"Surpassing everything, becoming the next greatest Uma Musume in history..."
"—will be me!!"
As the second-generation Big Red Monster, Secretariat never believed she would fall short of the first-generation Man o' War.
[Coming from behind]—such a thing was hardly impossible in the world of Uma Musume.
Take, for instance, the mile distance in the turf Uma Musume circuit. In the past, Brigadier Gerard ranked as the best miler, becoming a rare legend in a division outside of middle distances.
Later, Frankel surpassed Brigadier Gerard, claiming the title of the Greatest of All Time miler.
And in the end... she was defeated by the Pegasus Platinum, leading to an orderly succession of several top champions.
So, why couldn't she surpass the legend of Man o' War?
Secretariat's imposing declaration drew a noncommittal, slight smile from Man o' War.
"If your opponent were Nearl, it might be tough."
"Would you lose?"
Faced with Man o' War's follow-up, Secretariat didn't hesitate in the slightest.
"I will win!!"
The next moment, she flung aside the heavy, dashing cape behind her and strode toward the great door ahead.
--+--
Uma Musume preparation area.
The number of Uma Musume gathered was quite substantial, reaching about sixteen or seventeen.
For a Japanese Grade 1 race, this wouldn't be considered a small field. It stood in stark contrast to the usual American G1s of the past, which often saw only single-digit entries.
After all, this was the grandest event of the year, the only dirt race that could rival the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Many active Uma Musume yearned for the Dream Cup, but none among them had the qualification. Their only hope to challenge for the title of the strongest now lay in this [Breeders' Cup Classic].
Thus, fueled by their fighting spirit and desire, they saw this as their "one and only chance"—unlike Flightline or Secretariat, who still had an extra opportunity with the Dream Cup. This overwhelming focus crushed any fear they might have had toward the legends!
The greater the storm, the greater the reward!
But even with so many courageous Uma Musume present, none dared to openly issue a challenge to legends like Nearl or Secretariat just yet.
Gulp... their auras are so intimidating.
Good thing I drew a great gate position. It should boost my chances a bit, but trash-talking is out of the question.
Nearl looks so radiant, and Secretariat is so imposing, each exceptional in their own way!
They don't seem to dislike each other? They aren't hostile?
Many Uma Musume kept their attention on Secretariat or Nearl, each feeling a sense of surprise inwardly.
That whole expected process—locking eyes, showing competitive spirit, even declaring certain victory—simply wasn't happening.
The other Uma Musume, who weren't considered top contenders, simply didn't dare to speak up, afraid of bringing shame upon themselves.
After all, this race featured three legends. Any one of them winning wouldn't be strange, with Secretariat, Nearl, and Flightline holding collectively over ninety percent of the winning chances.
And the relationship between Secretariat and Nearl wasn't one of mutual hostility or conflict, as the outside world might assume.
Between the strong and the strong, it isn't always a tense standoff with swords drawn.
For this Big Red, Nearl... no, Margaret! She was the future little niece in her eyes.
Far from provoking this Radiant Knight, she, like Flightline beside her, hoped to build a good relationship with Margaret.
Then, gain the approval of this "little niece," preparing for her future entry into the Nearl household.
So, how could there be any situation where they viewed each other as enemies?
"The time is almost here."
The tall, golden-haired maiden knight turned her head, glancing at the time displayed on the large screen.
Margaret Nearl felt a flicker of anticipation that slightly exceeded her expectations, and she couldn't help but allow a faint, pleasant smile to touch her lips.
Even deep within the soundproofed preparation room, Nearl's extraordinary hearing could pick out the chaotic, roaring cheers from the spectator stands, rising above the hushed whispers of the surrounding Uma Musume.
That's just how the stats are set!
In truth, Kuranta knights rarely disliked [Fair Competition].
Provided that... it was fair!
Clearly, the competitive duels in this world were fair enough, beautiful enough in the eyes of the Radiant Knight, far surpassing the manipulated knightly tournaments of Kazimierz in fairness and beauty.
And standing before Nearl was her original self's... the most outstanding among the Uma Musume she had been close to in the past—the Big Red Monster.
To some extent, among the many Uma Musume her original self had formed bonds with, Secretariat stood at the very top.
Having her final battle before the Dream Cup be against the Big Red Monster, Secretariat, only served to further ignite Nearl's surging fighting spirit.
Then, Nearl stopped focusing on the time. Her ears twitched slightly, already catching the approaching footsteps of a staff member from one end of the corridor.
The next second, she stood up, preparing herself to take the stage as the first favorite.
"Senior Secretariat, it's an honor to compete against you."
There was no arrogant declaration of war, only the seriousness and humility befitting a knight.
Beneath that gentleness and modesty, her radiance was unmistakable, drawing the attention of Flightline nearby, the other Uma Musume, and Secretariat herself.
Secretariat also stood up, offering a slight nod in response.
"The feeling is mutual."
Then, as if remembering something, she spoke up in reply.
"May I ask you a question, Margaret?"
"Please, go ahead."
Nearl was surprised for a moment, but she nodded.
"Who is the current family leader... of the Nearl household?"
Secretariat asked a question that greatly interested her.
Family head, or clan leader, or simply leader.
There were many terms, but the meaning was the same.
In prominent families, there was usually one leader, and often a future leader.
For instance, in the Sea Family, it was Urban Sea, and it would likely pass to either Galileo or Frankel next.
And the Nearl Family?
The mysterious Nearl Family was a topic of great interest to Secretariat and the outside world.
The golden-haired maiden knight paused for a moment, then revealed a subtle expression again.
The leader of the Nearl Family?
That would be... the Elder?
"I'll answer after the race concludes."
"For now, let's first prove which of us is the strongest."
"My thoughts exactly!!"
--+--
Currently, in the spectator stands.
The final battle of the Breeders' Cup, the event traditionally saved as the ace card—the [Breeders' Cup Classic]—was about to begin.
This was a match watched by countless people across the United States, one that dirt racing enthusiasts absolutely could not miss.
Just as Japanese audiences would never miss the Arima Kinen, and European audiences would never skip the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, American dirt racing fans were filled with anticipation for the [Breeders' Cup Classic].
Earlier, the Pegasus Platinum's two wins in a single day had delivered a significant shock to many American spectators.
And precisely because of that, their expectations for the upcoming final race, the [Breeders' Cup Classic], were even higher.
"The turf Pegasus is undoubtedly excellent, but today's dirt circuit is also filled with strong contenders. Surely, we'll see an Uma Musume who shines just as brightly."
"Indeed, whether it's Big Red, the Radiant Knight, or Flightline, they are all true legendary Uma Musume."
"Even if the Pegasus Platinum has a record of defeating legends more than once... limited by the different distances those turf legends excelled at, she could only ever defeat one legend at a time."
"But this Breeders' Cup Classic features a battle between three legends! The intensity might truly rival Platinum's final retirement race!"
Many dirt racing fans looked on with anticipation, unwilling to let the dirt races be overshadowed.
The development of the neighboring turf Uma Musume circuit was fully on par with, if not slightly ahead of, their own dirt scene.
There was the mile legend Frankel, the middle-distance legend Sea the Stars, and the all-distance legend, the Pegasus Platinum.
But fortunately, this 2000-meter Breeders' Cup Classic also boasted three dirt legends. Its grandeur was sure to exceed the world's imagination!
Currently, a significant number of spectators in the audience were holding support signs for Secretariat and shouting their cheers.
"Big Red!! Big Red!! Surpass Man o' War!"
"Prove you're truly the deserving strongest!!"
"Secretariat! Go, Secretariat!! You're the real world's number one Uma Musume!"
The cheers from Secretariat's fans rose one after another, reaching a fever pitch.
After all, she had debuted even earlier than Nearl, giving her a time advantage to gather a large crowd of fervent fans early on. She also inherited some of Man o' War's followers, becoming the Triple Crown winner who connected past and present—Secretariat!
But in reality, Nearl's popularity was remarkably high as well.
This mirrored a situation from Japan's history, where Mr. C.B first achieved the Triple Crown, and then the Undefeated Triple Crown emperor, Symboli Rudolf, who came the following year, was long viewed as the "rival," with her popularity overshadowed by Symboli Rudolf's.
To some extent, Secretariat and Nearl should have replicated that scenario.
The Radiant Knight debuted a year later, was also an Undefeated Triple Crown winner—almost identical to Japan's two Triple Crown champions.
Yet Nearl managed to turn the tables.
As the junior, she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Secretariat, who had the advantages of time and first impressions—proof enough of just how dazzling and extraordinary her charm truly was.
Because of this, the popularity stemming from the Radiant Knight was also considerable, not falling behind in the slightest.
Margaret Nearl's loyal, fervent fans, along with the "Pegasus enthusiasts" who adored both Platinum and Nearl, immediately offered their continuous, unwavering support.
"Nearl!! Nearl!! Nearl!!"
"Go, Radiant Knight! The Pegasus who defeated the third-generation Big Red on dirt—now it's time to conquer the second-generation Big Red, then head to the Dream Cup and take down the original!"
"Miss Nearl is the best in the world! You must win, prove you're the strongest in history!!"
"Pegasus!! Pegasus!! Pegasus!!"
The next moment, the announcer's voice, barely overpowering the various noises in the stadium, finally rang out.
The retired Uma Musume commentator in the announcer's booth began introducing and explaining the upcoming final battle.
[The Breeders' Cup Classic. Dirt. 2000 meters.]
[This race has always been a grand event rivaling the turf Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a major battle to determine the strongest active dirt runner.]
[And now, we have not just one, but a full three legendary Uma Musume beyond ordinary imagination.]
[Secretariat, Nearl, Flightline.]
[Among these three legendary contenders, only one victor will emerge. Let us welcome their entrance!!]
[Pre-race voting was fiercely contested, but in the end, the Radiant Knight, Nearl, narrowly secured the top favorite spot by a mere few thousand votes, entering the Breeders' Cup Classic as the number one pick!]
As the commentator's voice echoed, the tall, golden-haired maiden, clad in her race uniform, made her full appearance before the stands filled with ongoing cheers.
The moment her figure appeared, the stadium's big screens and live broadcast feeds abruptly zoomed in for a close-up.
Instantly, it ignited a roar of focused cheers from the crowd.
"Nearl!! Nearl!!"
"The turf Pegasus won, the dirt Pegasus must win too! We Pegasus enthusiasts support them both!"
"Go!! Go!! Go!!"
Until, with a commanding presence, Nearl strode leisurely to her starting gate, like a King of Knights taking her throne.
--+--
Some time later.
The sixteen or so Uma Musume collectively entered the starting gates.
The countdown steadily descended.
[10!]
[9!]
[8!]
[...]
In Gate 1, Uma Musume Flightline was adjusting her breathing, her face slightly flushed with anticipation, tension, and excitement.
"Gate position is excellent."
"And even though there's a legend beside me... it's Secretariat, no need to worry!"
"As for the other monster, Nearl—after several races from inner gates, she's finally drawn an outer gate this time."
Flightline clearly understood the advantages and disadvantages of an inner gate.
On a fast track, the inner gate held significant advantage, but there was a catch.
Namely... ensuring you could secure a forward position early, avoiding getting boxed in when Uma Musume from other gates accelerated to claim their spots.
Typically, the inner track was softer than the outer, demanding more power, but the turns were shorter. Only on heavy going did the disadvantages outweigh the advantages—but this was a fast track!
As for the outer gates, the surface was firmer, requiring less power and explosive force, but the turns were longer.
A major feature of the Breeders' Cup was its rotation through different racecourses each year, creating great uncertainty.
This year's chosen venue wasn't particularly soft, and the final stretch was somewhat long, unfriendly to outer gate runners who excelled at saving energy for a short burst.
Thus, the inner gate advantage was maximized: combining shorter turns with a longer straight for the final sprint.
And Secretariat in Gate 2, in Flightline's view, was absolutely an ultimate-level monster, no less formidable than Nearl, and sharing the same inner gate advantage.
But—!!
"Secretariat is famously a slow starter."
That Big Red Monster's much-talked-about debut race was incredibly unlucky.
Back then, Secretariat, having invited a certain unscrupulous young doctor to watch, was full of fighting spirit, eager to showcase her prowess in her debut and prove she was the most reliable, most deserving Uma Musume for that close [Exclusive Contract] relationship.
Then...
A focused, on-time start from Secretariat ended almost immediately as another nervous rookie Uma Musume from the adjacent gate bumped into her right out of the gate!!
That collision not only caused Secretariat physical injury, worsening her condition and leading to a dismal fourth-place defeat, it also wounded the budding Big Red Monster psychologically, leaving an unspeakable shadow.
She grew afraid of losing again due to such misfortunes, not wanting to show any weakness in front of that unscrupulous young doctor.
And after that losing debut, Secretariat never broke normally again, always choosing to start late, waiting until the Uma Musume from adjacent gates surged ahead where they couldn't possibly collide with her, before beginning her acceleration.
Therefore...
Secretariat always started late.
Having never broken normally since her debut, and positioned in an inner gate, it was entirely possible she could get trapped inside if others rushed to the inner track!
Even if Secretariat's delay was slight, that Big Red Monster hadn't specifically practiced breaking after her debut, so theoretically, even if she tried to break properly, she couldn't outpace Flightline in securing position!
"Nearl is in the far outside gate, Secretariat will break late."
"One could say—the advantage is mine!!!"
Flightline pumped herself up, listening to the descending countdown.
[3!]
[2!]
[1!!!]
Suddenly.
All the Uma Musume burst from the gates simultaneously with incredibly swift strides.
Including...
—Under Flightline's stunned gaze, the imposing crimson figure emerged right beside her!
The Big Red Monster, wearing a cheerful smile, reached Flightline's side.
In Flightline's mind, only one thought remained.
"B-bullseye?!"
I shouldn't have jinxed it!
--+--
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.