"All umamusumes are now in their places."
The race time had arrived, and within a few seconds the race would start. With the white flag raised, I heard the familiar sound of doors opening.
"AND THE RACE HAS STARTED!"
Except for one of the umamusumes, the others had a very good start. The umamusume named Shining Wolf had managed to break away from the others and take the lead.
"So she really is the early favorite."
Meanwhile, I heard Melisa's comments about Shining Wolf.
The late-starting Umamusume ended up being in the lead, while four Umamusume, including Grand Ekinoks, were running as a group. Grand Ekinoks was currently in fourth place.
After the first 400 meters of the race, I could not help but look at Melisa, who sat next to me.
"Who do you think will win this race?"
I didn't know why I asked such a question. I think I wanted to be sure of something. I wanted to hear that Grand Ekinoks would win this race too.
"Honestly, predicting is hard. The front-running umamusume is trying to open up as much of a lead as possible. She will have no energy left in a race like this. This race will revolve around Koşturan-Redneck-Grand Ekinoks."
Her analysis seemed quite spot-on, but it wasn't fair to say I got the answer I wanted.
"Then why did you say Grand Ekinoks wouldn't win?"
By then, the first half of the race had ended. Shining Wolf had about an eight-length lead over her nearest rival and was approaching the turn.
During the turn, Shining Wolf began showing signs of slowing, and I could see Grand Equinox starting to drift out from the middle group.
"It shouldn't have started so early."
At that moment, Melisa spoke again.
"A umamusume who knows what to do. You've trained her really well. But she's still inexperienced and apparently quite emotional."
The gap opened by Shining Wolf in the first turn began to close, and by the second turn the gap had narrowed to four lengths. As the final stretch approached, Shining Wolf seemed to have little power left.
Three Umamusume among those entering the final stretch were accelerating. In the middle lane, Koşturan was second. Redneck was on the inside rail, and Grand Ekinoks was advancing head-to-head on the outer lane.
In the last 400 meters, Grand Ekinoks first overtook Redneck, then a few meters later Koşturan.
"Grand Ekinoks is literally flying and is about to catch Shining Wolf."
With 300 meters to go, she almost caught Shining Wolf. I saw a look of more confidence than I had ever seen on her face.
At that moment I felt I understood why Melisa had been talking, but I didn't have the courage to voice it.
"With 250 meters left, Grand Ekinoks takes the lead, while Koşturan from the middle lane and Redneck from the inside rail attack!"
Koşturan began to accelerate. She moved so quickly that I was astonished. She seemed to accelerate much earlier than Redneck and had Grand Ekinoks right at her neck.
Grand Ekinoks didn't seem to expect this, so she tried to speed up as much as she could.
No matter how much she tried to speed up, in the last 100 meters Grand Ekinoks had been overtaken.
"Koşturan is passing, Koşturan is coming and she's pulling away by up to two lengths. In the final meters Grand Ekinoks is trying to catch up, but the race winner is..."
The gap widened to three lengths and Koşturan won for the fifth time in her racing life. I stared at the scoreboard with a flood of emotions.
1. Koşturan(FR) (1)
2. Grand Ekinoks (4)
3. Redneck (3)
4. Shining Wolf (5)
5. Nazlı (2)
Koşturan saluted the spectators just as in the paddock, while Grand Ekinoks, a few meters away on the turf, punched the ground. Then I saw her point a finger at Koşturan.
"It seems Grand Ekinoks is challenging Koşturan!"
Even if I didn't hear what she said, I couldn't disagree with the announcer. Grand Ekinoks looked as if she would definitely overtake her next time, and I immediately understood which race she wanted to win.