The Hopeful Stakes had arrived. Held at the end of the year to bring a proper close to the racing calendar, it was a G1 race meant for the next generation to spread their wings and shine bright for the upcoming new year. Perhaps because it was the final G1 of the year, it drew immense attention. Coupled with Narita Brian explicitly calling out Maya's name, crowds flooded Nakayama Racecourse just to get a glimpse of her run.
"Snow has begun to lightly fall over Nakayama Racecourse! Amidst the dancing cold wind, the race carries the hopes for the new year. Who will emit the brilliance of the next generation? Today, a star of hope will be born to captivate and steal all hearts! The Hopeful Stakes is about to begin!
"The overwhelming favorite for today's race: Bracket 8, Horse #12, Mayano Top Gun! She is the Horse Girl whom Narita Brian—fresh off becoming an undefeated Quadruple Crown winner at the Arima Kinen—declared as her next opponent at the next Arima, not to mention a member of the renowned Mejiro Rampage's Pleiades. Given all that, this level of spotlight comes as no surprise!"
"Good grief... they sure know how to build up the hype for nothing..."
Sakahara stared down at the turf with somewhat cold eyes. As Maya's trainer, he believed he had prepared flawlessly for today... yet he couldn't brush off the underlying anxiety. This was Maya's first G1 challenge. For him, it was a hurdle he had faced countless times without ever claiming a G1 victory. And yet—
"Got 'em~"
"Ah, you're back! Did they have my G1-yaki? Were there any left?"
"Yep. There were twelve left, so I just bought out the rest."
Rampage returned from the concessions. People might wonder what a tyrant of world renown was doing running errands, but it was her own idea to play rock-paper-scissors to decide who would buy snacks, and she lost. Not to mention, she was by far the wealthiest among them anyway.
"Here. You look awfully serious."
"Thanks... Well, can you blame me?"
Taking his coffee, Sakahara answered. He had resolved to stay composed, yet hesitation still flickered through his mind. Almost as if mocking his anxiety, Horse Girls began filing out from the nearby paddock one after another.
And then—Maya finally appeared.
Wearing a yellow tube top underneath a moss-green flight jacket, paired with white hot pants and over-the-knee socks, Maya stepped out. Looking at the outfit that perfectly suited her "Top Gun" namesake, Rampage let out a slight chuckle. Because this race served as the first G1 for many Horse Girls, it was practically called a racing-silk fashion show.
"Look, Maya's here."
"Ah, Trainer-chan!!"
Spotting them, Maya trotted over with delight. Her busily twitching ears and tail only heightened her charm. Seeing her childish demeanor combined with her attempt to act grown-up brought a gentle smile to his face.
"Hey, hey, how is it, Trainer-chan?! Does it look good on me?!"
"Very much so. It suits you so well that no one would guess you're a rookie aiming to become an ace."
"Yay~! Trainer-chan praised me!!"
That compliment alone was enough to fill Maya with joy and surging motivation. Rampage stepped up to engage in their usual banter, but Sakahara gently cut in. He looked directly at Maya.
"Maya, to be completely honest with you... I was filled with anxiety. I kept wondering if you were really ready to take flight on a G1 stage like this... I'm sorry. It was a pointless worry, and it meant I wasn't placing enough faith in you. But seeing you right now, I realize how wrong I was. Will you take me with you... all the way to becoming a G1 Trainer?"
"Yep! Leave it to me! Maya will definitely take Trainer-chan all the way to G1 Trainer status!!"
"That's wonderful to hear. If you bring me there, I'll gift you a medal that fits your outfit perfectly."
"Really?! You're not lying, right, Trainer-chan?!"
"I'm not lying."
"YAAAAAY~!!"
Watching her celebrate as though she had already won, the surrounding spectators couldn't help but feel their hearts warm. Seeing a sweet, playful Horse Girl lean wholeheartedly into a trainer who felt like both an older brother and a father was truly a wholesome sight.
Sakahara then spoke firmly.
"Maya, I have only one rule for your run."
"Only one rule—run it all the way through! Mayano Top Gun, launching now!!"
Maya dashed toward the track. For such a petite girl, her back looked remarkably reliable and grand as she ran off.
"Go on. Don't worry about me—just go out there and enjoy yourself, Maya."
"Did they... totally forget about us?"
"Ah, who cares? Let the rookies be rookies and step up while we honor our roles as seniors."
Having read the room and erased their presence, the two seniors stood by, sipping coffee and enjoying their G1-yaki.
"The Hopeful Stakes has taken an astonishing turn! Taking the lead is Mayano Top Gun, but this pace is unbelievably powerful!"
Maya continued to tear through the front. Her style was an ambiguous blend that looked like both Front-Runner and Pace-Setter. She had maintained this high speed continuously right from the start. Other Horse Girls who tried to set the pace attempted to accelerate and pull away, but Maya showed no sign of speeding up or slowing down. She maintained a dead-steady, high-tempo pace that sent a chill down her rivals' spines.
I can't believe she opted for a run like this...!
Tayasu Tsuyoshi couldn't help but curse under her breath. Precisely because she was most wary of Mayano Top Gun, she had intentionally taken a position at the back to adapt to whatever style Maya used. But it was precisely because she was at the back that she could see the true nature of Maya's run.
"She's running at a completely fixed pace throughout. That's the kind of style Biwa Hayahide excels at... Or rather, Maya's execution is closer to Mejiro McQueen's."
"I never thought a Junior girl who hasn't even reached the Classic season could pull this off..."
"Seriously, geniuses are terrifying..."
Maya's strategy was to conserve energy by running at a uniform pace—except she set that baseline pace so high that it systematically wore down the stamina of everyone around her. It was a classic stayer's tactic, favored by the likes of Rice, Hayahide, and McQueen. Despite her petite frame, Maya possessed stamina that defied imagination.
"Guess it's about time to make my move~!"
Maya could read the air currents around her, sensing what tactic her opponents would try next. Perhaps her experience of being taken into the skies by her pilot father gave her an innate grasp of it. While the other Horse Girls panicked as their stamina was ground to dust, Maya—who had sustained the high pace all along—still had last-burst power left in reserve. Even if they tried to panic and catch up now, it was impossible.
As she rounded the final corner, Maya engaged her final afterburner.
"And Mayano Top Gun accelerates even further! Is this already a safety lead?! Seven lengths... eight lengths! Is this victory sealed?!
"Wait—Tayasu Tsuyoshi! Tayasu Tsuyoshi is making a ferocious late charge! What incredible late-stage speed, closing in rapidly! She is desperately pursuing Mayano Top Gun as she surges up the slope! Desperately chasing the ace who seems to be leaping off a ski-jump runway! Tayasu Tsuyoshi! Tayasu Tsuyoshi is three lengths back! Can she reach?! CAN SHE GET THERE?!
"No, it's simply impossible! Mayano Top Gun crosses the finish line in FIRST PLACE! Second place goes to Tayasu Tsuyoshi, and third to Narita Queen! She has taken her first grand step onto the road to the Classics!
"And the winning time is—2:00.4! Breaking the record previously set by Rice Shower, she charges headfirst into the Classic division!!!"
"I did it~! Trainer-chan, I did it~!!!"
With victory secured in her hands, Maya waved to Sakahara with a radiant, heartfelt smile. Standing in the distance, her beloved trainer beamed back at her with a true, genuine smile. Maya knew right then: that smile wasn't just because he had finally become a G1 Trainer, but because she was the one who won it for him.
"So, what kind of medal are you going to make for Maya?"
"I'm thinking of making something modeled after an Air Force medal. What was it called... the Distinguished Flying Cross?"
"Wait, isn't that like the second-highest military honor? Is that really okay? There are Bronze Stars and Silver Stars too—why not just make it an official 'G1 Medal'?"
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"