Chapter 97: The End of a Feverish Night

The examination results came back with "no notable abnormalities." A compress on the bruised flank would be enough to heal the internal bleeding. If the pain persisted, I was told to return to the hospital.

Since it wasn’t serious, I headed back to Meydan Racecourse just in time for the race two after the Dubai Gold Cup—the Al Quoz Sprint, where Guriko was set to run.

A 1200-meter turf sprint. A straight-course race, rare in Japan. Returning to the stands amid everyone’s concern, I immediately started cheering for Guriko.

"Apollo-chan, so close!"

"...Nice fight."

"Thanks, you two."

Meek-chan and El-chan patted my back to encourage me. I was grateful they treated me the same as always, even after my loss. When El-chan earnestly asked, "Ah, did it hurt when I patted your back?" I almost laughed. I told her it was my side that got hit, and honestly, it didn’t even hurt anymore.

Chuckling, I turned my gaze back to the turf just as a roar erupted from the paddock. The grand introduction was about to begin.

While I was at the hospital, night had fully fallen over Meydan, now enveloped in an electrifying atmosphere. The reason? Probably—no, definitely—Guriko. The overwhelming favorite, adored for her fan service and impossibly beautiful face. The fans who had flocked to Meydan couldn’t possibly be disappointed.

Her stunning chestnut mane shimmered as the announcer called her name.

["Number 7, Green Titan—the top favorite!"]

Clad in a deep red racing uniform befitting a sprint champion, Guriko smiled gallantly, her cape fluttering as she charmed the crowd. Every glance from her sent female spectators swooning, and just a flash of her pearly teeth had fans ascending to heaven left and right.

She seemed in peak form today. No need to worry.

While everyone else was fixated on the paddock, I noticed a certain horse girl who had been staring at me for a while now.

"...Lumos-san, you’ve been watching me a little too much, you know?"

"Oh, you noticed?"

Turning around, I found myself face-to-face with the lovely chestnut-haired horse girl—none other than Lumos, the legendary stayer. I hadn’t seen her since the fan appreciation event. Today, she wore her hair in a braid, exuding elegance with her luxurious attire.

Behind her stood Double Trigger-san, sporting a hat, and Yates-chan. Watching them all dressed up, I couldn’t help but think how effortlessly beautiful they were.

"Double Trigger-san, it’s been a while."

"Yeah, over three months. Good to see you."

After a quick hug, Double Trigger-san’s gaze dropped to my stomach. Before I knew it, she was shamelessly eyeing me—then suddenly reached for my clothes, trying to lift them up. I let out a small yelp and dodged her hands.

"If you can move like that, your side must be fine."

"Was there really no better way to check?!"

"Heh, I couldn’t help myself. Your reactions are just too cute."

Double Trigger-san laughed, her chestnut mane swaying alluringly. Compared to last time, she seemed much brighter—softer, even. Probably Lumos-san’s influence.

"The Dubai Gold Cup was a close one. Kaif Tara was strong, huh?"

"Too strong. It’s annoying."

"...I get it. When I raced her, she wasn’t even at her peak, and she was still overwhelming. That said, I never thought you’d lose to her... Seems she’s leveled up this winter. Didn’t expect her to smash records like that."

She shook her head, her gaze distant, as if reminiscing about her old rival. "Glad you’re not hung up on the loss. If you feel off, tell Tomio right away." After oddly emphasizing Tomio’s name, she tapped El-chan’s shoulder.

"...Huh!? You’re Double Trigger-san!?"

"First time meeting, El Condor Pasa. Heard you’re aiming for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Mind if we talk a bit?"

Guess she planned to give El-chan some pointers about racing in Europe. How kind of her. Meanwhile, Lumos-san was deep in conversation with Tojo Trainer behind us.

My eyes then fell on Yates-chan, standing awkwardly. In this age of streaming, coming all the way to Dubai showed real dedication. Though, if I recalled correctly, her visit to Japan’s fan event had just been a side trip on her way here.

I crouched down to meet her eye level. Her big, sparkling eyes shone so brightly it instantly lifted my mood.

"Yates-chan, long time no see."

"Ah, yes! Um... good work in the Dubai Gold Cup!"

"Thanks. I lost this time, but I’ll win next time—just watch!"

"Yes! I’ll be cheering!"

"How’s Dubai? Having fun?"

"So much fun! There were planes zooming by at noon, street performers, and all kinds of events! And just earlier, there were more fireworks than I’ve ever seen! Oh, look at this! Double Trigger-san bought it for me! Does it suit me!?"

Words tumbling out in rapid succession, Yates-chan spun gracefully. The hat Double Trigger-san had bought her looked expensive even to my untrained eye. Combined with her delicate charm, she looked like a little fairy.

Her glistening eyes begged for approval, and I nearly exploded with affection. Without thinking, I wore a parental smile and ruffled her hair.

"Yates-chan... just how many hearts will you break in the future? You’re a dangerous girl."

"Eh? U-um... is that a compliment?"

"I am praising you. You're ridiculously cute, and it suits you perfectly."

Yates-chan’s ears twitch excitedly at my words. Her tail swings wildly like a big dog’s—her happiness is painfully obvious. What is this adorable creature? No wonder Double Trigger and the others spoil her so much.

...Speaking of which, I just remembered. "Yates"—isn’t that the name of that legendary European racehorse? The genius stayer who won the Gold Cup four years in a row? Pretty sure it dominated from 2006 to 2009 and also swept Europe's Best Stayer title for four straight years. What a monster.

I didn’t notice at first because she’s such a friendly little horse girl, but her bay coat and the star on her forehead match the racehorse Yates from my memories. If she grows up, she might become something terrifying...

"Heyyy, Apollo! You should come over here too!"

Called by Lumos-san, I take Yates-chan’s hand and dash over. Seeing this is downright awe-inspiring. How often do you get Japan’s G1 horse girls face-to-face with Europe’s legendary stayers? Silence Suzuka, El Condor Pasa, Happy Meek, Guriko in the paddock—and two British long-distance Triple Crown horse girls. Oh, and let’s not forget the tiny future four-time Gold Cup-winning monster.

Throw me into the mix, and the eight of us here easily account for over 20 G1 wins. What is this? Feels like we could form a dream team.

But when horse girls gather, there’s only one topic of conversation: racing. Polite greetings quickly give way to an intense horse girl discussion zone.

"Silence Suzuka. Your name and running style echo across the seas. As fellow front-runners, we must have some shared understanding... So, how about it? Come to Europe. Four thousand meters is fun. Your lungs might explode."

"Suzuka-san, Double Trigger-san says, 'Why not try a long-distance runaway? You can monopolize the lead view even longer!'"

"No way..."

Double Trigger-san tries to recruit Suzuka.

"Happy Meek... You seem capable of running anything from sprints to long-distance, dirt to turf. From your race footage, you’ve got the stamina for it. What do you say? Want to challenge the Stayers Million with Apollo?"

"Meek-chan! Lumos-san says, 'How about trying the Stayers Million?'"

"...For now, I’m focusing on American dirt races."

Lumos-san pitches to Meek-chan, El-chan asks Double Trigger and Lumos about Europe, Yates-chan clings to Meek-chan... All sorts of chaos unfolds.

As we’re deep in conversation, the paddock presentation ends, and the parade begins. The crowd’s rising energy naturally silences our chatter, and everyone’s eyes turn to the turf.

While an in-form Guriko performs a dazzling parade, Lumos-san suddenly taps my shoulder with unusual seriousness.

"...So. To confirm, Apollo, you are planning to challenge Europe’s Stayers Million, right?"

Behind her, Double Trigger-san stands with an intense gaze. Lumos is relatively gentle, but when it comes to Double Trigger, her eyes sharpen as if testing my resolve.

But I don’t flinch. "My dream is to be the strongest stayer—that hasn’t changed. I want to conquer the Stayers Million and prove it."

At my answer, Double Trigger-san and Lumos-san exchange a quiet glance. Lumos looks up; Double Trigger closes her eyes softly.

"...I see. We’ll need to steel ourselves too, Double Trigger."

"Indeed. Apollo, we respect your decision. And we vow to support your dream with everything we have."

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, don’t worry about it. Just focus on giving your all in the races ahead."

"Lumos and I have some groundwork to lay for Europe’s long-distance scene. If a stayer like you is coming, this is our best chance to revive the division. It’ll take time to restore long-distance racing to its former glory... but we’ll give it our all."

Ahead, the G1 Al Quoz Sprint begins—a lightning-fast six-furlong dash. The frenzy swallows everyone in its heat.

"What European long-distance lacks now is this kind of passion and roar. We’ll provide that. But saving Kaif Tara? That’s not our role. It’s yours. Because you two are like two sides of the same coin—you understand each other, and you’ll elevate each other’s dreams into something irreplaceable."

"...Lumos is being dramatic, but just do what you always do. Give it your all, and you’ll be fine. Dreams are always conquered by those who go all out."

In a flash, 16 horse girls charge toward the finish, the close battle projected on the giant turf screen.

Racing, fighting, pushing beyond limits—the excitement peaks, and in that instant, a champion is decided.

The winner—Green Titan.

Asia’s sprint king ascends to the world stage, and the Meydan night erupts in jubilation.

---

On a night when the fervor of the Dubai meeting was beginning to wind down, Double Trigger and L’Homme Rouge were quietly conversing in the secluded staff seating area, shielded from the noise.

Their discussion revolved around a serious matter—this year’s European circuit, or more precisely, a frank exchange about the value of the Stayers Million and its ability to draw crowds.

"Kayf tara, Angelie, Apollo Rainbow… Even with such a lineup of unique talents, there’s no guarantee the long-distance division will regain its former glory. That’s the painful truth…"

"Wasn’t it you, L’Homme Rouge, who hyped up Apollo with such grand expectations? Don’t start complaining now."

As L’Homme Rouge spoke with a hint of melancholy, Double Trigger sharply interjected. L’Homme Rouge’s gaze drifted toward the Meydan turf, but her eyes weren’t fixed on the turf vision or the horse girls in their racing silks—instead, they seemed to reflect her own image in the glass.

——L’Homme Rouge had achieved back-to-back victories in the British Long Distance Triple Crown before the era of accelerated race speeds—back when the ability to run long distances was still the most prized trait.

At that time, Japan’s Tokyo Daishōten was run over 3000 meters on dirt, and the Tennō Shō (Autumn) was held at 3200 meters. In South America, dirt races as long as 3500 meters were considered the pinnacle of prestige, and the Goodwood Cup that L’Homme Rouge once conquered was an ultra-long-distance event spanning 4200 meters.

But now, the Tokyo Daishōten had been shortened to 2000 meters, the Tennō Shō (Autumn) reduced to the same distance, and even the Goodwood Cup had been cut down to 3200 meters. While whispers of further distance reductions occasionally surfaced, proposals to extend race lengths were virtually nonexistent. That was the world they lived in now. The acceleration of races had led to the long-distance division being sidelined, and now, the value of stamina-based races had been completely inverted.

Having witnessed the decline of the Stayers’ prestige within less than a decade after leaving Europe’s Twinkle Series, L’Homme Rouge had seen firsthand the struggles of horse girls like Double Trigger and Kaikhtara, who had come to Europe in pursuit of the long-distance glory days.

After retiring, once she recognized the trend toward speed-focused racing, L’Homme Rouge had dedicated herself to restoring the Stayers’ reputation.

She negotiated with TV programs and magazines, pushed for broadcasts of long-distance G1 races and their associated Winning Lives on streaming platforms, and advocated for stronger merchandise sales for Stayers. Taking inspiration from Japan, she even proposed fan appreciation events.

…Yet, none of her efforts bore significant fruit. The tide had already turned, and there was no stopping it. She had done her best, but against such overwhelming momentum, resistance was futile.

Racing was no different. Just as sprint races had once been undervalued, now it was the long-distance division’s turn. Once the perception of distance had flipped, there was no reversing the trend. A single retired horse girl couldn’t stem this current alone.

The reason for the decline of long-distance racing was simple: no dominant Stayers had emerged. As races grew faster and aversion to long distances spread, the division’s popularity waned. And when popularity dropped, it was only natural that elite horse girls would no longer gather there.

Double Trigger was exceptional, but she alone couldn’t reverse the trend. Strength alone wasn’t enough. In L’Homme Rouge’s view—to revitalize the long-distance division, they needed at least three supremely talented, larger-than-life stars.

And what L’Homme Rouge envisioned was a clash of titans—a three-way rivalry. In today’s Europe, with races divided by distance and an abundance of G1 events, elite horse girls rarely faced off against one another. How could such a lackluster Twinkle Series possibly draw excitement? What they needed was an explosive, impossibly clear-cut catalyst—a three-way showdown.

The concept of a "three-way rivalry" was particularly celebrated in Japan, and G1 races that delivered such matchups were often remembered as legendary. Since these clashes almost always led to explosive ticket sales and revenue, L’Homme Rouge and Double Trigger had taken notice.

Just think about it. Toushou Boy, Tempo Point, Green Grass—Oguri Cap, Super Creek, Inari One—Biwa Hayahide, Narita Taishin, Winning Ticket—Mayano Top Gun, Marvelous Sunday, Sakura Laurel—what fan wouldn’t want to see these legends collide in a battle of sparks and fire?

The answer was none. Any fan would say they absolutely wanted to see it. And in Oguri Cap’s case, her influence even reached non-racing audiences, single-handedly reshaping the foundation of Japan’s Twinkle Series.

…In an ideal world, L’Homme Rouge believed, the current long-distance scene could follow the same trajectory as Japan’s post-Oguri Cap era.

The pieces were already in place.

Kayf tara, Apollo Rainbow, Angelie. These miraculously assembled talents were the horse girls L’Homme Rouge and her peers intended to mold into the three pillars of the long-distance future.

——Kayf tara, the stalwart guardian of Europe’s long-distance prestige. Her explosive late charges and aloof, unshakable demeanor had begun winning over fans. After this Dubai Gold Cup, her popularity was sure to skyrocket. Though her personality left much to be desired, even that couldn’t overshadow her deep-rooted appeal among longtime fans.

No matter how many rivals emerged, she would never alter her racing schedule. In that sense, she was a reliable contender.

——Angelie, a rising star born in Europe but carving her path through Australia’s backstreets with an unbroken winning streak. A front-runner who effortlessly controlled the pace before blazing down the homestretch to victory—a textbook-perfect racing style. Her flippant wit and elusive personality made her stand out, and her unbeaten streak only amplified her growing fame.

She had publicly declared her goal of total domination in the Stayers Million, making it equally unlikely she would deviate from her planned races.

——And then… the roan runaway from overseas, Apollo Rainbow. Her name already echoed across Europe’s long-distance scene, and in terms of sheer anticipation, she easily surpassed even Kaikhtara and Angelie—precisely because she was unpredictable.

Could she ignite a runaway storm unlike anything Europe had ever seen? Could she prove herself as the ultimate Stayer by conquering the Stayers Million? All eyes were on her next move.

Three individuals with completely different personalities and running styles—one front-runner who bolts ahead, one who thrives in the lead, and one who specializes in late charges. They couldn’t be more diverse. It’s rare—no, perhaps unprecedented—for such distinct talents to gather on Europe’s long-distance racing scene.

That’s precisely why the backstage crew, including Ramos, cannot afford to fail. Unless they lay the groundwork for these girls to run at their best, the golden age of racing will never return.

"...The cast is assembled. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say history will change based on how we handle this."

Among them is the veteran Chief’s Glider, last year’s winner of the Cadran. And if that weren’t enough, there’s also the runaway speed demon, Seattle Charming. Without a doubt, the lineup is stellar—this year’s roster is nothing short of miraculous.

...Not that the plan is flawless, but with effort, everything should fall into place. Be it media coordination or advertising, the real concern lies elsewhere—the fear that one of them might suffer a long-term injury or that something could happen to the targeted horse girls. Especially... Apollo Rainbow.

"If there’s one problem, it’s Apollo Rainbow. To conquer the Stayers Million, she’ll likely run in the Yorkshire Cup at the end of May—but that’s where things might go wrong. Even if our efforts succeed and some of the audience returns, the real crowds won’t start gathering until the G1 Gold Cup at the end of June."

"...Yeah, you’re right. That’s the only thing that worries me."

The excitement for European G2 races and below pales in comparison to Japan’s. The prize money is low, the fields are small... and with prestigious races happening almost daily across Europe’s vast landscape, they’re hardly seen as must-watch events.

If anything, Japan is the anomaly—where even G2 races can rival the energy of a G1, as long as the right competitors show up. But that’s exactly the problem: Apollo Rainbow, accustomed to Japan’s electric atmosphere, might break before our efforts even bear fruit.

One of the G2 races Apollo Rainbow experienced in Japan was the Stayers Stakes. Unlike the Dubai Gold Cup, it wasn’t overshadowed by a same-day G1. Yet when Double Trigger, the British long-distance Triple Crown winner, came to race at Nakayama, the venue buzzed with an almost surreal excitement.

What Double Trigger fears is that Apollo Rainbow will arrive expecting at least that same level of energy.

If she intends to challenge the Stayers Million, she must first experience Europe’s prestigious races. And the stage Ramos and the others have set for the clash of the three titans is none other than—the first leg of the British long-distance Triple Crown, the G1 Gold Cup.

"If the worst happens at the Yorkshire Cup... do you think Apollo’s spirit will hold?"

Double Trigger’s concern was valid. Suppose heavy rain poured down—the crowd would thin, and Apollo Rainbow, hailing from Japan, would likely struggle in the race. If she suffered a crushing defeat and grew disillusioned with European racing...

"...If she breaks there, then that’s as far as she—and we—will go."

"In that case—"

"—We won’t let it come to that. Right?"

Lumos dismissed the fear. Even if it happens, they’d support her with everything they had. There was no way they’d let their earnest, adorable juniors taste despair.

Double Trigger nodded at Lumos’ words. She, too, steeled her resolve—to sever the chain of misfortune.

"Yes... You’re right. For Apolo, Kayf tara, Angely... for their sake, we must succeed in reclaiming glory."

"Damn right. Whether it’s racing or anything else, success is something you seize for yourself."

And so, the Dubai Meeting drew to a triumphant close.

Apollo Rainbow’s challenge had only just begun.