Is it possible... that Nearl and Platinum haven't even reached their peak yet?
If Platinum and Nearl were to participate in the Dream Cup... could it be their future selves?
As this possibility dawned on Secretariat's clever little mind, even she was struck speechless for a moment, falling into a brief, stunned silence.
After all, no matter how you looked at it, this was pure fantasy—completely detached from "reason" and "common sense."
But...
The Dream Cup itself... wasn't it also once considered a fantasy, dismissed as ancient fairy tales and mythical legends?
Most of those qualified to compete were seniors who had retired years ago, like Man o' War and Seabiscuit, who fought with the bodies of their past, prime selves.
So if there were Uma Musume who hadn't yet peaked, wouldn't it also be reasonable, perhaps even possible, for them to compete with the bodies of their future, peak selves?
"But no matter how I think about it, that really shouldn't be the case, right?"
"Platinum's about to retire as it is. And Nearl must definitely be in her prime right now."
Secretariat's crimson pupils locked onto the dashing, silver-haired girl on the big screen, gazing intently at the bow-carrying Platinum.
Outwardly, Platinum seemed almost unchanged since her debut, maybe just a tad taller, while her figure... well, it hadn't improved in the slightest, still that unforgivable 'double A'...
But judging from the time since her debut, a full three years had passed. Even Secretariat couldn't call Platinum a junior anymore.
Even for so-called "late bloomers" among Uma Musume, they generally reached their peak by their second or third year at the latest.
So, let alone a seasoned older Uma Musume division champion like Platinum.
Nearl, however... was a different possibility. The current Radiant Knight, Nearl, was just way too young for her achievements.
Still in the classic years, she had just achieved an Undefeated Triple Crown, then immediately went on to defeat the Triple Tiara empress Ruffian in a one-on-one showdown, and even beat the legendary Flightline.
A classic-year record like that was already on par with Man o' War, the strongest dirt track Uma Musume in history!
In the Dream Cup, Nearl would probably be ranked in the top three, a favorite to win, facing off against Man o' War and Secretariat herself.
'If Nearl could appear in the Dream Cup in her strongest state, and she isn't even at her peak yet...'
'Just how terrifying would that be?'
The thought sent shivers down the spine of Secretariat, the one hailed as the second-generation Big Red Monster, the successor to Man o' War.
Platinum probably hadn't missed her peak, but was it really possible for Nearl?!
But soon, her cold crimson eyes turned back to the golden-haired maiden knight walking with brisk, heroic steps nearby.
"I'll defeat her first in this upcoming Breeders' Cup Classic."
If she could beat Nearl this time, in Secretariat's view, she might just have a chance to go even further.
"In the Dream Cup, it's not like I don't have a chance to win again!"
Filled with confidence in herself and an intense, burning fighting spirit for the imminent [Breeders' Cup Classic], Secretariat stood up and followed in Nearl's footsteps.
--+--
Front row seats, spectator stands.
A voluptuous girl with scarlet twin-tails was watching the many participating Uma Musume exit the track below.
Daiwa Scarlet had also come to watch the race live.
Her eyes were full of astonishment, having just witnessed Platinum's retirement race from start to finish.
"A perfect finale..."
"Fifty lengths!!!"
You have to understand, in normal Uma Musume races, the margins are usually within the range of a neck, half a length, to maybe one or two lengths.
Winning by more than three lengths usually indicated a fairly clear gap between the champion and the runner-up.
That's why Daiwa Scarlet had been so red-faced and speechless back when she lost by five lengths.
But who could have imagined...
The [Young Mistress of the Sea Family], the astronomical genius who had easily reached world-class level in her classic years and grown even stronger as an older Uma Musume—the very same Galileo that Daiwa Scarlet wouldn't even dare dream of defeating—had now been utterly crushed by the Pegasus, Platinum, by a full fifty lengths!
Debut race: 5 lengths.
Retirement race: 50 lengths.
The difference of that single '0' in the middle!
"I'm afraid most graded stakes-level Uma Musume, even if you summed up all the winning margins over their entire careers, wouldn't reach a total of fifty lengths."
Daiwa Scarlet muttered to herself, her tone full of certainty about her own speculation.
A typical graded stakes-level Uma Musume usually runs in a dozen or twenty-plus graded races over her career, winning a few of them.
Geniuses like Daiwa Scarlet and Galileo, who possess the skill to win multiple G1s, can maintain a somewhat higher win rate.
But whether it's a graded stakes Uma Musume or a G1 champion, the difference is just between winning a few races versus winning over a dozen; the winning margins still generally fall within that usual range.
So, finding an Uma Musume whose career total winning margin reaches [fifty lengths] isn't easy.
"Probably only monsters like Winx and Golden Sixty, who run in many races and excel consistently with high win rates, could accumulate such a huge total margin!"
"But the Pegasus Platinum, she actually..."
"—Did it in just one race?!"
You can imagine just how terrifying this Breeders' Cup Turf was.
Daiwa Scarlet didn't need to think hard to be sure: this would undoubtedly become a widely celebrated, legendary race—calling it a [miracle] wouldn't be an overstatement.
"Then... in that case, will that [Five Lengths] of mine be permanently etched into history now..."
Daiwa Scarlet gulped, her current feelings too complex to put into words.
But she could sense, mixed within that complexity, feelings of relief and joy.
It was as if, instinctively, she felt relief and happiness over Platinum's victory... and over the fact that she maintained the five-length margin—the smallest margin anyone ever lost to the Pegasus Platinum by.
She wouldn't admit it verbally, but her body was honest.
The Pegasus Platinum had announced her retirement. Typically, she wouldn't race again.
From now on, Daiwa Scarlet's five-length defeat would officially be forever immortalized, carved as it were on the forefront of the Pegasus Hall of Fame.
You could say Daiwa Scarlet's five lengths, just like Galileo's three statues, had established a certain record!
But for some reason, the thought of Platinum retiring just like that, with no more races in the future, stirred a twinge of regret in Daiwa Scarlet's heart.
"Platinum..."
"Will she make a comeback?"
--+--
On the turf track.
The silver-haired girl stood with her arms crossed, her expression calm.
The Pegasus, standing firm upon the earth!
Behind her, even now, some Uma Musume were still hurriedly crossing the finish line, having fallen behind by who-knows-how-many lengths.
Yet, the joy in Platinum's heart wasn't as abundant as one might expect.
Instead, to her own surprise, it was tinged with... a hint of reluctance.
Bidding farewell to the racetrack, announcing her retirement—even for the often lazy, not-particularly-driven Platinum—evoked a feeling of reluctance.
'Whatever. It's not like I'll never run again.'
'I can always make a comeback, return!'
'Jordan came back twice.'
'So me coming back two, maybe three times... that's perfectly reasonable, right?'
Moreover, Platinum held a keen interest in the future generation of talented Uma Musume.
She'd heard that Japan and Europe would still see geniuses emerging in the future.
For example, Japan would have Deep Impact and Equinox.
And Europe would have the likes of Baaeed...
In the future, there would always be new prey to hunt!
At that thought, the silvery-white maiden's mood lifted to one of pure delight. She turned to gaze at Galileo, who still stood there utterly dumbfounded.
Her Pegasus Hall now housed no fewer than thirty Uma Musume sculptures—a truly considerable number.
Yet, only Galileo had achieved the incredible feat of erecting multiple sculptures within it.
And not just going from one to two, but… a full three!
Not only that, but Galileo, just like Platinum, had chosen the English Epsom Derby as their first international G1 challenge, and both had selected the Breeders' Cup Classic as their final retirement race.
One could say, Galileo and she were linked by a fate almost… karmic in its intensity.
Platinum could already imagine it: future articles or documentaries introducing or explaining her would inevitably feature those two or three other Uma Musume.
Others might not be guaranteed, but Galileo and Daiwa Scarlet would definitely be among them!
In her buoyant mood, Platinum immediately raised a hand in farewell to Galileo, her tone thoughtful and serious.
"What a delight. I might never forget you my whole life, Galileo."
This would be the last time she said this before her comeback!
--+--
A short while later.
The joy that Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond felt upon witnessing that earth-shattering, 50-length dominant victory was gradually… being replaced by a deep sense of loss.
Because they knew what was coming next: Platinum's final official post-race interview as a winner.
The final winner's interview!
Their eyes glistening with unshed tears, Kitasan Black and Satono Diamond waited anxiously until the live broadcast finally began.
There she was: the imposing young maiden Platinum, who had worn silver knight's armor during the race. Her face appeared on screen, and she greeted the camera with a wave.
[Hello everyone, I'm Platinum.]
[Barring any unforeseen circumstances… this will be the last time you see me as a winner.]
This lazy, work-shirking Pegasus lady seemed already prepared to coast through a vacation, or even open a shop selling hand sanitizer while working as a front desk girl.
Her opening words immediately sent Satono Diamond, a devoted and rabid Platinum fan, nearly into tearful hysterics.
"Waaah, Miss Platinum, my Miss Platinum!"
"Does this mean we won't see her anymore after this...?"
"But even if she's unbeatable on turf, there's still dirt races she could challenge!"
In Satono Diamond's view, witnessing her idol achieve a perfect, beautiful finale, bowing out at the peak…
That was actually a truly wonderful thing.
Most Uma Musume usually decide to retire only after their form has begun to decline.
By that time, trying to defeat opponents in high-stakes races to achieve that perfect ending is itself an incredibly difficult task.
That's precisely why achieving "a beautiful end" is something so important to so many Uma Musume and their fans.
Countless Oguri Cap fans, every time they bring up her miraculous comeback and perfect finale in the Arima Kinen, are filled with utmost satisfaction and joy.
But someone like Symboli Rudolf, whose achievements far surpass Oguri Cap's, retired after failing in her overseas challenge on the American turf G1 and getting injured.
The fact that the Emperor neither succeeded overseas nor had her final race in Japan left countless fans with immense regret.
And the Pegasus Platinum? This wasn't some 'comeback' for her. She needed no comeback. She directly displayed a terrifying level of form surpassing any of her previous performances, strong as a demon god, seizing two crowns in a single day!
A retirement race at this height, a beautiful end of this caliber, is absolutely among the very best in history, a level nearly impossible for any who come after to surpass.
As a fan, how could one not feel overwhelming joy and pride?
But hearing Platinum, in that calm and leisurely tone, say "Barring any unforeseen circumstances…" and "this will be… the last time you see me."!
It brought an intensely thick feeling of loss to young fillies like Satono Diamond and Kitasan Black, and indeed to many ordinary viewers.
After all, many Uma Musume, once they retire, vanish completely from the public eye.
Take Seabiscuit, for example.
As a high-ranking official within the racing authority, working hard for the development of American Uma Musume racing, where would she find the time to work as an idol or celebrity?
Or like Urban Sea, or other famous top-tier Uma Musume; whether founding or inheriting families, they also rarely make public appearances.
So for many fans, once they see their idol retire, forget about seeing them on the racetrack again… even routine public appearances might become scarce.
Amid the anxious, tearful expressions of many fans, Platinum, in a meaningful tone, softly uttered her next line.
[But I won't simply vanish. Sooner or later, I will bring a surprise for everyone.]
[—Wait, and hope!]
The moment this response came out, Satono Diamond's body froze for a second. Then, filled with trust for her Pegasus idol, her eyes began to sparkle.
A surprise?
"What kind of surprise will Miss Platinum give us?"
"Will she… will she keep making public appearances, working as an idol celebrity, or what?"
Before she could ponder further.
The interviewer at the scene began asking the next question.
[There is still one final race left in the Breeders' Cup: the Breeders' Cup Classic, run over 2000 meters on dirt.]
[The lineup for this world's premier dirt race is unprecedentedly stellar.]
[The top three active runners are all legends.]
[Secretariat, Nearl, and Flightline are all participating. Miss Platinum, who do you think is most likely to win?]
The interviewer chose to ask about the upcoming race.
A more socially adept Uma Musume might smilingly choose to praise all the top contenders one by one.
And then… talk about who might have the bigger advantage under specific circumstances.
For instance, if Secretariat takes the lead early, or if Flightline or Nearl seizes the front first, who would benefit more.
That way, they wouldn't offend any Uma Musume or their fans, nor risk being proven wrong by a failed prediction.
But Platinum…
She didn't hesitate in the slightest. She had no intention of spouting a long, rambling speech to build some 'three-dimensional maneuvering defense' to protect herself from potential embarrassment.
Platinum's answer was simply…
[Margaret Nearl.]
A certain black-hearted young doctor once always thought it was his turf-Pegasus transformation that was strong.
Until the day he transformed into a dirt-Pegasus and gradually realized, 'Oh, it was me who was strong all along!'
And now… the era belonging to Nearl was beginning!
--+--
At the same time.
On the path to the Uma Musume preparation area, just before the curtain was about to rise on the final battle.
As Secretariat walked along, almost reaching the doorway… she unexpectedly spotted a tall, curvaceous, crimson-haired beauty leaning against the wall beside the entrance, her presence unshakable and imposing, like an immovable mountain.
It was… the original Big Red Monster, Man o' War!
It seemed Man o' War was standing there in front of the preparation area, watching them enter.
"Senior Man o' War, what are you doing here?"
Logically, shouldn't Man o' War be watching from the stands, or even participating as a guest commentator in the broadcast booth?
"I came to see for myself which Uma Musume will be the one to surpass me."
"Margaret Nearl?"
"Or perhaps…"
Secretariat responded without a moment's hesitation, crossing her arms, her aura not yielding an inch.
"It will be me."
--+--
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.