Chapter 44. Before the Japanese Derby
A little after three in the afternoon, Tokai Teio finished her classes and arrived at the Sadalsuud Team's activity room.
Shuta An had already prepared all the documents for the race strategy briefing and was simply waiting for her arrival.
After mixing herself a special honey drink, Tokai Teio carried the cup over to the sofa and sat down.
"Ahaha~ another terrible gate draw."
"Getting angry now won't change anything."
Shuta An shook his head.
"The gate draw has already been finalized. What we need to focus on now is the race itself. Gate Twenty is undoubtedly difficult, but Teio is the strongest Uma Musume of her generation. A starting gate alone will never defeat us."
"That's right!"
Tokai Teio immediately set down her cup, stood up, and walked behind him. Placing both hands on his shoulders, she began massaging him.
"I, Teio, am the strongest!"
She leaned forward slightly with a grin.
"Trainer, don't let objective difficulties trouble you. Believe in me. I'll defeat every single opponent."
She paused for a moment.
"And even if all else fails—"
Waiting until Shuta An turned his head, she continued.
"At the very least, believe in yourself. After all, I've been personally trained by Trainer ever since before I became a full-fledged Uma Musume."
"You're right."
Shuta An nodded.
Picking up the remote control, he lowered the projection screen and switched on the projector, displaying the documents he had prepared.
"Let's begin."
The young man stood up.
"The outermost gate truly offers no advantages. However, we can still minimize the disadvantages as much as possible."
He pointed at the screen.
"First, let's discuss race pace."
"There are three Uma Musume in this field capable of taking the lead. However, the one most likely to secure it is After Me."
"She set a very fast pace in the Satsuki Sho."
Tokai Teio still remembered that race clearly.
"Correct."
Shuta An nodded.
"Considering the track conditions, After Me's pace was extremely aggressive that day."
He changed the slide.
"However, this is her first attempt at 2400 meters. She also failed to get the pace she wanted in her previous race. Based on that, I believe she'll adopt a much more conservative strategy this time. She won't attempt another runaway lead."
"Even if she stubbornly insists on doing so, Shin Horisky, who starts nearby, will definitely pressure her."
Shuta An looked directly at Tokai Teio.
"And when two front-runners become entangled?"
"They only hurt each other."
Tokai Teio answered immediately.
"Exactly."
The laser pointer landed on another section of the screen.
"If that happens, I want you to mark Hokusei Ciboulette. She starts from Gate Eighteen, prefers front-running tactics, and is the closest of the three pace horses to your position. Just follow her."
"And if nobody fights for the lead?"
Tokai Teio blinked.
"Then I don't need to mark her, right? I can simply angle inward after the start?"
"Don't rush toward the rail."
Shuta An immediately shook his head.
"After the gates open, accelerate first. Then gradually angle inward while creating space for yourself. By the time you pass the finish line for the first time, I want you settled into the leading group."
"If the race develops into a slower pace, my ideal passing order is six-six-six-three."
Tokai Teio understood instantly.
"So I move forward before entering the final straight and break away from the leading group?"
"Exactly." Her ability to grasp his intentions no longer surprised him. "In this race, try to maintain roughly sixty-four seconds for the opening thousand meters. I trust your internal clock."
"If the pace becomes too fast, you can drop back one or two positions. But don't allow yourself to get boxed in."
He tapped the screen.
"In a fast-paced race, weaker Uma Musume often become obstacles when you launch your move in the stretch. You need to avoid getting trapped behind them before that happens."
"Anyway, I'm starting from the outermost gate." Tokai Teio gave him a thumbs-up. "I'll just stay outside the pack the entire way."
She grinned.
"You can leave that to me, Trainer."
"I'm not worried."
Shuta An smiled slightly.
"As for the detailed pace projections, I'll send them to you tomorrow after the weather forecast comes out."
"For the next few days, no more serious training. Tomorrow morning, jog two laps around the First Training Ground, then rest until race day."
After saying that, he looked directly at Tokai Teio.
"In this briefing, I haven't spent much time discussing specific opponents. Because I don't believe they're the opponents you should be focusing on."
His voice became quieter.
"The shadow you're chasing belongs to Oguri Cap. To Miss Rudolf. To the names engraved in the history of the Twinkle Series. Don't forget your original dream."
Shuta An hesitated briefly before reaching out and placing a hand atop Tokai Teio's head.
"I've always felt Japan places too much importance on the Derby. Still, a glory that can only be challenged once in a lifetime is something everyone longs for."
"Teio." His gaze remained steady. "Go win this race."
"Go prove that among the Uma Musume in this generation, you are the strongest."
"I'll prove something greater than that."
Tokai Teio shook her head. Pushing away his hand, she lifted her face and met his eyes directly.
"I won't merely prove that I'm the strongest of this generation."
Her confident smile returned.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Shuta An nodded.
"Good."
—
Saturday afternoon.
Shuta personally accompanied Tokai Teio to Tokyo Racecourse.
She would remain there overnight before the Japanese Derby.
After returning home, the young man pressed a hand against his forehead and quietly entered his room.
"Tomorrow's Japanese Derby must be won."
Despite already having dozens of G1 victories to his name, his heart still became restless whenever a major race involving one of his own trainees approached.
As a result, both his appetite and his desire for anything unrelated to racing declined sharply during these periods.
The Uma Musume who knew him well understood this habit perfectly.
During the days immediately before a major race, none of them would disturb him.
Sitting alone in his study, Shuta An stared silently at the computer screen for a long time. Eventually, he exhaled and shook his head.
"Let's start thinking about the Yasuda Kinen."
Although the Japanese Derby had yet to take place, he could not afford to focus solely on the second Classic race.
After all, Mejiro Dober would be running in next week's Spring Mile Championship aka Yasuda Kinen.
The Japanese Derby and the Yasuda Kinen were never a matter of choosing one over the other.
He wanted both.
"No one wants to win more than I do."
Murmuring those words, the young man imported Tokyo Racecourse's track data into the analysis software.
A series of simulation windows appeared on the screen as he began testing various scenarios for a 1600-meter turf race under different pace and weather conditions.
—
The next morning, Shuta An woke before dawn and completed his usual preparations. Since Oguri Cap and the others were busy making final adjustments for the upcoming Dream Trophy Series, he headed to Central Tracen Academy alone to pick up Kurofune and the rest before departing for Tokyo Racecourse.
Even before arriving, he could already feel the atmosphere surrounding the Japanese Derby.
When they reached Tokyo Racecourse, Shuta An immediately noticed that a massive crowd of Twinkle Series fans had already gathered outside the main entrance. Despite the gates not yet being open, countless spectators were waiting eagerly, hoping to enter as soon as possible.
As affiliated personnel, the members of Team Sadalsuud naturally used the associates' entrance.
Of course, reporters had already stationed themselves there as well.
Knowing exactly what they wanted to ask, Shuta An dismissed them with a single sentence.
"Tokai Teio is in excellent condition, and even starting gate 20 cannot shake our determination to win."
With that, he led the team inside.
Incidentally, the Central URA Association had announced the previous night that beginning next year, the maximum field size for the Japanese Derby would be reduced to eighteen entrants. In other words, if Tokai Teio managed to win from starting gate 20, it would become an achievement that no future Uma Musume could ever replicate.
"Looking at it that way," Shuta An muttered to himself after entering the associates' passage, "it makes winning this race even more important."
After finishing a bottle of sparkling water inside the Box, Nishizaki Ryu and Kitahara arrived, bringing only the members from their respective teams who wished to watch the Japanese Derby live.
"Hana said Team Rigil has their own Box, so they won't be coming over," Nishizaki Ryu explained as he sat down on the sofa.
"What about Minamisaka?" Shuta An glanced around and noticed that neither Trainer Minamisaka nor the Uma Musume of Team Canopus were present.
"Minamisaka said the girls felt there would be too much pressure if they watched together with us, so they went to the grandstands instead," Kitahara replied with a shrug. "Even though the teams get along well."
"Maybe he has something he wants them to observe from the stands," Shuta An said, offering an explanation.
In reality, Minamisaka had deliberately led the members of Team Canopus to the trackside grandstand area closest to the course itself.
"I heard McQueen and the others are watching from the Box," Ikuno Dictus said first, adjusting her glasses. "Team Spica doesn't even have a runner today, so why are they there?"
"Because none of their current members are preparing for an age-restricted Classic race," Minamisaka replied calmly.
Then he turned toward Nice Nature.
"Nature, I want you to watch this Japanese Derby carefully today. After that, decide how you want the rest of your season to unfold."
"Mm. I understand."
Nice Nature nodded softly.
To be honest, she wasn't particularly familiar with most of the Classic-generation Uma Musume. The only one she had interacted with frequently was Tokai Teio.
But after thinking about it, she realized something.
Although she had watched Teio train many times, she had never once witnessed her race from the grandstands.
"So this is what Trainer wants me to see—"
Nice Nature slowly understood his intention.
"He wants me to decide whether I truly have the confidence to challenge Tokai Teio."
—
The Japanese Derby was the eleventh race on Tokyo Racecourse's schedule.
At exactly three o'clock in the afternoon, Tokai Teio's image appeared on the giant screen.
Having completed the check-in process, she stood quietly near the exit of the underground passage, calmly observing her surroundings.
Many of today's competitors were familiar faces, but she wasn't particularly close to any of them.
Likewise, none of them seemed eager to approach her.
Tokai Teio's expression was cool and composed, and most of the other contestants instinctively felt that forcing a conversation now would only make things awkward.
Because she had drawn starting gate 20, Tokai Teio was the final participant to enter the paddock.
After Tsurumaru Mochi O, assigned to gate 19, stepped off the paddock path, Tokai Teio brushed past her and placed a foot onto the first step leading into the ring.
At that moment—
Tokyo Racecourse erupted.
Thunderous cheers swept through the venue like a tidal wave.
"NUMBER 8! STARTING GATE 20! TOKAI TEIO, THE UNDEFEATED SATSUKI SHO CHAMPION! CAN SHE BECOME THE FIRST TWO-CROWN WINNER SINCE SYMBOLI RUDOLF?!" the race commentator shouted.
"She once again draws an outside gate, just as she did in the Satsuki Sho. However, her previous performance demonstrated a level of ability clearly above the rest of her generation. I'm extremely eager to see what kind of race she delivers today. If she wins convincingly again, then I believe this year's Kikuka Sho may already have its answer," added the guest commentator.
"So confident?" Mejiro McQueen murmured from inside the Box, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Teio is undoubtedly strong, but 3000 meters remains completely unknown territory for her."
"Assuming she wins the Kikuka Sho," Nishizaki Ryu said, apparently having caught McQueen's thoughts, "does Ann-san plan to let Tokai Teio challenge next year's Spring Tenno Sho?"
"No." Shuta An answered immediately. "I have no such plans."
"Eh?" Kitahara blinked in surprise. "You wouldn't keep proving her domestically? You'd send her overseas as a senior?"
"She'll still race domestically," Shuta An clarified. "Just not in the Spring Tenno Sho."
He shrugged lightly.
"If Teio accomplishes the feat of becoming a Triple Crown winner, then next year she should leave Japan."
The room fell silent.
"Cross the ocean. Fly beyond the skies. Challenge the world itself."
"That," Shuta An said quietly, "is the destiny of a Triple Crown winner."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Only the voices of the commentators continued playing through the television.
"I never realized Ann-san's expectations for Teio were this high—" Kitahara finally said. "Crossing the ocean and conquering the world—isn't that basically aiming to surpass Oguri Cap?"
"That's Teio's own dream as well." Shuta An's expression remained calm. "And personally, I think it's a very good dream."
"Then everything begins today, doesn't it?" Nishizaki Ryu smiled. "Starting gate 20. The outermost draw. A trial worthy of a future legend. I'm looking forward to seeing what Tokai Teio can do."
"She won't disappoint you."
Shuta An's confidence was absolute.
At this stage, there was nothing more he could do for Tokai Teio.
Every reminder had already been given.
Every preparation had already been completed.
Every possible scenario had already been discussed.
The rest depended entirely on Tokai Teio herself.
And perhaps because of that, Shuta An felt an unusual sense of calm settle over his heart.
For the first time in days, there was no anxiety.
Only anticipation.