King's first race after joining Team Kitalfa was the CBC Sho. Despite it being a race with senior-level horse girls, she successfully took first place. It was King's first victory this year. The winning live was full of cheers and applause from the audience, and King, who had been on a high, sang with all her might, danced with all her energy, and was out of breath just like after a race.
On the way back to Tracen Academy, her energy was higher than usual, but after about an hour, she fell asleep, her face serene, as if the tension had finally snapped. King's phone, which was on silent mode, vibrated several times, likely with congratulatory messages from her friends who heard about the CBC Sho results, or maybe a call from her mother. But I didn't want to wake the peacefully sleeping King, so I told Urara and Rice not to be too loud, and we returned to Tracen Academy.
The next day, after finishing the paperwork for returning the car I borrowed from Tracen Academy, paying for the highway tolls, and processing the expenses for Urara and the others' lunch, I was busy with work. However, when Urara and the others came to the club room, a subtle tension filled the air. Urara and Rice were their usual selves, but King, though she was trying to act normal, radiated an unpleasant mood.
"What's wrong, King?" I asked, tilting my head. King turned her head away with her arms crossed.
"Nothing... it's just that thing from my mother."
There's nothing else that would make King this upset. Urara and Rice, who don't know the situation, tilted their heads, looking confused as if they had question marks floating above them.
"It's the same as always. 'Winning a race without strong horse girls doesn't prove your talent,' and 'hurry up and give up and come home before you embarrass yourself anymore'... I can't believe her!" King lets out a frustrated sigh. I give her a wry smile, and King takes a few deep breaths before bowing her head to Urara and Rice.
"Whew... I'm sorry, Urara-san, Rice-senpai. I ruined the mood."
"I don't mind, but... are you okay, King-chan?"
"If you have any problems, please rely on me, okay? Rice will train you with all my might!"
King nods happily at Urara's and Rice's words... Wait, she's twitching her cheek at Rice's words. Rice didn't say she'd help as much as she could; she said she'd train her with all her might.
Rice really cares for King... that's a good thing, yes.
"I, I'm more than ready for it, Rice-senpai... By the way, Trainer! You're this King's trainer, so you've already decided on the goal for the next race, haven't you?" King turns away from Rice—no, she changes the subject and asks me a question.
"Before the next race, we have our summer training camp... But, as I told you before, I'd like to have King run in the Sprinters Stakes. After seeing her run in the CBC Sho, I'm even more convinced of that."
"Oh... why is that?"
"In short-distance races, she has a chance of winning against even strong senior-level horse girls... No, that's not quite right..." I let my eyes wander for a moment before saying with conviction.
"It's because King has a lot of talent for short-distance races. It might be difficult this year, but I think if we train her diligently until next year, she can win both the Takamatsunomiya Kinen and the Sprinters Stakes."
King's eyes widen when I say that.
"...Do you really think I can win a Grade 1 race? You thought that after seeing yesterday's race?"
"With a high probability in short-distance races. That's why I want to have her run in the Sprinters Stakes first. And while we aim for a Grade 1 in a short-distance race, we'll also aim for stakes races in mile and longer distances... Yes, it's the same plan as before."
The goal of conquering all-distance stakes races hasn't changed, but I feel that King can aim for Grade 1 races in short-distance... and up to mile-distance races. As for middle and long-distance races, since Rice is being very kind and caring for her, her stamina should improve over time, and her problems should lessen.
She might be inferior to horse girls who specialize in middle and long-distance races, but considering how much Urara's stamina has improved since she started training with Rice, I think King will also be able to compete in longer races, even more than Urara, given her natural aptitude. I believe she can already beat an average horse girl, but she will only get stronger as time goes on. I thought she could at least be competitive in the Kikuka Sho, even if she couldn't make it there in time.
But that depends on how much we can train her during the summer camp. It's our first time at a training camp, and there's a chance that it might have been better to just use Tracen Academy's facilities.
(But Team Rigil also has a training camp every year... Training in a different environment might change their mood, and maybe it has a big effect after all...)
I thought about that, but while King's future races and the summer camp are important, something more important was coming up first.
(King's CBC Sho is over... next is Urara's Japan Dirt Derby.)
This will be Urara's first Grade 1 race and her first time running in a middle-distance race. I've trained her stamina as much as I could, but a middle-distance race is an uncharted territory for Urara. I've had her run middle and long-distance races in training with Rice and King, but that's just training. The actual race consumes a lot of stamina and mental energy, and it's not uncommon for a horse girl to be unable to do what she can do in training during the actual race.
Additionally, even during training, Urara's stamina is insufficient for middle and long-distance races... No, I don't like using this word, but she just doesn't have the aptitude for it. The 2000 meters of the Japan Dirt Derby is a distance that Urara can barely finish. Urara can run a mile, but just because she can run a mile doesn't mean she can run a middle-distance race. The mile race she won the other day... the Unicorn Stakes... she only won it because it was the shortest mile at 1600 meters.
And recently, it seems that Urara's stamina has hit a wall. Urara used to continue growing beyond my expectations, but I feel that her growth has started to slow down. For now, her growth is within my predictions, but it's a deceleration compared to her previous growth speed.
(Well, it can't be helped...) This happens in any sport. A beginner's growth is faster than a professional's. Some geniuses might continue to grow without any slowdown, but most people are like in a role-playing game, where the amount of experience needed increases as they level up.
She's not trained to her limit yet, but whether Urara can overcome a wall as a horse girl like Rice did will be decided from now on.
Will she go over the wall, go around it, make a hole in it, or give up and go back? I don't know what path Urara will take, but the upcoming Japan Dirt Derby will likely be a wall for her.
But Urara might just overcome that wall easily. I think that Smart Falcon is a tougher opponent in a middle-distance race than she was at the Unicorn Stakes, and our chances of winning are slim, but I still have hope for Urara. However, a few days later, I would find myself in a situation that would make me want to hold my head.
On Monday, two days before the Japan Dirt Derby.
I was in front of the Japan Dirt Derby race card that had just arrived after school, with my arms crossed. I haven't checked the contents yet. Since the race card is here, Urara's entry in the Japan Dirt Derby is confirmed, but the problem is the contents.
(Smart Falcon will definitely be running... The problem is the other horse girls.)
Will El Condor Pasa or Taiki Shuttle be running? No, Taiki Shuttle seems to be bad at distances longer than middle-distance, so she probably won't be here. As for El Condor Pasa, Team Rigil is going on a summer training camp, so I don't know if she'll be running.
—What about Oguri Cap?
I take a few deep breaths and open the envelope with the race card. I take one more deep breath before taking out the race card and looking at it.
"...She's here."
I mumble quietly. Urara's name is there. Smart Falcon's name is also there. And so is Oguri Cap's name. El Condor Pasa and Taiki Shuttle's names are not there. Meek's name, which I thought might be there, is also not there. But with Oguri Cap's entry, I'm already holding my head in my hands.
(I thought she hadn't run in a race since getting second place in the Japan Derby... but she's running here.)
Oguri Cap, who I thought had turned to the turf, is now on the dirt track again. I'm not Oguri Cap's trainer, so I don't know her intentions. Did her trainer tell her to, did Oguri Cap want to, or both? But now that I know she's running, her reason doesn't matter.
Oguri Cap is the horse girl Urara lost to in the Hyacinth Stakes. I would be excited if this was a chance for revenge—but against Oguri Cap in a middle-distance race, even on dirt...
(Smart Falcon is already a tough opponent, and now Oguri Cap too... If she were running against Rice or King, I'd welcome it...)
I recall Oguri Cap's finishing speed that allowed her to accelerate twice at the end of the Hyacinth Stakes. Special Week beat her in the Japan Derby, but that was mostly because Oguri Cap made a mistake in her timing. After losing the Japan Derby, it's too optimistic to think she would make the same mistake again. In fact, it could also be said that Special Week's will to win was stronger than Oguri Cap's mistake in the Japan Derby.
The Ohi Racecourse, where the Japan Dirt Derby will be held, is flat with no uphill or downhill slopes. The 2000-meter Japan Dirt Derby starts at the exit of the fourth corner, goes around the outer track once, and finishes on the final straight. For Urara, who is running a middle-distance race for the first time, not having any uphill or downhill slopes is a blessing as it helps to conserve her stamina. But that's also true for the other horse girls.
I had aimed for this race because I wanted to give Urara the experience of a Grade 1 race, but this is going to be a tough one. Of course, the goal wasn't just to have her experience it; I trained her to win. But now that both Smart Falcon and Oguri Cap are running, what will happen...?
(Hmm... I can't even predict this one...)
If it were a one-on-one fight with Smart Falcon, the challenge would be how to catch up to her runaway pace. But now that I also have to worry about Oguri Cap's finishing speed, this is going to be very difficult. Urara has already experienced Oguri Cap's double acceleration once before, so she won't be surprised, but how much has Oguri Cap improved since the Japan Derby?
Just like with King, I won't know until the race actually happens. It's possible that both Smart Falcon and Oguri Cap are in bad shape and Urara will win easily. The opposite is also possible.
(All I can do is maintain Urara's condition until the day of the race...)
Since this will be her first Grade 1 race and she'll be wearing her new racing outfit, Urara is in great shape. However, I can't drastically improve her physical abilities before the race. If there was a way to do that, I'd love to know. Still, I know Urara won't give up. So, all I can do is believe in her.
And so, the day of the Japan Dirt Derby arrived. Since Ohi Racecourse is in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, traveling there isn't a problem. There's no need to stay the night before, and we just need to be careful about the weather and public transportation issues.
However, the problem is the time of the race. The Japan Dirt Derby is the 11th race at Ohi Racecourse today. As a Grade 1 race, it's the main event, but the scheduled start time is at 8:05 p.m., which is at night. Urara has never run a race at night before. Neither have Rice or King. So, while paying attention to Urara's condition, I had her loosen up her body at Tracen Academy, eat an early dinner, and then we headed to the racecourse. Since the Japan Dirt Derby is a night race, I had already applied to use Tracen Academy's nighttime facilities for training. But I'm sure the other horse girls did the same. We're not at an advantage, but we're not at a disadvantage either. We're on equal footing.
The Ohi Racecourse was bustling with people despite it being a Wednesday night. The capacity of Ohi Racecourse is 62,000, but there were clearly more people than that crowding the racecourse. They probably wanted to feel the heat of the race even if they couldn't get inside. There were countless people around Ohi Racecourse staring at their phones, watching the race on live broadcast.
Well, yes... I knew this, but I'm really feeling that horse girl racing is a national pastime. It's a mix of joy, pride, and nervousness to have a horse girl I've raised running in such a highly anticipated race.
"Wow... this is amazing..." Urara seems a little dazed by the excitement around her. However, her horse ears and tail are trembling slightly, and her body is shaking, as if she's getting ready to perform her best. Her condition is excellent, and she's as motivated as she was when she won the Unicorn Stakes or her first race. Now, what kind of race will it be?
I place my hand on Urara's head and chuckle. "So many people are looking forward to the Japan Dirt Derby, with you running in it... Doesn't that make you excited?"
"Yeah! I'm so excited!" Urara pumps her fist, looking excited by my words. Her mental state is her usual self, even with her body shaking. She's not putting any more pressure on herself than necessary, even though she's about to run in a Grade 1 race.
"Okay, Trainer! I'm going to go change!"
"Alright, I'll be waiting for you at the paddock."
I see Urara off as she heads to the changing room and then head to the paddock with Rice and King. But for some reason, I feel like I'm walking one step at a time, as if I'm a little dizzy. It's not my first Grade 1 race, as Rice has run in many of them. But because it's Urara's first Grade 1 race, I might be more nervous than she is.
But there's not much I can do from here. I'll just check the condition of the other horse girls at the paddock and give Urara a few words of caution before the race.
(I asked Urara if she was excited, but for her to nod with a smile, she's really something else...) In races and other events, it's common for people to get nervous and be unable to perform their best. In that regard, Urara's mental strength, which allows her to genuinely have fun and get excited while preparing for a Grade 1 race, is a cut above the rest.
With all of this in mind, I head to the paddock.
"Look... over there..."
"She's right..."
I notice a few spectators whispering to each other and looking at me... What's going on? I've been looked at from a distance like this before. When we try to get to the front row of the paddock, the people in front of us seem to notice something and move out of the way... Why? I really don't get it.
I tilt my head, but I'm grateful that they're letting us through, and I make my way to the front row of the paddock. Rice and King also follow me with puzzled looks, but Rice is a famous horse girl. King is also one of the top horse girls in her Classic division, so it's not surprising that they're known. But they're both wearing their Tracen Academy uniforms, so people who are used to seeing them in their racing outfits or training clothes might not recognize them right away...
With that thought in the back of my mind, I look at the paddock. The Japan Dirt Derby today will have a full gate of 16 runners, as shown on the race card distributed beforehand. In addition to Urara, Smart Falcon, and Oguri Cap, the number of horse girls reached the maximum since this is a Grade 1 race only for Classic-level horse girls.
However, the gate numbers for today's race are a bit of a mixed bag.
"Gate 1, number 2, Smart Falcon."
While I was thinking about that, the paddock parade began. Smart Falcon is running in an inner gate today. It's also Smart Falcon's first Grade 1 race, and she's of course wearing her own racing outfit. Smart Falcon's racing outfit is an idol-like outfit with a black, white, and pink theme. Her twin tails are tied with a pink and black diamond-patterned ribbon, and she wears a white collared shirt with a pink corset, and pink ribbons are lined vertically on the front of her body. Her waist is adorned with a white frilly mini-skirt and a pink and black diamond-patterned ruffle on top. Her socks are pink with white frills, and her shoes are a mix of black, white, and pink. For some reason, she's wearing a white frilly garter ring on her left thigh... I wonder what that is.
"Everyone at Ohi Racecourse! Good evening! It's Falco!" Smart Falcon, in her racing outfit, greets the audience in the paddock with an idol-like smile and pose, more than usual.
It looks less like a horse girl race is about to start and more like an idol concert. The audience cheers loudly at Smart Falcon's self-introduction. This is the first time the Classic-level horse girls who mainly run on dirt are showing off their racing outfits. The horse girls wearing their racing outfits look proud, but the audience is overjoyed.
(Her condition... seems to be very good. Her body is in great shape... I can't hope for her to lose on her own.)
I can't help but give a wry smile at Smart Falcon's appearance, which shows no signs of being in bad shape. It would be a failure as a trainer to wish for a rival horse girl's bad condition. No matter how tough an opponent Smart Falcon is, I've trained Urara as much as I could to beat her. So, all I can do is believe in Urara.
"Gate 2, number 3, Haru Urara."
Following Smart Falcon, Urara appears in the paddock. This is the first time she's showing her newly completed racing outfit to the public. Urara shows off her outfit a little shyly but proudly, and then winks at the audience.
"—"
The crowd falls silent at Urara's gesture, something she doesn't usually do, and her brand-new racing outfit.
"—!"
The next moment, when Urara tilts her head at the lack of reaction from the crowd, a huge cheer erupts. It's a roar so loud I can't even make out who's saying what. The cheer is so loud that Urara flinches, and Rice and King, who are on either side of me, jump with their tails.
"Whoaaaaaa?!"
"C-cute—precious—hyaaaah!"
"Oh, oh, oh... seriously... this came from an unexpected direction..."
"That kind of outfit suits her... she's so cute..."
Urara blushes and waves her hand at the compliments and shouts of surprise. She then walks over to Smart Falcon, who had already finished her introduction, and starts talking to her with a smile. Smart Falcon smiles back at Urara. Her smile doesn't seem to have any ulterior motives... but why is she smiling so happily at Urara?
"Gate 2, number 4, Oguri Cap."
The next name to be called is Oguri Cap. This is why the gate numbers are a mixed bag. Urara is in gate 2, number 3, and she is sandwiched between Smart Falcon and Oguri Cap. It's one thing in training, but this is her first time starting a race with strong horse girls on both sides. I hope Urara doesn't get nervous or distracted.
(Hmm? Oguri Cap looks... as spaced out as usual, but... is she not in good shape?)
I suddenly notice something. Oguri Cap is often spaced out, whether she's in the paddock or just after entering the gate, until the race actually begins. So I didn't think it was strange at first, but she looks even more spaced out than usual. However, since I don't have a chance to interact with her normally, I don't know if this is her normal state or if she's really in bad shape. Looking at her body, she seems to be in better shape than she was at the Japan Derby.
"...?"
As I'm observing Oguri Cap, I feel an indescribable chill... no, a strange feeling. I look where my instincts tell me to, and I see Smart Falcon.
(What? She's looking at Oguri Cap... but...)
Smart Falcon, who had been smiling and talking to Urara, is now looking at Oguri Cap with the same smile. But the type of smile she's giving seems to be different from the one she gave Urara.
(It's not that Smart Falcon is wary of Oguri Cap. No, she's probably wary of her, but it's more like...) She's treating her as an enemy, perhaps? It feels like Smart Falcon, who never stops smiling to become an idol, has something intense simmering behind her smile. Urara must have also felt it, as she looks at Smart Falcon with a confused expression.
(I never thought this race would be easy, but this is going to be a tough one, too.)
I confirm what's happening at the paddock, and as Urara approaches, I give her the usual instructions, "Don't get hurt, have fun, and win," and think to myself.
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