'I've actually been worn down by drink and desire, performing so poorly in the race...'
The world's undisputed strongest Uma Musume had suffered a shocking upset in a race everyone thought was a foregone conclusion!
The second-generation Big Red Monster, the contemporary Uma Musume closest to the GOAT Man o' War, was actually proven to be defeated head-on? And on her most familiar track, Belmont Park, over her proudest distance of 2400 meters, on the so-called 'the strong get stronger' heavy track?!
Blushing with shame after this rare defeat, the young Big Red Monster made a vehement, unwilling vow in her heart.
—Starting today, no more alcohol!!!
As for giving up the other thing…
Absolutely not!!
Secretariat, who had only just begun to appreciate its delights, couldn't bear to part with it.
She had to win races, and she had to win the Lin Anran Cup too. That was the only way to be truly balanced.
It would be the height of foolishness to sacrifice the advantage she'd just regained, all for the sake of a race.
But this agonizing defeat today had shaken Secretariat to her core! She was deeply ashamed!
So, compromises had to be made. At the very least… she couldn't afford to replicate today's failure.
'There's no way I'm giving up the slight lead I've built in the [Lin Anran Cup] just because of a single loss.'
'But the number and caliber of monsters on the dirt circuit are beyond what I imagined. Besides Nearl, Flightline, and Ruffian, there's actually a hidden genius like [Prove Out] lurking out there.'
Secretariat quietly reached her decision.
'So, from now on… moderation!!!'
At the very least, after nights of jumping around until exhaustion, she could no longer afford to be so careless and arrogant in races.
She needed to take a few days to recover and adjust her condition before competing again.
As for now…
She would have to endure the immense shame of being the runner-up, playing the role of Prove Out's supporting dancer on the winner's podium, a defeated Uma Musume for the first time in a long while.
"It seems she can even defeat a third, or even a fourth, Hall of Fame Uma Musume."
"What an interesting monster, growing stronger against tougher opponents. She's definitely worth a fight."
Without a doubt, Prove Out was a super Uma Musume beyond ordinary imagination, performing far beyond the typical world-class level.
Secretariat had a vague sense that Prove Out's Zone was highly specialized, its effectiveness escalating based on the strength of her opponent.
In other words, the stronger the opponent, the stronger Prove Out's domain became—a rare, special, true case of rising to the challenge.
But… there had to be a limit! A ceiling that could be seen.
The only times Secretariat had felt she couldn't quite perceive the upper limit were when watching past races of the senior Man o' War, and when facing Nearl, who broke her triple crown record in the Belmont Stakes—she'd felt it with the two monstrous senior and junior.
As for Prove Out's domain, while naturally extremely powerful, allowing her to approach that level… it was only an approach!
Even though Secretariat knew deep down that this wasn't her peak full strength, and that the outcome would have been different otherwise… she wouldn't deny this defeat or negate Prove Out's ability.
She lost this time? So what? Next time, she'd recover her form, get serious, and win it back!
But two consecutive days, producing two pieces of embarrassing history…
First, as an Uma Musume, after actively launching a night assault, she ended up in a situation where both she and Dr. Lin Anran, a mere human… [mutually assured destruction]!!
If this got out, other Uma Musume would probably consider it the joke of the century.
And then, because of that night assault on Dr. Lin, being completely drained, too exhausted, leading to a disastrous defeat in the next day's race…
Taken together, these two days couldn't even be described as a "joke" anymore; it was probably something that would be etched onto the pillar of shame in the dirt-track Uma Musume world!!
A small mercy in this misfortune!
The red-haired beauty gritted her silver teeth slightly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, and couldn't help but feel a wave of relief.
'Guh... thank goodness.'
'Thank goodness no one knows I lost because I was exhausted from getting counter-attacked during the night assault.'
--+--
Meanwhile.
In an office within the official racing headquarters building in the United States.
Seabiscuit, a high-ranking member of the racing association, was busy with official business.
With Seabiscuit's immense popularity, influence, and status, numerous American GI races hoped she would attend.
But the US had races in many states, with dozens upon dozens of GIs. And Seabiscuit had plenty of her own work; how could she possibly watch them all?
Even for the Uma Musume she was most interested in, she couldn't possibly watch every race, only selecting the most important ones to view.
Therefore, races that Seabiscuit deemed lacking significance or having a foregone conclusion, she wouldn't spend energy on, opting to watch the recordings later if she had time.
And today's GII race… was exactly such a case.
Suddenly, the door opened from the outside.
"Ms. Seabiscuit, Secretariat's race…"
The voice of Seabiscuit's secretary came through before she even entered, the female tone trembling slightly.
Seabiscuit, still focused on her work, didn't pay much attention at first and didn't turn around, replying casually.
"Secretariat? Her race today was… the [Woodward Stakes], right?"
"Just another victory, I assume? Did something interesting happen?"
Even Seabiscuit thought an upset was impossible.
After all, the very few who could potentially beat Secretariat—like Nearl—had just finished the Belmont Stakes and were still resting.
And Ruffian, her public challenge hadn't even been issued yet.
Beyond that, there shouldn't be any upset potential, right? Could some super Uma Musume have emerged, capable of getting close to Secretariat in the race?
Seabiscuit wasn't being blindly confident; she knew that, logically, Secretariat shouldn't have any possibility of losing. All the factors were in her favor.
Because this [Woodward Stakes]…
Was essentially a replica of Secretariat's legendary past race, the Belmont Stakes!
First, the exact same 2400 meters.
Second, the same venue, Belmont Park.
With both the distance and the track identical, countless people considered it a sure win, even expecting a potential replication of the super-sized winning margin from her god-making race.
A flicker of interest sparked in Seabiscuit. Her gaze shifted slightly from the paperwork in front of her.
When she turned around, her pupils constricted sharply.
Because Seabiscuit saw her secretary, her face pale, expression full of astonishment.
"Secretariat… lost."
The extremely brief reply left Seabiscuit completely stunned. It took her several seconds to process it.
"Huh??"
How was that possible?
That was the monster considered by Man o' War herself to be the closest, the most likely to surpass her!
The true successor to the Big Red Monster legacy!
Even excellent Uma Musume like Ruffian, Flightline, and Nearl were only seen by the outside world as having the potential to match or surpass her.
But the current Secretariat was genuinely on the verge of surpassing Man o' War—a fact right before their eyes, not just a possibility!
With none of those other monsters competing, how could Secretariat possibly lose?
After recovering, Seabiscuit didn't voice any conjectures. Instead, she immediately turned back and swiftly opened the race website on her computer.
Then, Seabiscuit opened the recording of this [Woodward Stakes] race.
--+--
A few minutes later.
Seabiscuit, with an intensely serious expression, watched the final showdown on the home stretch between [Prove Out and Secretariat], taking in every detail.
"I see…"
After Seabiscuit finished watching the entire race, her eyes were filled with a strange light.
Her secretary, standing beside her, pressed on eagerly and curiously.
"Ms. Seabiscuit, this race… why did it end like this?"
"The internet is in an uproar. This upset in the Woodward Stakes is just too exaggerated."
Hearing this, Seabiscuit's expression turned solemn as she gave her assessment.
"First, without a doubt, the winner, Prove Out, has given us a huge surprise."
"I never expected her to truly grow stronger against tougher opponents, displaying a historical, top-tier level of strength against the legendary Secretariat, capable of fighting a legend."
"But… only capable of fighting one. If Secretariat had been at her usual full power from previous races, she shouldn't have lost."
Without a doubt, Prove Out's performance was exceptional.
But if it were Secretariat at her norm, she should have won! Even at Prove Out's best, the limit should have been forcing Secretariat to win by a narrow margin or a close call.
That was the result Seabiscuit judged should have happened, even acknowledging Prove Out's strength.
"Secretariat possesses the ability for a [Three-Stage Acceleration]."
"But since winning the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes, when she should be getting stronger, how could her signature acceleration… suddenly become problematic?"
This was what puzzled and concerned Seabiscuit at the moment.
A Three-Stage Acceleration downgrading to a Two-Stage Acceleration was a fatal flaw.
To put it in perspective, those historical, once-in-a-decade legendary Uma Musume almost all could achieve a Two-Stage Acceleration.
But that Three-Stage Acceleration was a true chasm, blocking the vast majority of Uma Musume.
In all this time, Seabiscuit had only seen it in a handful—Man o' War, Secretariat, Nearl, Platinum—you could count them on one hand.
Even she herself, a legend in her own right, couldn't do it at the peak of her career!
Not just her; other turf legends like Easy Goer, Sea the Stars—their late kicks were ferocious, but they weren't Three-Stage Accelerations either. So… it was something even legendary Uma Musume struggled to achieve.
And those qualified to wield it—Secretariat, Nearl, Platinum—no wonder they were all seen as having the potential to challenge for [GOAT], to aspire to become legends above legends!
But now, among those few young monsters, the most mature, the first to achieve great results, the second-generation Big Red Monster… why wasn't she improving? Instead, she had clearly regressed?
"Could it be that Secretariat is injured?" the secretary immediately wondered, voicing her concern.
Even for an Uma Musume past her [peak], the decline should be gradual, not this sudden.
Especially since Secretariat… showed no signs of her peak ending.
After all, usually, such a noticeable drop only happens after a long period without racing, or when tackling a completely unfamiliar distance or unsuitable track for the first time.
But this race was 2400 meters at Belmont Park—how was that unfamiliar? For Secretariat, it was her most skilled, most mastered distance and environment!
Looking at it that way, the only possibility left seemed to be [injury], right?
"I remember, Ruffian once had a drop in form during a race, and only after the race did they discover she was already injured."
"Could Secretariat be in the same situation…"
Faced with the secretary's reasoned guess, Seabiscuit frowned slightly.
She didn't agree, but she didn't dismiss it either.
"Rather than injury, it feels more like…"
Seabiscuit had already clicked the mouse, switching back to the key moments of the latter part of the race.
She started watching the crucial fragment again with utmost concentration.
"More like—being exhausted to the extreme, then forcing herself to run a high-intensity race, unable to exert her full power?"
But no matter how you looked at it, a monster like Secretariat, even if she had [exhibition matches] with excellent Uma Musume during training…
She shouldn't get so exhausted from them, right?
Unless… in the days before the race, she was foolish enough to have extremely intense, high-stakes [exhibition matches] every single day!
But that seemed even more impossible. Secretariat wasn't a blindly frantic filly, the type to go crazy with exhibition matches right before a race, was she?
Or was she actually injured, just not too seriously?
Unable to figure it out, Seabiscuit took a deep breath and picked up her phone.
She decided to call Secretariat's number.
At this time, Secretariat should have arrived backstage at the winner's ceremony, about to go on as a supporting dancer. She should still be reachable.
Soon, the call connected.
"Secretariat, is your body… alright?"
"Do you need me to contact a doctor now?"
When Seabiscuit asked directly, with concern and confusion in her voice, she heard silence on the other end for a moment.
"N-No… I'm fine…"
"Don't worry, my body is perfectly fine. I just didn't rest well, my condition was average."
Secretariat's voice was firm and resolute, full of strength.
"Please don't worry, Senior Seabiscuit. This race was just an accident. Next time, I will definitely win."
Having said that, as if fleeing, wanting to avoid Seabiscuit probing deeper into certain questions, she hung up the phone immediately.
After hearing Secretariat's response, Seabiscuit's expression became somewhat complex, but she felt a bit reassured.
After all, Secretariat surely prioritized her health.
If Secretariat herself said she was fine, then she must be.
"But—why didn't she rest well?"
"Clearly, some time has passed since her last race. For Secretariat's robust physique, the frequency of races in the Classic year was something she could handle."
"Now in her older years, entering her peak, managing that frequency should be effortless for her."
Could it really be that the frequency of exhibition matches was too high?
But what kind of exhibition matches could leave even a legendary Uma Musume's body unable to bear it, exhausted to that extent?
Even Seabiscuit grew curious. What kind of opponent could excite Secretariat so much that she'd neglect a race and go all out in repeated matches?
It was a pity that such an outstanding opponent, one that could interest Secretariat so deeply, was someone Seabiscuit never encountered in her own career.
"An Uma Musume who is both excellent and physically robust enough to maintain a high frequency of matches in a short period… the possibilities are obvious."
"Flightline? More than one match and she'd need to go see her beloved Dr. Lin for treatment."
"Ruffian? She's busy issuing challenges."
"So the one who captivated Secretariat, making her obsessed with training and neglecting this minor GI race, can only be…"
"—The one from the Nearl household, right?"
Seabiscuit finally reached a definite and correct conclusion.
The one from the Nearl household!
But… the gender might be different from what she imagined.
--+--
Winner's Stage, spectator stands.
A certain black-haired young man wore an extremely complicated expression.
He was… completely unprepared for this outcome.
When the "three-day guidance training" ended yesterday, it was truly a case of mutual destruction.
Even with his [Stallion King] physique, enhanced pelvis, and the minor stamina boost from [Mlynar Nearl], he had only achieved a "draw" against Secretariat.
Lin Anran had originally thought that perhaps Secretariat was holding back a little, mindful of her race.
Otherwise, why would the intensity remain similar for three consecutive days?
"Wait, so… it wasn't that Big Red knew when to stop?"
"Instead, she really pushed herself to exhaustion, and then crashed and burned in the race??"
Even Lin Anran, who was, to some extent, the root cause, was deeply shocked!
This reason for defeat was probably destined to become Secretariat's ultimate blackest history, wasn't it?
"Can I hold this secret over her for life?"
--+--
Australia.
Even here, a sort of "separate little world" and a paradise for sprinters, there was considerable attention paid to overseas races.
Therefore, at a certain training ground in Australia at this moment…
Several exceptionally tall sprinting prodigies training together wore varied expressions of surprise, as if they'd seen astonishing news.
Typically, Uma Musume specializing in short distances tend to be tall and powerful, with noticeable musculature.
While those adept at long distances often appear slimmer.
Because short distances themselves demand the most explosive power, the fields are large, and jostling for position, even minor bumps, are somewhat normal.
Compared to these Uma Musume qualified for the [The Everest], even a certain Platinum, who had grown 2CM taller after completing her growth spurt…
Still appeared somewhat petite next to these tall sprinting maidens.
"Eh? That super legendary Secretariat, the most prominent figure in US dirt racing, actually lost a head-to-head match?"
"Legendary Uma Musume… can also be upset and defeated?"
"How interesting. Legends aren't invincible after all!"
Among them, the calmest reaction came from a chestnut-haired, short-haired maiden with distinct muscle lines and a tall, imposing figure.
Black Caviar, the sprinting empress who had ventured overseas to win a GI.
She said calmly, "If Secretariat can lose, then Platinum… naturally can lose too!"
She had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of that overseas legend!
--+--
A few days before The Everest.
A slightly lazy silver-white maiden gritted her teeth, engaged in an extremely difficult deliberation.
Namely… should she go to the exhibition match?
To be honest, the recent crash-and-burn defeat of a certain dirt-track powerhouse had given Platinum a scare.
Although she knew perfectly well why Secretariat's form had dropped so noticeably…
Her original self was that "beauty who brings trouble," the root cause of the disaster!
But for her, this was her first time stepping up in distance; there had to be some risk involved.
The entry fee for The Everest was so high. If she didn't win first place, she'd lose a fortune!
So… maybe she should train a little bit first? Just a little?
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.