Record: 4-0-0-0
Major Wins: G1 Sydney Cup, G2 Zipping Classic, G2 Vicomtesse Vigier, etc.

13. Zone Espresso（ゾーンエスプレッソ）
Running Style: Mid-pack
Recent Record: 1-0-0-3
Major Wins: G3 Red Sea Turf Handicap

14. Golden Nedawi（ゴールデンネダウィ）
Running Style: Front-runner
Recent Record: 0-3-0-1
Major Wins: G3 Ormonde Stakes

15. Apollo Rainbow（アポロレインボウ）
Running Style: Runaway Lead
Recent Record: 3-1-0-0
Major Wins: G1 Japanese Derby, G1 Kikuka Sho, G1 Arima Kinen, G1 Tenno Sho (Spring), etc.

Honey Heartbeat-san is a front-runner type, serving as the rabbit for See You Later-chan, who won the British St. Leger (G1, 3000 meters). Jara Jara-chan is still holding a front-running stance. Angely-chan is listed as "early speed" on the race sheet, but her race style is completely flexible. It’s highly likely she’ll run as a front-runner or early speed, though it wouldn’t be surprising if she came from behind. In any case, these three will probably be the enemies in the early stage.

Although public sentiment is leaning toward the mood of the 『Three European Long-Distance Powerhouses』, this year’s Gold Cup is shaping up to be an exceptionally high-level race. Out of 15 competitors, 12 are graded stakes winners, and 8 are G1-level. As intended by the European URA, it has the potential to become one of the greatest Gold Cups in history.

Among the notable threats are the mysterious horse girl JJ the Jet Bicycle-san from Africa, Busto Arsizio-san, a dirt G1 specialist from Argentina, and the stayer See You Later-chan, who won the British St. Leger. With many horse girls holding eligibility to attempt the full conquest of the Stayers' Million, focusing solely on Kayf Tara-san and Angely-chan may not be a bad idea, as spreading attention too thin could lead to trouble.

Here are the horse girls who have earned the right to attempt the full Stayers’ Million conquest, listed in order of the qualifying races:

• In the 5th week of March, G2 Dubai Gold Cup: Kayf Tara-san claimed victory.

• In the 4th week of April, G3 Vintage Crop Stakes: JJ the Jet Bicycle-san.

• In the 4th week of April, G3 Sagaro Stakes: See You Later-chan.

• In the 2nd week of May, G3 Ormonde Stakes: Silent Joker-san took the win. Golden Nedawi-san won this race last year, so she doesn’t hold eligibility for this year.

• In the 3rd week of May, G2 Oleander-Rennen: Busto Arsizio-san.

• In the 4th week of May, G2 Yorkshire Cup: That was me.

• In the 4th week of May, G2 Vicomtes Vigier Prize: Switch On-san.

• In the 1st week of June, G3 Henry II Stakes: Kayf Tara-san again.

• In the 1st week of June, G2 Vicomtes Vigier Prize: Angely-chan.

――And so, the number of challengers for the complete Stayers’ Million gathered here is eight. It’s probably the most packed field of tough graded stakes winners since the Arima Kinen. What’s more, many of them specialize in long-distance races, which is an especially troublesome fact.

As I look over the stats and backgrounds listed on the race sheet, my nerves finally begin to settle. I start some warm-up exercises—light jumps, stretching my Achilles tendons. There are still four hours until the race begins. It might be a bit early, but better to warm up now than regret it later. Let’s make sure to rotate my ankles too.

As my footwork starts to stir up a buzz in the waiting room, a brisk knock echoes through the room. At this hour, it’s probably a staff member or Lumos-san. It’s a little early to be getting help with putting on racewear, so it’s most likely Lumos-san.

“You can come in,” I call toward the other side of the door. As expected, when it opens, standing there is a graceful chestnut-haired horse girl—British Long-Distance Triple Crown horse girl, Lumos-san, raising her hand in greeting. Wearing a noble hat that fully covers her head—though not her horse ears—and an elegantly formal dress, she’s dazzling. Even I, someone who swoons over my own cuteness nearly every day, find my heart skip a beat at her beauty.

"Yahho~! Apollo, you doin’ good?"

"Lumos-san, you came to see me!"

"Of course I did!"

My ears perk up and flick toward her. It was perfect timing—I’d just been thinking how I’d like to talk to her. Maybe she was thinking the same, because she takes my hand and clasps it in both of hers in front of her chest.

"I appreciate you making time for me, Momozawa Trainer. ……Apollo, I’m glad I got to see you before the Gold Cup."

"What about Double Trigger-san and Yeats-chan?"

"They’re both in the audience. All dressed up and not in the mood to wade through the crowds."

"I see..."

"――By the way, Apollo! Did you talk to Kayf Tara about tha-at thi-ing!?"

"……Th-there’s no way I could have! By the time I got your message, the three of us were already at each other’s throats!"

"Kaaah~! Well, I guess it can’t be helped... I’ll just have to force her to agree after the race, huh?"

――Seven days before the Gold Cup, Lumos-san contacted me. She said, “Can you try to convince Kayf Tara to agree to join the Bakunige Stayers☆ by the Gold Cup?”

The Bakunige Stayers is, put simply, the European stayer version of Japan’s idol unit “Nige Kiri Sisters.” According to Lumos-san’s plan, I, Kayf Tara-san, and Angely-chan were to be treated as founding members, and the Winning Live after the Gold Cup would (probably) be our debut live in all but name.

Even if those three are stand-out talents, there’s no guarantee the “Big Three” will sweep the top three spots. Besides, Kayf Tara-san isn’t even the “runaway” type. The whole project is riddled with inconsistencies and seems slapped together last minute—but worst of all, she hadn’t even told the others about “Nige Ste” yet.

Getting that message seven days before the Gold Cup meant there was no way I could bring it up. Especially considering what happened the day before—the eighth day before the Cup—when all 15 entrants went on a live broadcast interview together... and it turned into a full-on pro wrestling-style verbal brawl.

Even Kayf Tara-san, and Angely-chan, who’s usually so mild, nearly started hurling insults. Of course, it wasn’t all serious—we understood it was a per-for-mance... but with everyone dead serious about the Gold Cup, it escalated into intense staring matches and genuine “Huh?”s in serious tones. It had all the trappings of a broadcast disaster, though apparently it made for good publicity.

With tensions that high, the legitimacy of the Bakunige Stayers is highly questionable. In a race featuring eight G1 horse girls, relying on luck seems a bit much... I find myself doubting Lumos-san, but given her workload, maybe I should let some of it slide.

"Well, the Bakunige Stayers thing’ll work itself out. Don’t worry about it."

"Haa…"

Is it really okay to be that casual about it? Is the European URA under Lumos-san’s direction going to be alright? Just as a twinge of unease crossed my mind, I noticed a glimmer of moisture in Lumos-san’s eyes as she held my hand.

"More importantly... Apollo. Are you gonna be okay for the Gold Cup? Looks like it’s going to rain. For someone from Japan like you, it’s probably gonna be a really tough race—"

"――I’ll. Be. Fine. I’ve made up my mind."

I squeeze her hand tightly. Her hand, smaller than mine, stiffens just a little. Was that surprise, worry, or battle-ready nerves? Only she knows the name of that feeling.

"――Wow."

But when I saw Lumos-san’s fiercely predatory grin, like she was baring her fangs, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. I gently slip my hand free and let my cheeks relax into a smile.

"Come to think of it, Lumos-san, why do you care so much about me? I mean, I’m happy to have such a great senpai watching over me, but..."

"Eh, you’re asking that now?"

"Was I not supposed to?"

"Not at all."

"…………"

"There’s not much of a reason, really. I just happened to spot Apollo on a race broadcast, fell for her reckless way of running… that's all. In other words, it’s fate. Maybe I’m more captivated by the horse girl named Apollo Rainbow than I even realize."

"F-Fate…?"

"I feel something even stronger than fate."

With that, Lumos gently leaned her cheek against mine and gave me a light hug. My heart pounded. Thump-thump. My chest trembled, and the soft sensation of her cheek left a strange afterglow that tickled my skin.

When the light hug ended, Lumos stepped back with a look of regret, as if reluctant to part.

"I only meant to check in on that unit we talked about... sorry for taking up your time."

"No, it's fine. It helped me relax a little."

"Good, good. If that's the case, I'm glad. …Well, I’ll be off now. I’m expecting big things from you in the Gold Cup."

"—Yes!"

Waving her hand with a flutter, Lumos closed the door. I replayed the voice of my admired senior in my mind as she disappeared from view, lifting my spirits even further.

"…Apollo. It’s a bit early, but should we change into your race outfit?"

"Yeah!"

"I’ll go get the staff."

Noticing that my motivation had peaked, Tomio left the room to call the staff to help me change. They say a horse girl’s spirit soars once she dons her race outfit... I could see that my trainer didn’t want this momentum to cool off.

As Tomio jogged out and silence returned to the waiting room, I found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror in the now-lonely space.

I placed a hand beside the mirror and leaned in close. On the other side of the wall of glass, I stared into the eyes of a dazed-looking girl staring back at me. Amethyst-colored eyes. Pale grayish-pink mane swaying gently, cheeks flushed with emotion—there wasn’t a more exhilarated face in the world right now.

My own excitement felt like it belonged to someone else. It’s been over a decade since I was born into this world, and the 4000-meter G1 race I’ve dreamed of all that time is now right in front of me――… That truth alone made me tremble. A torrent of powerful emotions surged up, making me want to show the entire world who I am—Apollo Rainbow.

Suddenly, something glittering like snowflakes caught my eye in the mirror. A piece of cloth poking out of my bag. I recognized it. Gently pulling it out, I found a carefully folded support banner.

『To the strongest stayer! Victory for Apollo Rainbow!』

『Explosive breakaway’s the best☆You can totally win!! Daitaku Helios』

『Let’s dazzle the world with Apollo-chan’s explosive breakaway! From Mejiro Palmer』

『No matter what, those who enjoy it most win! –Tosen Jordan』

『Long-distance races are tough, but I’m rooting for you –Gold City』

『Show us a race that’s totally Apollo-chan! –Maruzensky』

『As Japan’s representative, I expect a bold, dignified race –From Symboli Rudolf』

『Stick to the advice –Sirius』

『I want to see Apollo-chan become the long-distance Triple Crown horse girl! –Tokai Teio』

『Put on an electrifying race!!!!!! From Vodka!!!!!!』

『I’ll be cheering you on from the shadows, senpai! Do your best! –Daiwa Scarlet』

『I bet there’s a tsuchinoko in Europe too, right? –Gold Ship』

『May a beautiful rainbow stretch across this foreign land –Mejiro McQueen』

『Let’s Bakushin! –Sakura Bakushin O』

『Be very careful not to get injured –Agnes Tachyon』

――Ah. Everyone’s hearts are flowing into mine. The honed-up passion ignites into fire. My longing, love, gratitude—all those feelings feed the blaze of my fighting spirit. And if I ever run out of feelings, everyone’s hopes will fill in the gaps. Turning the weight I carry into strength itself――that is my power.

As I pictured everyone’s faces, my spirit dove deeper into my inner self.

The blizzard raging through the landscape of my heart blew even stronger, and my yearning grew even deeper.

Just four hours left until the strongest stayer is decided――