Ruffian, who theoretically should be burning all her energy without reserve in a Great Escape, was being caught up to so soon after the second half began?!
The spectators in the stands, that massive crowd of onlookers, were already... roaring to life! The waves of cheers were surging forth like a tidal wave.
Even current active Uma Musume like Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black were no exception, showing their true colors as fans, shouting along with the surrounding human tide.
"Platinum!! Platinum!! Platinum!!"
"Incredible! As expected of the strongest in turf history, she's this formidable on dirt too?"
"Ruffian is giving her all in that desperate dash, and she gets overtaken so easily?"
"I get the feeling that the Pegasus, Platinum, isn't even going all out."
"Let me see just how powerful this turf Pegasus really is!"
And within the incredibly noisy crowd of spectators!
Also present, having won the [Triple Tiara] just like Ruffian, was the Japanese Empress, Daiwa Scarlet.
Daiwa Scarlet wondered somewhat, about the Pegasus's final two races—one on turf, one on dirt—as part of an ultra-difficult challenge of two Grade I races in a single day for her retirement...
Could she, ultimately, achieve a [beautiful conclusion]?
And would her own record of [five lengths] be broken today?
After all, this single day... no, to be precise, within the short span of just one hour, she was challenging two GI races consecutively, and on top of that, crossing over between different track types of turf and dirt. The difficulty was immense.
The Dancing Brave of the past, once crowned Europe's modern strongest Uma Musume, ultimately faltered due to failing to adapt when she went on an expedition to the American Breeders' Cup Turf, suffering a crushing defeat!
And Platinum's next race was precisely the Breeders' Cup Turf! Challenging it in an exhausted state would undoubtedly make the difficulty incredibly high.
'Whether the five-length record holds... depends on the upcoming turf race!'
--+--
On the racetrack's large screen.
It had already switched to a close-up shot focusing on the Pegasus, Platinum, as she flew across the track.
Without a doubt, not only had the current Platinum reached Ruffian's side, she had subsequently overtaken her!
And the Pegasus Platinum, her galloping form in the close-up could be called magnificently beautiful. The silver-white race uniform draped over her slightly petite maiden's body, contrasted with the jet-black twin tails whipping behind her, created a gorgeous contrast.
Hence, this was the reason for the stadium-wide shock and fervent cheers, leaving many dirt racing fans utterly astonished.
It was worth mentioning... Platinum's slightly parted cherry lips seemed to be murmuring silent words.
'Galileo, get ready.'
'You're next!'
--+--
And outside the spectator stands.
In the racetrack's rest area.
The black-haired young lady who was participating as an Uma Musume in the next [Breeders' Cup Turf], the popular Uma Musume from the Sea family, Galileo, was staring dumbfounded at this scene.
Why did she get the feeling that Platinum was talking about... her??
"Gulp..."
The black-haired girl swallowed, her charming body trembling slightly.
Some of the other Uma Musume around who noticed this thought little of it, simply taking it as Galileo's anticipation for facing Platinum.
If it were any other top-tier, fiercely competitive Uma Musume, that would often be... [A Warrior's Tremor], the ultimate fighting spirit rising in anticipation of clashing with another monster Uma Musume.
But Galileo, she was... genuinely afraid, not trembling with excitement at the prospect of facing the Pegasus Platinum.
The Uma Musume with the most historical losses to Platinum was none other than her!
The Uma Musume who had attended Platinum's victory ceremonies the most times in history was still her!
Galileo even had some anti-fans who referred to her as—"Platinum's First Daughter"! Or "Platinum's Favorite Child"!
After all, in terms of loss records and podium attendance counts, no one could surpass Galileo.
And now...
But that slacker-like mentality once again took hold, allowing Galileo to regain her composure.
'Well, I'm already here!'
That's right, 'Well, I'm already here.'
Since she had already come, was already sitting here preparing for the next race, backing out now out of fear would make her a laughingstock to the entire Sea family, even all of Europe, nay, the whole world.
'Can't withdraw, must face Platinum!'
'Then all I can hope for now is... that Ruffian can drain as much of Platinum's stamina as possible.'
The charming young lady couldn't help but mutter to herself.
Ruffian, do your best!
You have a duty to face this unbeatable opponent!!
--+--
On the dirt track.
Around the third turn, Ruffian, currently accelerating with all her might, felt her face grow pale.
Right now, she could feel her body's continuously draining stamina. Her all-out, desperate dash—had it really been so easily hunted down by the Pegasus on the outside track?!
'This... the Pegasus, she's countless times more terrifying than the Dubai World Cup footage I watched!!'
'She's not even at full strength right now, and she managed to hunt down my desperate dash like this?'
In Ruffian's field of vision!
The silver-white maiden not only overtook her, but had already opened up a lead of...
Three lengths!
Four lengths!
Then, as it reached a full five lengths, Platinum's figure was about to enter the final straight, pushing towards the finish line with her final kick.
The situation was bad!!
"No, I can't just admit defeat so easily."
But the current Ruffian, gritting her silver teeth, filled with a sense of crisis, couldn't bring herself to claim that the Pegasus had already gone all out and that she still had a chance to turn the tables.
Such lies couldn't even serve as comfort in her heart.
"At the very, very least..."
"I must drain more of the Pegasus's stamina, make her performance drop in her next turf retirement race, cause her to suffer an upset defeat!"
Even if she couldn't win herself, she mustn't just become [one of the runners-up] in Platinum's tale of two Grade I wins in a day. She had to teach the Pegasus a lesson!
Ruffian, having already poured everything she had, still strained to maintain her super high-speed run.
But... that platinum-ranked position, interwoven with jet-black and silver-white, wasn't being closed in on at all.
It was even—
Pulling further away!!
[An absolutely astonishing Great Escape!]
[Who would have thought that the legend who dominates on turf remains a legend on dirt as well!]
The commentator's voice was already rising with increasing excitement.
In a normal race, the truly heated duel would typically only emerge in the final half, or even the final quarter, of the home straight.
But now, the vast majority of the pack behind had already started accelerating early. Only by accelerating early, by going all out as soon as possible, could they possibly hope to catch Platinum!
But forget overtaking her; not a single Uma Musume had even managed to get close to that silvery-white radiance!
Until... the home straight.
On the final stretch of the dirt track, Platinum's figure was like a streak of silver-white light, slicing through the silence of the course.
The silvery-white maiden known as the Pegasus, every step in her stride carried an unstoppable momentum.
Ruffian's all-out, desperate dash seemed like merely a minor interlude on her path forward, easily reversed and replaced by Platinum who took the lead.
An assassin never reveals their strength before striking down their opponent.
But right now, this was the moment of truth!
[The dirt Uma Musume, possessing excellent power and even home-field advantage, even as they accelerate and fly forward, it seems like—]
[They cannot close the gap with the Pegasus even a single bit?!]
[What's even more terrifying is...]
[The Pegasus Platinum, her lead is still expanding? Remember, she must save energy to prepare for the next middle-distance turf race!]
When this scene was fully displayed before the eyes of the entire stadium...
It utterly drove the vast majority of the spectator fans who had come to witness the Pegasus's final dance into extreme frenzy, anticipation, and support.
"Platinum!! Platinum!!"
"Fly, Pegasus, soar freely in this final battle!"
"Couldn't even dream of it, the Pegasus is truly replicating the even more terrifying feat of two Grade I races in a single day!"
"The mighty Ruffian, overtaken so easily by a turf Uma Musume not even at full strength... just what kind of monster is she?"
"The Pegasus... she's practically flying."
On the home straight.
The silvery-white maiden, in an unstoppable manner, set foot upon the final straight, maintaining a momentum with no possibility of fading!
Six lengths!!
Seven lengths!!
The current Ruffian, her crimson-red eyes filled with shock, gritted her silver teeth, deeply feeling the strain.
Both the draining of her stamina and the ever-widening gap made Ruffian deeply realize just how unbelievably outrageous the one hailed as the eclipse surpassing Eclipse, the strongest Pegasus, truly was.
And this Empress of the Triple Tiara, renowned worldwide for her strength and fierce competitive spirit, had never imagined...
That there could be an Uma Musume, while preparing for her next race, able to face her in peak condition, extend the lead beyond five lengths, and still continue to widen the advantage!
"This, this..."
"So this is the legendary monster that surpasses Eclipse?"
After the initial shock, the petite Ruffian narrowed her eyes, her fighting spirit still burning fiercely.
Her arms swung rhythmically, and her lips curved into a grin that was both cold and unhinged.
"Fine then, let me witness this to the end—whether the Pegasus can achieve a perfect finale!"
On the entire track, only Ruffian's figure was being outpaced slightly slower by Platinum's efficiency!
The silver-white maiden's hooves pounded against the straight dirt course, kicking up clouds of dust in her wake.
As the race entered the final stretch, it completely transformed into the Pegasus's solo performance!!
This stage, the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, this final stretch—was where Platinum would perform her "last dance" in America!
[Eight lengths!]
[Nine lengths!]
Even though the final stretch had only just passed its midpoint, the countless spectators in the stands erupted into cheers, already welcoming and celebrating the champion.
And on the delicate face of the maiden Platinum, there was no trace of being affected by any factor—nor any sign of her stamina faltering.
Her limit? It was nowhere in sight!
[The Pegasus's challenge upon returning to the dirt—can we already determine the outcome even before she crosses the finish line?!]
[The dominant front-running style of America's Undefeated Dirt Triple Tiara queen still can't rein in the Pegasus—she's simply allowed to soar!]
[Platinum's current lead is ten lengths! A massive margin has been achieved!]
[There's still some distance left before the finish, and the Pegasus is still widening that enormous lead!]
When Platinum reached the latter half of the final stretch, the commentator's voice boiled over with excitement.
The victory commentary, brimming with irrepressible emotion, began early, delivered in a fervent, elevated tone.
[This is the Pegasus, surpassing everyone's imagination, conserving her stamina while firmly controlling the race!]
[This single race proves that the strongest racehorse on turf still has what it takes to contend for the title of greatest of all time on dirt!]
[From this day forward, Platinum, with this one race, will become the "phantom strongest king" and "first love" in the hearts of countless dirt racing enthusiasts!]
[Why has such a dazzling, awe-inspiring Pegasus only run two races on dirt? This will haunt countless dirt racing fans!]
[But for now, Platinum remains silent, only accelerating further!]
The silver-white maiden's galloping dance continued unabated.
As she maintained her extreme, relentless speed, her majestic and sacred race outfit fluttered and snapped in the wind.
Eleven lengths!
Twelve lengths!
Amid the commentator's excited exclamations, that silver-white figure finally approached the finish line!
It was only then, just before the finish line, that the spectral form of the goddess atop her throne drew her final arrow.
In the next instant, that last arrow transformed into a shocking downpour, raining down upon the wide-eyed Ruffian!
As for the silver-white maiden, shining like a meteor with breathtaking brilliance—she seemed to be... performing a magnificent solo dance!!
The radiant silver-white figure soared across the finish line! Declaring an unparalleled, effortless domination!
[The world wasn't ready for this Pegasus—!!!]
[No one could have believed that a racehorse could embark on such a brutally dominant, lonely nightmare schedule in the Breeders' Cup—and Platinum has secured that first victory across categories.]
[Ruffian is a commendable rival, but against Platinum, all challengers, all tracks, all records will eventually be broken!]
[Trampling over the constraints of dirt, she has become the monarch of the era!]
[The ultimate dance of the Breeders' Cup, performing her last dance at Belmont Park—she is the Pegasus who surpasses Eclipse, this is Platinum!!!]
And this was...
A massive, dominant victory in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile—by a staggering thirteen lengths!
Awe!!
Delight!!
Regret!!
These were the emotions swirling in the hearts of the countless spectators in the stands.
And that final regret wasn't due to any dissatisfaction with the Pegasus's victory, but because...
This was the last dance!
Of the two Breeders' Cup races Platinum had entered—the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the Breeders' Cup Turf—only one now remained.
And the more brilliantly Platinum ran, the more she stunned the audience, the more reluctant they felt to see her go.
Before this, many dirt racing enthusiasts had been interested only in the very last event, the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Many local American spectators had believed only the ultimate clash between Secretariat and Nearl deserved to be called the grand finale.
As for the Pegasus Platinum?
They acknowledged that on turf, Platinum truly deserved the title of strongest—her domination of the four major races was unprecedented and likely never to be repeated.
But here at the Breeders' Cup, where dirt was king and the Classic reigned supreme, her two races hadn't been highly anticipated by the local fans.
That is... until the conclusion of this Dirt Mile!
Many American spectators found themselves utterly captivated by Platinum after this single race.
"Wait, nobody told me Platinum could be this mind-blowing on dirt too."
"No, she definitely wasn't going all out. She controlled the pace and still crushed Ruffian by a huge margin. If she was serious, it'd probably be even more insane."
"I hereby declare, from today onward, this Pegasus fan is switching from solely supporting Nearl to solely supporting Nearl AND Platinum!"
"That's Platinum for you! Boundless stamina, a powerful racehorse adapted to heavy tracks. She has her Domain, she can suppress others, she's immune to rival Domains, and she can even maintain her Domain for the entire race like it's nothing. Once she overtakes an opponent, she just... ahhhh, the arrows! Good thing I sensed trouble and avoided betting against her and Ruffian!"
"Sniff... Why does such a radiant, beautiful racehorse have to retire after her next race?"
But besides them...
Nearly half the spectators in the stands had come from all over the world—Japan, various European nations, even Australia—just to cheer for Platinum.
Countless Pegasus fans were left wondering, after witnessing such a dominant front-running performance, if they'd ever be able to enjoy other dirt or turf races again.
In their hearts, alongside the thrill and excitement, a profound sense of regret, of poignant loss, was hard to dispel.
"Platinum!! Platinum!!"
"Please! Can't... can't Miss Platinum just keep running? Run races forever?"
"Miss Pegasus, you're just one race away from an undefeated, perfect retirement! Don't falter at the final moment!!"
"What a coincidence. The first time I saw Platinum race, she was demolishing Galileo. And the last time I'll see her race, it'll be her demolishing Galileo again!"
"Sniff, will Miss Platinum ever make a comeback? Or maybe someday, will there be a Dream Cup for turf races, calling Miss Platinum back to us?"
Many of Platinum's fans felt deeply reluctant, knowing only one final battle stood between her and retirement.
Some spectators and fans even voiced their frustrations with resentful sighs.
"Darn it! Why is there a Dream Cup for dirt, but not for turf?!"
"I'd really love to see Miss Platinum go up against Sea Bird, Dancing Brave, and Ribot!"
Suddenly, a nearby American spectator interrupted them.
"Well, why couldn't Miss Platinum just enter the Dirt Dream Cup herself?"
"Of course not... Huh? W-wait, that... could that actually work?"
At that moment, many spectators genuinely began considering the possibility.
How likely was it? Could it actually happen? The discussion started small, then gradually spread to more and more people.
Then, it rapidly spread across the internet.
Soon after, it became trending news, sparking discussions within horse racing circles in America and internationally.
[Could Platinum enter the Dirt Dream Cup?]
[Turf Pegasus VS Dirt Pegasus?!]
Such headlines were rapidly climbing the trends!
--+--
Racecourse, locker room area.
Several turf racehorses stared, stunned, at the scene they had just witnessed.
"I thought that Dirt Tyrant, Ruffian, would drain Platinum's stamina and improve my chances."
"Now it looks... pretty doubtful."
"Gah, is it too late to withdraw from the race?!"
"How can Platinum be this strong? Someone please... give me a quick, straightforward explanation!"
Compared to the other turf racers, Galileo was calmer, but only just.
A certain black-haired maiden forced a smile, her gaze vacant.
"S-she just... beat Ruffian... like that?"
And next... I have to face... a Pegasus going all out for a perfect finale?!!!
"Guh, just kill me now!"
--+--
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.