Chapter 129: Proof of a Dream

――Yorkshire Cup, 1st place.
――Gold Cup, 1st place.
――Goodwood Cup, 1st place.

Just one more win to achieve a complete Stayers' Million victory. The final race: the Lonsdale Cup. Standing in the grandstands of York Racecourse, where the last crown would be decided, Apollo Rainbow’s trainer, Tomio Momozawa, wore a tense expression.

(Man, this is bad. I'm nervous. I might be more nervous than Apollo.)

Momozawa shoved his hands into his pockets, then took out his phone and turned it on and off for no reason.

Today’s G2 Lonsdale Cup held a special significance for the team. Not only was it the final step toward making history as the world’s first to achieve a full Stayers’ Million sweep, but Apollo Rainbow was also entering the race as the overwhelming favorite—praised as being in a class of her own with no rivals to challenge her.

――The aftermath of the G1 Goodwood Cup had been intense.

Kayf Tara, worn down from the fierce competition, was withdrawn from the Lonsdale Cup after it became clear recovery wasn’t in sight. As a result, of the so-called “Long Distance Big Three” vying for the final crown in the Stayers’ Million, only Apollo Rainbow remained.

But hardly any other horse girls dared challenge the one who had defeated both Angely and Kayf Tara—leading to a G2 Lonsdale Cup that would be contested by just four runners.

Public opinion had already crowned Apollo Rainbow as the undisputed champion. She had all but claimed the title of strongest stayer, and the crowd gathered today didn’t doubt her victory for a second.

In that sense, the Lonsdale Cup could be called a promised stage.

『The 300,000 spectators gathered at York Racecourse are showering applause on the four horse girls beginning their warm-up runs! The cheers for Apollo Rainbow as she bursts out from the tunnel show no signs of stopping!』

Despite being a G2, the Lonsdale Cup at York Racecourse had broken all attendance records. The figure stood at 300,000. The crowd was so dense that people couldn’t move in the aisles or seats, and many fans had given up on making it to the bathrooms.

Even the expanded merchandise booths had sold out instantly, and now the stores were hollow shells—with no way out through the packed crowds. Most spectators wouldn’t even reach the stands and would end up listening to the race through the cheers and live commentary alone.

The only instruction given to the ash-gray-haired girl was to "run like always." With neither Kayf Tara nor Angely in the race, there simply wasn’t anyone who could match her stride. Barring some extreme accident, she would almost certainly take first place.

But there are no absolutes in racing. Until it’s over, nothing is certain. A horse girl dubbed a sure thing for the Triple Crown might fail at the final step. A total underdog might pull off a giant-killing upset over the top favorite—fate’s mischief is always in play.

The cloud of unease refused to lift. All her trainer could do was fix his desperate gaze on the girl now running brightly across the York turf.

(Just like always... Just run like always, Apollo! Just one more win to conquer the Stayers’ Million! Opportunities like this don’t come often! Our dream—it’s right here, right now! One clear answer, and we reach it!!)

『Apollo Rainbow, in her gym uniform, is looking completely at ease during her warm-up. Majestic and composed—she’s exuding real confidence.』

Completely unaware of her trainer’s worries, the ash-gray-haired girl carried herself as if it were just another day. Her face, while lacking a smile, was filled with fighting spirit, completely untouched by the pressure that spectators or public opinion might place on her.

At this point, it was hard to tell who was actually doing the running. Why was the trainer more nervous than the horse girl? It was a confusing mix of shame and reassurance.

As Momozawa stood at the front row of the grandstands with his lips tightly pressed together, three horse girls pushed through the crowd to reach him. Lumos, Double Trigger, and Yeats.

"Hey, Mister Momozawa. How’s the vibe?"

"Ahh... It’d be perfect if not for this crowd."

He responded to Lumos, who waved with casual ease. They were supposed to be in the reserved section for personnel, but the 300,000-strong public had effectively shrunk the space allocated to staff.

"Apollo’s really grown since the day she raced me at the Stayers’ Stakes. Mentally and physically, both."

"Especially her butt—it’s definitely gotten bigger."

"Our Apollo’s been running every day, so of course her hindquarters would bulk up."

As Lumos and Trainer Momozawa exchanged slightly questionable remarks, Apollo Rainbow ran toward the starting point. With the kind of cheers and expectations unfit for a G2, the girl with the fluffy bob cut swayed her tail and came to a stop before the gate.

He would’ve liked to witness the moment she completed the Stayers’ Million in her racing silks, but there was something poetic about challenging such a feat in her gym uniform.

After all, their story had begun from her make debut—when she first raced in gym clothes. To have the moment their dream came true happen while she wore the same attire... it was deeply moving.

She hadn’t won yet, but the three horse girls beside him clearly had no doubts she would. Their quiet confidence almost brought a smile to his face, but he managed to hold it back.

Should he put his faith in her ability and celebrate early, or brace for the worst just in case? As a trainer, he didn’t know which was the correct stance. But the fear of some unforeseen twist—like what happened in the Satsuki-sho or the Goodwood Cup—weighed on him more than anything. He pressed his lips tightly together.

With only four runners entering the gate, the 3,300-meter G2 Lonsdale Cup was about to begin.

『The four horse girls have loaded into the gate, and the G2 Lonsdale Cup is now—underway!』

Contrary to Momozawa’s desperate hopes, the race began in an instant. A cold, clenching discomfort gripped his heart as if seized by an icy hand, and his vision dimmed slightly, shadowed in darkness.

No matter how many times, he never got used to this feeling. Was it trauma from her make debut, or a blurring of consciousness from the surrealism of it all?

(Ugh... Apollo...!)

They had always been together. Always by her side, supporting her heart, giving her a push when she needed it, and at times, speaking harsh truths. The one who chose to fill that girl’s youth with grueling training and relentless races was none other than Momozawa himself.

He could’ve made her stop. Let her give up that harsh, brutal road and live a "nor-mal" life. Let her settle for decent results in the Twinkle Series, where she wouldn’t have reached her dream, but could’ve found satisfaction regardless—that kind of grounded, realistic plan was always an option.

And yet, he cast aside those doubts and made the girl leap into days of hardship. He wanted this victory to prove it had been the right path. Separate from his feelings toward the gray-haired girl, there was still that anxiety within him: had he, as an adult, truly guided her the right way? With this Lonsdale Cup, he wanted that uncertainty shattered to pieces.

『A flawless start dash from Apollo Rainbow! It's as if she’s shouting “Never again!” to her Goodwood disaster—what a launch!』

As Momozawa’s worries loomed, the four Uma Musume broke from the gate, each with a different reaction. Apollo Rainbow took the lead instantly. The second and third-place runners also got solid starts, but no one could match Apollo, who had staked everything on that moment.

Perhaps it was the sting of her previous slow start at the Goodwood Cup. The crowd of 300,000 roared for the top favorite, now off to a rocket start. Momozawa’s anxiety faded as he watched Apollo pull away, eyes fixed on the growing gap.

As long as her start was perfect, no one could stop her breakaway.

Overwhelming. Dominating. The fairy aiming to be the strongest stayer spread her wings and showed her back to the field, pulling farther and farther away.

"…Amazing."

Someone whispered. The commentator was shouting something, but the trainer didn’t hear a word.

Apparently, when people witness something truly extraordinary, they lose the ability to speak. That—was exactly what this was. Every spectator stood stunned, rooted in place by the sheer spectacle of the girl’s run.

She carved it into the track—a blistering 3300-meter record pace.

She pulled away from the pack, and by the 800-meter mark, was already in full control.

The 400-meter split: 22.8 seconds. The 800-meter split: 45.6. At 1200 meters, 1:10.1. It was an absurdly fast pace. The second and third runners began to falter at the 1600-meter mark, unable to keep up.

And yet—asking whether the fourth runner, far behind, could catch up to Apollo Rainbow? That seemed impossible. The gap had opened to about 30 horse lengths, and against a breakaway runner who was still accelerating, the odds were stacked too high.

『Apollo Rainbow maintains the lead with an unstoppable breakaway! But the second and third girls are already running out of steam!?』

When the race dipped under the 1300-meter mark, most of the crowd already believed she would win. That’s how dominant her performance was.

Even trainers and racers like Lumos, who knew all too well that there were no guarantees in racing, couldn’t bring themselves to doubt it. The margin was too wide. Apollo Rainbow, in peak form, was leading with 1300 meters to go and plenty of stamina left. Given her track record and her dream of becoming the strongest stayer, it was only natural for everyone to believe in her victory.

『Apollo Rainbow rounds the final corner with a massive lead! The gap to second place is beyond counting! And now, as she heads into the final stretch, a roar of certainty erupts from the crowd!』

Lumos, who had watched Apollo Rainbow since over a year ago, and Double Trigger, who clashed with her in their final long-distance race, both watched the scene, lost in their own thoughts. Yet deep down, they shared the same feeling.

The era of long-distance racing had returned. The age of stayers, pursued with near-mad desperation, was back. Even if this fervor was fleeting, everyone felt something stir in their chest. They couldn’t let it fade. They would turn this all-consuming excitement into something eternal. Among the 300,000 in attendance, the two of them watched Apollo Rainbow run, overwhelmed by emotion.

『1000 meters to go! She’s entered the final stretch!! Apollo Rainbow still in front!! Still holding back reserves, looking only ahead—and now she surges past the grandstand!! What acceleration!! No one can catch her!!』

The York Racecourse erupted into cheers as she hit the final stretch. Unleashing a four-stage rocket of finishing speed, she dove into a cruelly beautiful last spurt.

Her finely-honed body danced in a running form so perfect it captivated all who saw it.

No one could catch her. There was no way anyone could. Her ash-gray hair and tail sparkled under the sun. Her amethyst eyes burned with resolve, her pure emotions for victory distorting her elegant face. She was running with nothing held back—raw and real.

Everyone watching envisioned the fairy in her racing outfit. But in truth, all she wore was a white gym uniform stained with dirt, and a bib showing her gate number. Her shoes were scuffed and worn from countless races.

If subjective experience is reality, then perhaps the intensity she radiated had rewritten the world. Or maybe—maybe she truly was wearing her race gear, in some way, from the start.

To witness such a transcendent being—one that surpassed biological limits—was unspeakably beautiful.

Two retired Uma Musume watched from the stands, and couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy toward the girl in the spotlight. Even Double Trigger, who’d found peace in her retirement race, couldn’t help but think, Isn’t it unfair to dominate the final stretch in front of 300,000 people like that?

But Apollo Rainbow had earned that spotlight herself. No one had any right to complain. Even so—they were glad to be here to witness it live. Next time, they’d stand at the center of the roar not as racers, but as trainers. Or perhaps they’d support from the wings, creating a stage where Uma Musume could shine. With those hopes in their hearts, the two raised their fists and cheered for the gray-haired girl.

Yates, a devoted fan of Apollo Rainbow, shouted her name with all he had. I want to be strong like her. I want to win big races under the cheers of a crowd. As a fan, he had to etch this moment of glory into memory. Someday, he wanted to catch up to that back. With that passion blazing, Yates clung to the rail, leaning over it.

And it wasn’t just those three. All 300,000 spectators watching the Lonsdale Cup poured their dreams into their cheers for the ash-gray fairy.

What gave her wings power were everyone’s feelings. The emotions that had built up shaped the very way she ran.

This world wasn’t created by Apollo Rainbow alone. Her family, her friends, the URA staff, and the rivals who once ran alongside her—thanks to them, the long-distance racing scene had made its return.

『400 meters left! Nothing’s coming from behind!! It’s a solo run—an all-time historic solo run!! The gap to second is 35—no, 40 lengths!! It’s all but decided!!』

With 400 meters to go, the other three girls were all running good races. But—well, their opponent was simply too strong.

The ash-gray fairy had gone beyond record pace, continuing her solitary journey. And the thunderous applause of 300,000 saved her from that solitude. Everyone had wished for this moment.

『200 meters remaining!! The ash-gray fairy pushes past the elite, and now—claims the final crown of the Stayers' Million!!』

A wish fulfilled.

The race that would crown the strongest stayer had reached its end.

『――Goaaaaal!! The winner of the Lonsdale Cup is Apollo Rainbow!! The first ever complete sweep of the Stayers' Million!! With countless record-breaking wins and dominant performances over powerful rivals, she has become the undisputed “strongest stayer”!!』

The air over York Racecourse exploded. Sparks scattered like fireworks, as if the blue sky itself had burst. Everyone forgot themselves, shouting in joy over the historic triumph. Words of celebration flew through the air.

(…Apollo――)

The trainer couldn’t even raise his voice. He just stood there in stunned silence, unable to decide whether to look at the turf vision or at the exhausted horse girl slowing down before him.

It didn’t feel real. Apollo. Apollo Rainbow had won. The one and only horse girl he’d trained all this time. There was no mistake. But a complete sweep of the Stayers Million? The strongest stayer in the world? Seriously? Was it really okay for something this wonderful to happen? He didn’t know. If it was true, then they must be the happiest people on Earth.

The trainer slumped into the back of his seat, all strength drained from his body. He didn’t even understand why he was so weak. As if leaving him behind, Apollo Rainbow slowly turned and began her victory lap before the grandstands.

“…………”

The girl was a wreck. From the outside, it looked like a crushing victory—but that result had only come because she’d given everything she had.

『Whoa—listen to that chant! Out of nowhere, the A-PO-LLO… CHANT… is sweeping through the stands!!』

『This is—ahh… what a beautiful sight. And not even at a G1, but a G2 race… a few years ago, something like this would’ve been unimaginable.』

『Indeed! Apollo Rainbow has just carved a new page into the history of the Twinkle Series!』

As the battered girl made her way through the victory lap, the first-ever 『Apollo Chant』 to be heard in Europe began to rise. The fans who had lined the rails and waited so long for the race now poured all their emotions into a chant that eventually swept up everyone present—young and old alike—into a massive, swelling wave.

It didn’t matter who they were. They were simply moved by the race before them, stirred in their hearts, swept away in the thrill of the moment. Every eye was fixed on the one girl in the center of it all.

And at the heart of all that joy, the girl waving to the crowd caught the eye of Momozawa, who stared at her with a strangely blank gaze. He was happy—he should be happy—but it didn’t feel real. This had to be a dream. Was this really happening?

The joy had exceeded his limits and left him numb. In the middle of the roaring cheers, it felt like he alone had been locked away in a cage.

And then, in the midst of that lonely feeling—he saw the girl turning toward the crowded stands. She was searching for someone. It was obvious who she was looking for, and yet he could only watch like a stranger.

Her brows were drawn slightly in worry. Her eyes brimmed with emotions she could barely contain as she shook her head. Their eyes met. She was bouncing up and down, waving her hands, her mouth wide open shouting something—but in the earth-shaking noise, he couldn’t hear a thing.

She must have grown frustrated, because she started running toward him. Just moments ago, her smile had been cool and composed, but now it was crumbling, on the verge of bursting into tears.

Pushed forward by Lumos and Double Trigger, he finally found himself at the very front, right behind the fence. He couldn’t steady his neck. He should’ve been punching the air in triumph, but he still felt left behind.

That beloved smile filled the turf vision screen. With clear tears spilling down her cheeks, she looked at him. She was right there.

“……! …………!”

The pale gray girl bounced in place, grabbing onto the fence in front of him. He couldn’t hear her. He mumbled as if in a dream—and then she threw herself into him, arms clinging tightly to his neck.

“We won! We did it, we won!”

They’d won. The moment he heard those words from her own lips—he broke out in goosebumps.

They’d really done it. They’d claimed the Lonsdale Cup—completed the Stayers Million. The joy that had lagged behind finally exploded through him, an unbearable heat gathering at the center of his forehead. He reflexively tried to hold it in. But with his partner sobbing into his neck, he couldn’t hold it back for long. Emotion surged up from his chest, pricking sharply behind his nose, and spilled out, unstoppable.

But the moment that made him happiest—wasn’t that their long-cherished dream had come true. It was the instant their eyes met, and they embraced.

With the world’s eyes upon them, the two of them shed tears together. They cried out from the bottom of their hearts, unable to contain the rush of feeling.

It felt like the entire world was celebrating with them—not just this moment, but even the long journey that had brought them here was patting them on the back.

They looked into each other’s eyes again at close range, and wept anew. You worked so hard. You really did. Thank you. Congratulations. Just exchanging those few words sent another flood of emotion pouring out. They couldn’t stop it.

The world was kind to the two who had achieved their dream. Warm applause rained down and wrapped around them.

At the very center of it, the two of them shared their joy and lingered in the afterglow of victory for a while longer.

“…Hey, Tomio.”

“…What is it?”

“I’m happy.”

“…Yeah. Me too.”

“I’m glad it was you.”

“I’m glad it was you.”

“You’re just copying me.”

“…I was thinking the same thing.”

“…I figured.”

And so the Lonsdale Cup came to an end. The York Racecourse, now mostly empty, returned to its usual quiet.

For those who went straight home, those who disappeared into the streets of England, and those who watched her brave figure from behind a screen… it became an unforgettable Lonsdale Cup for each and every one of them.