So, what kind of rhythm had this race settled into?
The pre-race introduction didn't actually take too long. After Verxina and Donna made their appearances, and Almond Eye received the loudest cheers from the crowd, the official start entered its countdown.
However, at this exact moment, Donna showed the first trait that belonged exclusively to Eternal Beat.
Everyone knew that before the race began, preparations had to be made at the starting gates. This gate countdown was precisely what distinguished an Uma Musume's race from an ordinary human footrace.
Yet, that narrow, shadowy corner—shielded from the sun—would inevitably cause genuine fear for many Uma Musume. In that case, what exactly was the trait that exclusively belonged to Eternal Beat?
Of course, it was entering the gate as if she weren't an Uma Musume at all.
Unlike Verxina, who had slightly hesitated due to fear, Donna entered the gate without even the slightest pause and began preparing herself immediately.
Donna was even the very last to approach the gates, yet the first to fully enter them…!
All those opponents before her, despite having already completed their introductions, were still dragging their feet about entering!
Donna's performance—entering the gates first despite being the second-to-last Uma Musume introduced—was something that surprised everyone around the world who was following this race.
Clearly, the whole world knew that the previous Uma Musume who had entered the gates without a shred of hesitation or fear was Gotham Song herself!
Could Donna really do it? Could she replicate her Trainer's miracle in this race, delivering a shocking debut in her classic year to the entire world…?
A short while after Donna had finished entering, Verxina finally took a deep breath, as if she'd finally gathered enough courage, and began stepping into her own gate.
But while Verxina was still doing her final mental preparations, Almond Eye—the very last to be introduced—had already completed her own mental adjustments and entered the gates ahead of her.
Realizing she was the last among the top three favorites to enter, Verxina had no choice but to quickly force herself to get ready.
So, what racing strategy would Verxina choose this time?
She was assigned to Gate No. 6—sixth out of sixteen Uma Musume—a not particularly good but not particularly bad spot. Normally speaking, this position gave her plenty of choices.
For instance, if she couldn't secure a good enough position at the start, she could comfortably settle into the leading pack, ready to seize any opportunity with a powerful finishing kick.
Verxina was confident. Her speed was definitely far superior to anything Donna had previously shown. Even if Donna had hidden strength, as long as her improvement wasn't astonishingly huge, Verxina still held absolute confidence that she could decisively defeat her.
It's not as though Donna could've undergone some absurd, speed-focused breakthrough since their debut-year races ended, right? Such a thing was practically impossible…
This world wasn't some kind of game; it was the ultimate domain ruled entirely by talent. For a stamina-monster Uma Musume like Donna, speed was practically an impossible attribute to improve significantly.
That's why, Donna, if this race were just a bit longer, even a little longer…I probably wouldn't be able to confidently say I could beat you so easily. Unfortunately for you, this is only a 1,600-meter race. The opponent I truly have to face and surpass in this Oka Sho…
…Is Almond Eye-san, isn't it?
Verxina glanced to her other side, toward the gates with higher numbers. Who exactly was her greatest opponent in this race?
Undoubtedly, it had to be Almond Eye-san. Then, what kind of adaptability and running style had Almond Eye-san shown previously?
Or rather, how did Almond Eye-san typically control her race rhythm?
In previous debut-year races, Almond Eye had always presented herself as a closer-type Uma Musume, running from behind. Typically, Uma Musume rarely mastered multiple running styles completely; at most, they excelled at one or two similar styles. For instance, Verxina herself was equally comfortable as a front-runner or a stalker.
Anyway, since no further intelligence was available, she could only assume Almond Eye-san would stick with her closer style. Even if Almond Eye had hidden something, at most she'd switch to a mid-pack runner—right?
Verxina mentally counted Almond Eye's gate position, imagining the scenarios that might unfold once the race started.
Almond Eye-san was assigned Gate No. 14, which was extremely far toward the outside—an awful position for front-runners or stalkers. In other words, even if Almond Eye-san had concealed her adaptability, such a significant disadvantage would still be hard to overcome, wouldn't it?
The Oka Sho had sixteen contestants, and Almond Eye's position was No. 14—a nearly disastrous situation for front-runners and stalkers. However, if Almond Eye really was going to run as a closer…
Then this position actually became a huge advantage instead.
There shouldn't be any more surprises. Almond Eye-san would definitely choose the closer style, staying within the rear group and relying on her terrifying finishing kick to chase victory at the final stage.
If that's the case, then my own running style should be obvious, right?
From this excellent position at Gate No. 6, from the very moment the race began…
I'll run as a front-runner, leaving the whole world behind, leaving Donna so far behind that her pathetic speed will never be able to catch up—opening an insurmountable gap so huge that even Almond Eye's finishing sprint won't stand a chance…
This was Verxina's equation for victory!
The strongest in this classic year will be me. Whether it's legends or Hall of Famers—Verxina will never lose to anyone…
As the starting gates began to flash with red lights, Verxina slowly closed her eyes, entering a meditative state to steady herself.
"The weather is perfect here at Hanshin Racecourse. Another year's Oka Sho is about to begin! And this time, it truly deserves to be called an event watched by the whole world. Rising from humble beginnings, the genius filly Verxina; Almond Eye, who works tirelessly to restore the Japan Cup to glory; and…"
"…Donna, the disciple of the Demon Lord herself, from the renowned team Eternal Beat! Honestly, these three Uma Musume are already incredibly powerful. Even in any other classic-year races, they'd achieve splendid results, wouldn't they?"
The second gate signal sounded. Red lights flashed continuously as if in warning. The trumpet signaling the race's start was about to blow—but would this year's Oka Sho deliver an unexpected outcome?
"However, from a positional standpoint before the start, Donna-san definitely holds the greatest advantage! Although Verxina-san is in Gate No. 6, Donna-san's position is simply too ideal!"
"Especially considering Donna-san's running style—Gate No. 3 is practically the golden spot, giving her a huge advantage."
"Of course, no matter how massive that advantage is, if there's a fundamental gap in strength, it won't matter at all. Donna-san, can you fully leverage your advantage to secure victory in such circumstances?!"
It's just Gate No. 3. Donna may be strong, but her speed is too lacking. In this race, she won't be my opponent. Absolutely not.
Verxina slowly opened her eyes. She clearly saw the red gate lights flashing. Then, in the very next instant…
The gate lights suddenly went dark. Two short seconds—or perhaps two seconds stretching endlessly like a century—later, the lights flashed back on.
But this time, what Verxina saw was unmistakably the green signal that meant the race had begun!
In practically the same instant as the harsh mechanical grinding of the opening gates, Verxina's body had accelerated before she even consciously reacted.
Her deep-blue figure shot out from the gates, ready to begin her dazzling performance in the Oka Sho… Wait, something—something's definitely not right!
According to the original script, it should've been Verxina erupting into speed at the very start, soaring forward to dominate the race just like Gotham Song-san—leading from beginning to end, killing any suspense before it ever began.
But… But at the very moment the race began, an accident had already suddenly appeared!
At the start, there was already an Uma Musume—a single Uma Musume—who had surged to the front, bolting ahead amid thunderous cheers from the audience.
Then, was this figure Verxina, who had committed herself to a front-runner style?
No.
Then was it Almond Eye, perhaps hiding her true running style and miraculously breaking ahead from Gate No. 14…?
No. The Uma Musume who secured the earliest lead was…Donna! Donna, whose speed was considered mediocre, even a glaring weakness, had rushed forward from Gate No. 3!
"Donna, there's something you must keep in mind," Gotham Song had clearly told her before the race—those words echoed clearly in Donna's ears even now, guiding her choice from the very start.
"Even now, your speed is still your greatest disadvantage. If Verxina gets a decent gate, she'll absolutely pick a front-runner style."
"At that moment, if you have a bad gate position, your only option will be to accelerate from the start and compete head-on, using your ridiculous stamina to grind Verxina down."
"But…if your position is good enough…then why not do it that way?"
Donna knew that Gotham Song's voice had turned a little cruel at that moment. She knew clearly that Verxina was Gotham Song-san's fan. Gotham Song-san herself remembered it clearly—
But for her Trainer to still instruct Donna so ruthlessly against her own fan…her Trainer was indeed as stern and cold as tempered steel.
Then, what exactly did "that way" mean?
"Donna—Donna has surged to the front! Unbelievable, simply unbelievable! The one leading at the start isn't Verxina, but Donna?!"
The commentator's voice brimmed with disbelief, though immediately after she said that, Donna's position was swiftly overtaken by other Uma Musume beside her. However, this wasn't really something to worry about.
Because everyone clearly saw that Verxina's strategy had been completely shattered.
Typically speaking, if Verxina truly intended a stalking strategy, she wouldn't panic in the slightest despite another Uma Musume blocking her at the start. Yet after Donna's interference, Verxina repeatedly—desperately—attempted several breakaways in just the initial hundred meters, frantically trying to bypass Donna's sturdy figure and take off ahead.
Verxina was visibly impatient. Clearly, she'd never truly intended to stalk; she'd planned to front-run from the very start!
Yet her plan to dash out front had been entirely predicted and thoroughly destroyed by Donna at the very outset!
"Amazing, incredible—such powerful anticipation and targeted defense! If Verxina-san can't demonstrate sufficient breakout power, it looks like her dream of front-running in this race won't be realized after all! Can she break through Donna's blockade?!"
Break through my blockade? Oh…there are surely many who could accomplish that in this world, but among those who'd make me feel completely unable to block them, there's only one…
Donna's heart filled with slight disdain. But the more disdainful she felt, the more serious and focused she became in the race.
Verxina, hmm? Interesting. Let me see your breakthrough, and let me show you the rich experience I gained from countless failed attempts at blocking Trainer-san!
...
Verxina was anxious. Extremely, extremely anxious—not because she'd have no chance if she didn't break Donna's defense now, but because Almond Eye lurked behind, eagerly watching. Without sufficient advantage, she'd easily fall into a passive position at the race's climax.
I can't allow that. No matter what price I pay, I must break through right here…!
Verxina clenched her teeth, launching furious attacks like a violent storm, trying to slip past Donna's side and soar ahead.
Throughout the entire opening straight, the two fiercely contested their positions, the struggle so intense they nearly collided several times.
Yet even so, Donna's defense—which had teetered on the edge of breaking multiple times—remained stable, impenetrable to the point where Verxina saw no possibility of passing at all!
"Verxina-san is still trying! She still hasn't given up on breaking through to set the pace! But Donna-san's defense is simply too terrifying. Could anyone really escape such an iron-clad blockade?"
"The first straightaway is nearly over! Hanshin's Oka Sho opening straight is about to end, and this might be Verxina-san's last chance to lead at the outset! Can Verxina-san break through under these conditions, seize the front around the bend, and decisively kill all suspense in the race?!"
"Can you do it, Verxina-san?!"
Verxina gritted her teeth. What the commentator said perfectly matched her own thoughts, and she understood clearly—
If she wanted to win…
She absolutely had to shatter Donna's iron wall on this first bend!
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