Chapter 126: Toward the Goodwood Cup

Late July. During a training session one week before the upcoming G1 Goodwood Cup, I was hit with some shocking news.

That news was: Angely-chan had withdrawn from the Goodwood Cup and begun a rest period in preparation for the G1 Irish St. Leger two months later.

To complete the Stayers’ Million, one must win three specific races in this order: the G1 Gold Cup in the 4th week of June, the G1 Goodwood Cup in the 1st week of August, and the G2 Lonsdale Cup in the 4th week of August.

Of course, I’m the only Uma Musume this year with a shot at completing the full set... but if someone were to defeat me—the reigning strongest stayer in the world after winning the Gold Cup—there would be no complete champion this year. The honor would then come down to pure head-to-head results. Knowing Angely-chan and Kayf Tara-san, I thought they were the kind to thrive in moments where they could seize the top spot. So her decision to skip the Goodwood Cup was completely unexpected.

However, after hearing her reason, I couldn’t help but understand.

Apparently, the intense run in the Gold Cup had put too much strain on her legs. Thinking back, that muddy track really was the kind of brutal going that could mess up a racing career. Not only that, it was her first 4000-meter race, and she’d essentially been racing nonstop since last fall. Skipping the Goodwood Cup to regroup was definitely the smart move. I’m a bit lonely about it, but knowing her, I’m sure she’ll be back for the 4000-meter race in autumn, the Prix du Cadran. I’ll look forward to our rematch there.

In the end, the European stayers—especially those who ran in the Gold Cup—are now facing a binary choice.

Either challenge me head-on under the banner of "Defeat Apollo Rainbow," or avoid the races I enter and opt for others. Kayf Tara-san, who’s registered for the Goodwood Cup, has clearly chosen the former. Jarajara-chan has safely returned to Japan and is preparing for middle-to-long-distance races there. Quite a few Uma Musume who ran in the Gold Cup have been worn out, and See You Later-chan, for example, is apparently planning to skip the Goodwood Cup.

I plan to compete in all three races of the Stayers’ Million, but if things keep going this way, I’ll end up running in 11 races this year. The grueling pace since Dubai was already beyond expectations—and honestly, even with my toughness, I’m not sure I’ll survive this.

For reference, here’s what my current race schedule looks like:

• Late March: G2 Dubai Gold Cup (2nd)

• Early May: G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (1st)

• Late May: G2 Yorkshire Cup (1st)

• Late June: G1 Gold Cup (1st)

• Early August: G1 Goodwood Cup (3200m)

• Late August: G2 Lonsdale Cup (3300m)

• Mid-September: G2 Doncaster Cup (3600m)

• Early October: G1 Prix du Cadran (4000m)

• Late October: G1 Prix Royal-Oak (3100m)

• Early November: G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m)

• Late December: G1 Arima Kinen (2500m)

Whoever planned this is an idiot. That idiot was me—I led the charge on it. But seriously, looking at it again, this schedule is obviously insane. I’d literally die running all of this.

At the time, I was thinking, "Ikuno-san ran 16 races in one year," or "Oguri-san had six races in three months, and even did the Mile Championship and Japan Cup back-to-back," so I figured, maybe I can do it too~. But comparing myself to the ironclad idol Oguri Cap and the Iron Lady Ikuno Dictus was a huge mistake.

Well, I suppose registering for races as a contingency is still a legit strategy. Like how foreign Uma Musume often sign up for the Japan Cup but rarely come—probably something like that. I’ll keep them as options, but might end up dropping some later...

...So, the first ones that’ll probably get cut are the G1 Prix Royal-Oak in France and the G1 Melbourne Cup in Australia. Running the Cadran in France, then the Royal-Oak, then flying to Australia for the Melbourne Cup, then returning to Japan for the Arima Kinen—four races in three countries over three months? Physically impossible. Come to think of it, neither Oguri-san nor Ikuno-san ever did international tours, and the fact I didn’t factor in the fatigue of traveling just proves how dumb I was.

I mean, the one-week turnaround between the Cadran → Royal-Oak → Melbourne Cup is something that would break you in real life. Only doable in a game. Personally, I have to run the Cadran and Arima Kinen, so the ones to cut would be the Melbourne Cup and the Royal-Oak.

I really wanted to see the Melbourne Cup, though—I’ve heard it’s hugely popular locally. I guess if I go, it’ll have to be next year or later...

And the last race I have to give up is probably... the third leg of the "British Long-Distance Triple Crown," the G2 Doncaster Cup. Ideally, I’d love to complete both the Stayers’ Million and the Triple Crown, but if I get injured, that’s the end of everything. I’ll leave that one as a goal for next year too.

So with those three races cut, that leaves me with eight races this year. Here’s the rotation we’ve settled on:

• Late March: G2 Dubai Gold Cup (2nd)

• Early May: G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (1st)

• Late May: G2 Yorkshire Cup (1st)

• Late June: G1 Gold Cup (1st)

• Early August: G1 Goodwood Cup (3200m)

• Late August: G2 Lonsdale Cup (3300m)

• Early October: G1 Prix du Cadran (4000m)

• Late December: G1 Arima Kinen (2500m)

Even with this adjusted schedule, it’s still a pretty tight itinerary for a season with international races. I’ve been muddling through with my stayer-level stamina, but compared to El-chan’s and Guriko’s schedules, it’s clear mine is way more packed.

"Apollo, 20 more laps to go~"

As I worked through my stamina training, I watched Guriko and El-chan running in the outer lanes. The two of them had already made a splash in their European G1 debuts and were fast becoming representatives of both Japan and the global stage.

El-chan took the Prix d'Ispahan, and Guriko won the Falmouth Stakes. Guriko especially—she just won without any fuss… Who’s the real monster here?

Since El-chan and Guriko are doing different types of training from me, they’re working on different tracks. I’m a super-long-distance runner, El-chan is mid-to-long distance, and Guriko is short-to-mile distance. Because of that, I tend to get left out in our joint training. Also, stamina training for me takes an insane amount of time.

When we mix it up and do mock races together, we usually compromise on the distance at around 1800 meters. And most of the time, El-chan or Guriko wins. When I race outside my ideal distance, my running falls apart, and my signature breakaway strategy doesn’t land.

If I fail to break away and let El-chan take the lead, I usually sink to last place without any real comeback. Sometimes, through sheer grit, I can pull out a win, but those races are few and far between.

According to Tomio, “It’s a good chance to directly feel the timing of other running styles. Plus, it’s good practice for when Apollo can’t take the lead in a race.” But...

...I lost again today. Finished third in the practice race, just half a length behind El-chan. For better or worse, I’ve started to get the hang of how to race from behind or in a stalking position. Maybe I can build a race even if I mess up the start...

I don’t want to rely on it, but learning to race from off the pace has become a last-resort option. Ideally, I’ll never need to use it—but it’s good to have just in case.

After finishing training with Guriko and El-chan and taking a shower, I took a walk around Tracen Academy in the evening, still wearing my tracksuit. While strolling, I noticed a horse girl I’d never seen around here before, wandering the area.

She had a sleek, dark bay body and was wearing a uniform that clearly wasn’t from Chantilly Tracen Academy (maybe a British Tracen uniform?), with a deep crimson crown perched atop her head. She was probably lost, but her confident expression never wavered—she gave off such a powerful presence that I couldn’t help but feel drawn to her. I decided to call out.

"Um, excuse me... Are you lost?"

"Ahh… I came to Chantilly Tracen looking for someone, but alas, I’m not exactly familiar with the campus… and here I am. So! Lovely young lady! Would you be so kind as to guide me to this person?"

Whoa, another intense horse girl shows up...

I said, "Sure," and started walking with the crowned horse girl.

"By the way, who are you looking for?"

"My beloved younger sister, Kayf Tara! Surely you know her well too, Apollo Rainbow!"

—Your little sister is Kayf Tara?! That shocking bit of info jolted deep into my brain and dug up a name long dormant in my memory.

A racehorse whose full younger sister—at least on paper—was Kayf Tara, and whose half-sister was the French G1 winner ZZ Top… there’s only one horse that could be.

"Could it be… Opera House-san?"

"Indeed! I’m honored that you know of me!"

—Opera House. A horse girl who claimed three G1 victories, including the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and was named Cartier Champion Older Horse that year. In Japan, she’s better known as the sire of the legendary T.M. Opera O, the “End-of-Century Overlord.”

She was surprised I knew her, but honestly, not knowing her would be weirder. Especially since I have indirect ties to her. First, I already knew her name as Kayf Tara-san’s older sister. And she comes up from time to time when talking with Opera O-chan, so I’ve kind of remembered her from that too.

But still, Opera House-san is from the UK, right? She crossed the sea just to visit Kayf Tara-san here in Chantilly?

"So, Apollo Rainbow. Do you happen to know where my sister Kayf Tara is?"

"Yes, she’s in the room next to mine."

"Really?! I’m in your debt!"

"Oh, I was just heading back to the dorm anyway, so I’ll walk with you. That way, it’ll be easier to talk to the dorm leader too."

"Splendid! Let’s be off, then!"

And so, I found myself walking back to the dorms, swept along by the high-energy Opera House-san. As we talked on the way, I began to notice things she and Kayf Tara-san shared as sisters.

—Both of them absolutely love racing, especially the thrill of the track and the unity they feel with the fans. Their tone and vibe are completely different, but at their core, Opera House-san and Kayf Tara-san seem deeply connected… It’s kind of heartwarming to see siblings so close. Kayf Tara-san’s usual aloof profile flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile.

"By the way, Opera House-san, do you know there’s a horse girl in Japan named T.M. Opera O-chan?"

"Of course I do. I feel something almost fated about that girl… Her name, her demeanor—she reminds me of myself in many ways. I just can’t ignore her. …I heard she won a Classic race called the Satsuki Sho this past spring. I’m expecting great things from her."

Opera House-san narrowed her golden eyes. They were the exact same color as Kayf Tara-san’s, and staring into them, I felt like I might get pulled in.

If I had to name the horse girl who gives me that kind of destined feeling… I’d probably say Lumos-san. I’ve had the chance to get close to many upperclassmen like Maruzensky-san, Helios-san, Palmer-san, President Rudolf, and even Bakushin O-san… but none of them radiate the kind of powerful aura Lumos-san does.

The mysterious bonds between horse girls are also a kind of “emotion.” In other words, they’re part of the emotions that give horse girls their mysterious power. Rivalries, sibling ties, mentor-protégé relationships, and strange threads of fate—these all tangle together, strengthening the emotions that define us horse girls.

I can’t help but feel that meeting Opera House-san today was also part of some unseen fate. As if the unseen connection between Kayf Tara-san and me is growing deeper through this encounter, laying the foundation for the next race—the Goodwood Cup.

At the dorm entrance, the dorm leader gave her permission to enter, and I walked with Opera House-san down the hallway. Maybe because she was wearing the British uniform, the dorm leader didn’t even ask for details and just let her through without issue.

Maybe it’s not that unusual within Europe, or maybe the Kayf Tara–Opera House sister duo is just that famous… Either way, I’m glad we didn’t lose time over it.

"This is my room, and over there is Kayf Tara-san’s."

"Thank you, Apollo Rainbow. My sister has this awful habit of never checking her messages… It’s really troublesome."

"I know, right? Even when I message her, she never reads it. Or worse, she leaves me on read."

"Heh, my sister hates phone calls too. If she ignores that, you’re truly out of options."

"Seriously! …Well, I guess this is where we part ways."

"Mhm."

"Let’s talk again sometime! Over tea and some delicious sweets!"

"Heh… that sounds lovely."

We'd arrived in front of my room, and I took that as my cue to say goodbye to Opera House-san. Even though we’d only spent a short time together, we’d hit it off more than I expected, and honestly, I felt a little sad to part ways.

Sure, we could stay in touch online easily enough, but I’m the type who needs to talk face-to-face to feel satisfied. I’d really like to meet and chat with her again someday. With that lingering feeling of wistfulness still in my chest, I turned to enter my room—but then Opera House-san spoke, smiling as she did.

"…My sister was always carrying this deep sadness with her. She’d watch my Eclipse Stakes or King George races and say, ‘Why can’t my races turn out like that…?’ She would agonize over it. But thanks to you—and the other rivals—light finally found its way into her heart. Your passion for your dream melted the ice that had frozen hers."

Instinctively, I turned around, wanting to see her face. But she was already on her way into Kayf Tara-san’s room.

"That’s why… thank you, lovely little fairy. I’ll be quietly rooting for your dream—and my sister’s dream—to shine even brighter."

As I stood there, speechless, the door closed in front of me. "Who were you talking to outside my room, sis?" "To your favorite little fairy." "Huh? I don’t like her or anything." That was the last bit of conversation I overheard before everything went silent again.

I quietly entered my room.

“…………”

Opera House-san said Kayf Tara-san had been saved by me. But the truth is, it was the same for me. I’d been crushed by her—my heart shattered by the sting of defeat. And because of that, I was saved. The awakening at the Gold Cup only happened because I had suffered a complete loss in the mock race. If Kayf Tara-san hadn’t been there, I would’ve never been able to perform at my best.

We’re the same, her and I.

"Saved"—that word doesn’t go nearly far enough. We scorched each other’s hearts with the heat we carried. It wasn’t some noble, mutual salvation—it was a raging inferno of jealousy, of raw emotion. Our hearts were broken. Our dreams were stolen. And even so, we stood back up. That’s all there is to it.

In the end, we simply found a way to look forward again.

I respect her. I feel a bond of friendship. But more than anything, I’m burning with dark, bitter hostility and a deep, unshakable urge to outdo her.

It’s not like everything turned out rosy. The two of us became who we are now only by enduring the pain and struggle.

—One week left until the Goodwood Cup.

I love Kayf Tara-san. And I’m sure Kayf Tara-san loves me too. We care about each other with a level of intensity that borders on hatred.

…Ahh, I can’t wait.