The Champions Cup—Japan's other "Japan Cup"—was fast approaching.
Historically, while the Champions Cup was designated as an international Grade 1 race, foreign interest had been practically nonexistent. Despite the prestige, Japan's dirt tracks were long considered inferior to its world-class turf. But in the last few years, that narrative had flipped overnight. "Dirt fever" had gripped the nation, and international challengers were now clamoring for a spot on the gate.
The reason was simple, driven by a single, burning desire from the world's elite:
"I want to run in the homeland of Mejiro Rampage, and his greatest rivals, Lady Saber and Amazing Dyna!"
The environment surrounding Japanese dirt racing had undergone a total metamorphosis. The "dual-surface monster" known as Mejiro Rampage had single-handedly annihilated the insulting prejudice that dirt was a "second-class" league for horses who couldn't cut it on the grass. Inspired by his legend, a new generation had risen, each dreaming of becoming the "Second Mejiro Rampage."
The URA couldn't be happier. Revenue from dirt fixtures, which had always lagged behind turf, had more than doubled. While a slight gap in prestige still remained, everyone knew it was only a matter of years before they stood on equal footing. Rampage was a man of many controversial opinions, but on this point, the racing world was unanimous: they owed him everything.
"Yo. Looks like you're ready."
"Completely," Lady Saber replied, not looking up from her preparations.
Standing in the paddock waiting room, Saber looked every bit the elite athlete. As one of the icons of Japanese dirt racing, the opportunity to run this race again was, to her, the highest honor.
"For me, this race is more than a title," she continued. "It's a reckoning. I intend to settle the debt I owe from Dubai right here."
"If you're talking about settling scores," I countered, leaning against the doorframe, "didn't you technically finish ahead of me in the BC Classic?"
Saber finally looked at me, her gaze sharp. "Don't be absurd. In the framework of a race, there is only one victor. Since it wasn't me, I cannot claim to be a winner."
"Spoken like a woman who took a dead-heat second in the world's toughest race..." I muttered.
That BC Classic had become the stuff of legend. America had suffered a total defeat on its own soil. The US fans had been screaming for a rematch this year, but with me retired and both Lady and Dyna staying in Japan to focus on domestic titles, the American press was apparently throwing a fit of "Why won't they come back?!"
"Well, we're going back next year," Saber said coolly.
"You are?"
"Last year's 'warrior pilgrimage' took a heavier toll on my body than I cared to admit. This year was for recuperation."
"'Recuperation,' she says," I scoffed. "While you and Dyna were tearing each other's throats out in the February Stakes."
"That," she said with a faint smirk, "is a separate matter entirely."
It was no exaggeration to say these two sat alone at the top of the mountain. Dyna had taken the February Stakes; Saber had fired back to win the Kashiwa Kinen. They were the undisputed queens of the sand. But this year's Champions Cup field was... something else.
"Man, looking at this lineup... it's terrifying. It's like the BC Classic decided to move to Japan."
Stahl Armekore was a given, but the rest were just as formidable. Lis Fleuve from France, Arm Drinks from New Zealand, and Irene and A.P. Indy from the United States. It was a cocktail of the Dubai World Cup and the Breeders' Cup, served on Japanese soil. Honestly, this field was far more stacked than the one I had faced when I won it.
"A lineup worthy of being crushed," Saber said. "Watch me win."
"You've certainly got the confidence for it."
Between the Arc winners showing up for the Japan Cup and this "Dirt World War" at the Champions Cup, the crowds were insane. I'd driven my Impreza to the Chukyo Racecourse today, and even with my credentials, getting through the traffic had been a nightmare.
"Lady-san, you look incredible! Wait—whoa! Rampage-san?!"
"What's with the 'whoa'?" I barked at the newcomer. "I came all this way to provide the expert commentary for your race, show some respect, you brat."
It was the other half of the Big Two: Amazing Dyna. Like Saber, she was now the face of the sport. She looked shocked for a second, then broke into a wide grin and grabbed my hand.
"Well! I guess I can't afford to look pathetic out there today!"
"Right. If you run a half-assed race, I'm going to tear you apart on the live broadcast. Consider yourself warned."
"Eek! Scary, scary!" Dyna laughed, though her eyes remained focused.
"There are scarier things out there today than my commentary," I reminded them.
Dyna nodded. They'd raced most of these international girls before, but they were all seasoned veterans. Arm Drinks, in particular, was a concern. She'd pushed herself to the absolute limit in the BC Classic and had apparently only grown stronger since. People were saying her physical ceiling simply didn't exist. Plus, ever since she got obsessed with being a "FromSoft-certified AC Pilot" (a quirky mental training regime she'd picked up), her mental fortitude had reached a whole new level. Some fans were already calling her the true "Second Rampage."
"Drinks is the biggest threat," I said, shifting into trainer mode. "She found another gear after the BC Classic. Al... well, I've seen some of her recent work. She's finally stopped relying solely on her 'trump cards' and fixed her fundamentals. But don't sleep on the others, either."
"We know," Saber said. "We've known that from the start."
"Exactly!" Dyna added, punching her palm. "All we can do is hit them with everything we've got. Or at least, that's the only way I know how to run!"
Seeing Dyna like that made Saber nod in agreement. It was a relief, honestly. No matter how much the world changed, my rivals stayed exactly who they were.
"Good. Then I'll do my best to provide commentary worthy of you two. I might even steal the play-by-play guy's job while I'm at it."
"Is it just me, or does that sound like a disaster waiting to happen?" Dyna giggled.
"It's useless to ask this man for restraint," Saber sighed. "If he held back, he wouldn't be the Mejiro Rampage we've been chasing all this time, would he?"
"And what's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
""Exactly what it sounds like!"" they replied in perfect unison.
"Since when did you two get so in sync?!"
We ended up chatting and laughing right up until my phone buzzed with a reminder from the production crew. I realized I was supposed to be in the booth five minutes ago and scrambled for the exit.
I practically burst into the commentary box, breathless. "Ah, sorry! I went to give the girls a pep talk and lost track of the time."
The lead announcer looked at me with a mix of awe and exasperation. "Well, considering almost every runner in this field has a history with you, Rampage-san... I suppose it's understandable."
"Alright! Change of plans," I said, grabbing the mic. "I'm taking over. Let's do this!"
"You can't just take over the broadcast?!"
Character Profile: Mejiro Treasure (Filly)
The 14th foal of Mejiro Rampage. Sired by the "Strongest Miler," Taiki Shuttle.
The daughter of two legends who both conquered the world stage. Inheriting the stunning flaxen chestnut coat of her sire and dam, her fur shone like spun gold, leading to her name: Treasure. Her owners hoped she would find her own "treasure" on the track.
Given her pedigree—the union of the world's fastest and the strongest miler—expectations were sky-high, yet she exceeded them at every turn. After an undefeated streak leading into the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (which she won by a nose after a grueling 30-minute inquiry), she demolished the field in the NHK Mile Cup. She then traveled to France to win the Prix Jacques Le Marois, mirroring her father's legendary feat. A "Golden Idol Horse" who was equally dominant on dirt, even competing in the BC Mile.
Partnered with jockey Kenichi Ikezoe. He praised her endlessly, calling her the most well-behaved, intelligent, and adorable horse he'd ever ridden. He famously left fans laughing with his "Ikezoe-isms" during interviews: "If I had to pick a girlfriend, it'd be a toss-up between Treasure and Curren Chan... Man, it's a tough choice..."
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