[I used to regret never seeing the races of Eclipse or Man o' War, but not anymore!]
[Because I saw Platinum with my own eyes!!]
Amid the commentator's voice, brimming with anticipation and soaring to its peak, the curtain fell on this super race destined to be remembered for generations.
Yet, the roar from the spectators didn't fade in the slightest; instead, it swelled to a crescendo.
Even the most famous scenes from the so-called world's greatest race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, paled in comparison to this legendary duel in the Queen Anne Stakes!
Many loyal fans who had originally come for Winx or Frankel found themselves now without much sorrow or regret in their hearts.
Even those few fans who hadn't switched allegiance on the spot were filled primarily with the sheer awe of witnessing the Pegasus Platinum's blazing victory!
If Frankel was considered ['Perfection'] and ['All-Around'], then what words could possibly describe the Pegasus who surpassed and crushed her by a staggering ten lengths?
Even Frankel's fans were struck dumb, either deeply shaken or rendered silent.
After all, this was a truly monumental victory, and the defeated opponent was none other than the ['Former Mile GOAT'], a legendary Uma Musume worthy of the title.
And now, with Platinum as a rival, even someone as exceptional as Frankel could only be relegated to… ['Mile Deputy GOAT']!
A great many of Frankel's fans, in that moment, completely converted and joined the ranks of Platinum's followers!
"Sob, to witness such a breathtaking race with my own eyes… even if I died now, it'd be worth the price of admission!!"
"Platinum!! Platinum!!"
"Frankel was incredible enough, but alas, her opponent was Platinum, who transcends legend!"
"I won't argue whether Platinum has surpassed Eclipse, but the facts speak for themselves."
"Hell yeah! Another huge win, just what you'd expect from my idol, Miss Platinum!"
Countless voices were already singing the praises of the Pegasus Platinum's performance in this race!
This was, after all, a showdown against a legendary Uma Musume.
The legendary Uma Musume of old, Seabiscuit, secured her most celebrated legendary victory by defeating the Triple Crown winner, War Admiral.
By comparison, Frankel enjoyed far greater global recognition than War Admiral ever did, reaching the pinnacle of mile racing.
Meanwhile, Platinum, burdened with negative conditions—seasoned from numerous battles and attempting the mile distance for the first time—challenged under a heap of 'debuffs'.
Yet, the margin of victory she achieved still surpassed the famous head-to-head triumphs of Seabiscuit and Man o' War!
That unprecedented, supreme crown had now been claimed by Platinum!
Within the sighing, tumultuous crowd, the fervent and surging emotions of the spectators showed no signs of abating.
"Why is Miss Platinum divine? Let's start with the arrogance of Daiwa Scarlet…"
"Is there any opponent left for Miss Platinum on the turf now?"
"W-Wait, that's right. Miss Platinum has conquered all distances… so will she… keep racing?"
Some spectators, with sharper foresight, began to ponder the future, their joy giving way to a tinge of sorrow.
After all, countless people understood deep down that an Uma Musume like Platinum comes along only… once in a lifetime!
And legendary Uma Musume, upon reaching the summit and finding no rivals left, or realizing they've peaked and can only decline, often choose to retire promptly.
These once-in-a-century legendary Uma Musume are, each and every one, monsters forged from an intense desire to win, creatures who thrive on the thrill of defeating ever more formidable opponents.
It's like playing a single-player game on the hardest difficulty, reveling in the pleasure of victory.
But if that hardest difficulty suddenly vanishes, replaced by ordinary challenges, or if you can no longer conquer that peak challenge… then it's better to bow out gracefully.
That's why many legendary Uma Musume, after reaching their zenith, run just a few more races before retiring.
And now, Platinum seemed to have arrived at this very delicate and peculiar juncture.
In the first year of her career, skipping her maiden year entirely and entering the classics, she secured the irregular quadruple crown, the Japan Cup, and the Arima Kinen.
Her two victories over Galileo in the Epsom Derby and the Japan Cup—both international G1 races—where she first displayed her visible, extraordinary aura to the world, spread her fame overseas and established her international reputation.
In her second year, advancing early into her older-horse years, she first rejected both the carrot and the stick from the URA, refusing the Japanese racing authority's offer of the Horse of the Year title.
She chose instead to campaign in Dubai, ultimately achieving a stunning same-day double crown that shook Asia and cemented her worldwide fame.
In the latter half of the year, she journeyed even farther to Europe, embarking on her path to deification.
The Eclipse Stakes! Single-handedly tearing through the Coolmore Group's encirclement!
The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes! Decisively crushing the fleeting meteor, the strongest G2 Uma Musume in history, Harbinger!
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe! Defeating the near-perfect king of the middle distance, the reigning turf world champion, Sea the Stars!
Those three world-renowned races propelled the name of the Pegasus Platinum across the globe, establishing her as the strongest on turf and cementing her legend.
And now, this was already the third year of Platinum's career!
In this third year, the feats Platinum accomplished rivaled those of her first two years combined.
Short distance: defeating Australia's two century-defining icons, the supreme empresses Black Caviar and Winx.
Long distance: conquering Europe's peak long-distance mountain, Kyprios, and its longest river, Stradivarius.
And now, in this mile race, the Queen Anne Stakes, she had even defeated the ['GOAT'] herself, Frankel!
Such a vast collection of glorious achievements was destined to be passed down through the ages, enough to become a myth surpassing even Eclipse!
Under these circumstances, could Platinum still be stirred to battle by other Uma Musume…? That seemed highly unlikely.
Nearly every notable turf Uma Musume worth mentioning had been hunted down by her!
Thus, having lost all rivals and standing alone in the cold heights, the best course of action, no matter how you looked at it, seemed to be retirement.
"Wah… Miss Platinum, please don't retire! I want to watch your races for my whole life!"
"Platinum, for you I've become a wolfman, for you I've been driven mad, for you I wear this thick disguise, for you I've changed my very heart! Can we ever meet again???"
"N-No, wait, there's another possibility. Perhaps Miss Platinum… could switch tracks again?"
"Huh? Hasn't she already competed in all four major race categories? Don't tell me she's switching to the neighboring mile circuit?"
"Well… that might not be impossible? Remember, after her ['Irregular Quadruple Crown'], her next title was ['Strongest Dual-Wielder in History']?"
And it wasn't just her fans who were passionately discussing Platinum's future racing plans.
This was, after all, a stage where the eyes of the entire global Uma Musume world were gathered. Naturally, the spectators included other Uma Musume and trainers.
Even some retired professional Uma Musume and trainers, seated in the stands, couldn't help but voice their astonished impressions.
"Such unbelievably overwhelming strength. The historical-grade and legendary Uma Musume born in the same era as her… they've had it so rough."
"Could there really exist a monarch in this world powerful enough to simultaneously dominate all four major racing categories?!"
Frankel's trainer took off his hat and let out a soft sigh.
"If we have a Frankel, why must we also have a Platinum!"
The head of the Sea family, the elegant noblewoman Urban Sea, also sighed softly but didn't voice any words of regret.
After all, it had been a fair and square duel. And Platinum was attempting the mile for the first time, in a body wearied by successive battles!
To be defeated was simply a case of being outclassed.
This wise and perceptive noblewoman seemed to think of something, and the next moment, she began to murmur to herself.
"Almost every notable race, every notable circle, every notable opponent in the world has been surpassed by Platinum. Only that one last place remains, doesn't it?"
Japan, Dubai, various European nations, Australia...
Every turf course, every distance, had already been thoroughly conquered.
Though places like Hong Kong remained where Platinum hadn't yet raced—hosting events like the [Hong Kong Vase]—anyone with even a passing understanding knew there was no need.
The world of Uma Musume in Hong Kong had developed in a way somewhat similar to Japan's scene at one point, only really reaching an internationally second-tier level.
Furthermore, many of the Uma Musume there actually came from Australia; calling it a "Little Australia" wouldn't be far off.
And that Pegasus had already surpassed Australia's two great glories. Why would she bother challenging a Little Australia?
The only place that could be considered truly world-class, and yet remained unconquered by Platinum, was a single country.
"America?!"
"Dirt?"
Beside Urban Sea, the slightly petite, chestnut-haired Sea the Stars almost blurted it out instinctively.
America first came to mind, and then she immediately thought of dirt racing.
After all, for the longest time, when talking about Uma Musume racing, the global consensus was always—look to Europe for turf, look to America for dirt.
The only top-tier place Platinum hadn't challenged yet had to be America.
And mentioning America naturally brought dirt to mind.
But the next second, Sea the Stars furrowed her brow slightly, as if remembering something.
"Or... turf?"
She looked towards her mother, Urban Sea.
In response, the elegant noblewoman nodded.
"There's little need for Platinum to challenge the dirt scene."
"That side is already a raging battlefield, with Secretariat and Nearl shining brilliantly. Even winning any race there wouldn't allow her to rival, let alone surpass, them in a short time."
"So, I suspect Platinum's target might be... American turf."
"When that happens, it won't just be American audiences watching Platinum's turf campaign; all of Europe will be paying attention too, won't they?"
As she spoke those final words, Urban Sea's expression turned somewhat complex.
Sea the Stars' face mirrored the sentiment.
"Ahem..."
After all, there was the case of the former strongest European Uma Musume, the turf legend Dancing Brave!
That monster Dancing Brave, who in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with an unstoppable explosive late kick, had suddenly accelerated from outside the top ten to seize first place.
When she, as the strongest turf Uma Musume, went on an expedition to America to challenge the [Breeders' Cup Turf], she had the entire American Uma Musume world on high alert, all eager to witness the so-called 'strongest' legend from Europe.
And then—
Dancing Brave, undone by the foreign conditions, finished fourth.
And that same year.
A certain Miss Emperor from Japan, who supposedly was going to conquer the world, challenged another G1 race with only a handful of participants.
Symboli Rudolf, also undone by the foreign conditions, finished sixth.
The strongest from Europe, the strongest from Japan, neither even made it to the top three, let alone the Winner's Stage...
Thus, for a long time, this remained a sore spot for turf purists and European fans, and made the American Uma Musume world even more dismissive of overseas challengers.
The difficulty of a successful American campaign was probably even greater than European Uma Musume challenging the Japan Cup!
"Will Platinum actually go, I wonder..."
[Only now did the final runner cross the finish line, while the Pegasus, Platinum, had already come to a stop and was cooling down.]
[Unbelievably fast! This is the soaring flight of the Pegasus!]
As the commentator's voice rang out, the silvery-white maiden began to move, heading towards the exit.
Behind her stood Frankel, who had fallen into a stunned silence.
This proud legendary maiden, having just crossed the line in second place, hadn't even had time to feel disappointment or dejection before, the next second, she witnessed something that left her utterly dumbfounded.
Shimmering particles, for some inexplicable reason, began to float up from her own body, flowing towards the location of the Pegasus Hall beyond the finish line.
And then—her name appeared within the Pegasus Hall!
It was just like something out of that [Registry of the Gods] she'd read about!
Or perhaps, it was like the shameful capture of a defeated Knight Princess!
And within the Pegasus Hall itself...
What Frankel found even harder to accept was that she had lost by a full ten lengths.
Therefore, Frankel could only share second place within the Pegasus Hall with another Japanese Uma Musume who had also lost by ten lengths.
As for first place, it was held by someone whose positioning far outstripped Frankel's... [The Crimson Queen: Daiwa Scarlet]
That Crimson Queen, in a way, had nearly matched the achievements of Sea the Stars and Frankel, surpassing at least two legends already!
Deeply ashamed, Frankel took a deep breath after staring at her own entry within the Hall.
'That's right, Big Sister Stars was always reciting some lines lately, quite fluently and catchy.'
'I'll use that.'
The next moment, Frankel called out to the departing Platinum.
"What a magnificent race."
"I don't think I shall ever forget you, Pegasus Platinum."
In the view of the proud legend, this was the first time she had ever praised an opponent with such genuine seriousness and gravity.
But what Frankel didn't expect was that her words, which caused Platinum to halt her steps...
Made the silvery-white girl look back over her shoulder, tilting her head slightly as she regarded Frankel.
"?"
A small head, filled with immense confusion!
'The world's turned upside down!'
Platinum never expected to hear those words from another young filly.
"Alright, I'll take my leave now. We'll race again next time."
That is... if there even is a next time!
The lazy great Platinum just wanted to retire.
She'd already thought it through; she could open a shop later, maybe sell hand sanitizer or something.
--+--
A short while later.
In front of the Winner's Stage, during the live broadcast segment.
A female reporter earnestly posed a question to the Pegasus, Platinum, standing before her.
"Miss Platinum, regarding the future progression of your career... or your next race."
"Do you have any plans or ideas you can share publicly?"
The silvery-white maiden gripped the microphone.
Her amber eyes, rarely showing much emotion, seemed thoughtful for a few seconds before she finally spoke.
"I might be retiring soon."
In an instant, her words caused a massive stir!!
--+--
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.