Chapter 51. The Turf as Seen and the Pre-Race Agreement
On Sunday, Shuta An, who had sent Tokai Teio into Hanshin Racecourse for isolation last night, woke up very early.
Because this Takarazuka Kinen was in Kansai, considering transportation issues, the young man had arranged for Mejiro Dober to bring the Uma Musume from the Sadalsuud team to fly from Tokyo's airport to Osaka this morning to watch the race. So, when Shuta An stepped into the Racecourse's Box, he was alone.
Standing alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, he squinted, gazing at the condition of the Hanshin Racecourse turf.
Today, the Hanshin Racecourse was listed as a good track, but in the young man's eyes, the turf looked very moist today.
"It looks like the kind of turf that's not easy to run on."
Noticing this, Shuta An's heart stirred. He casually grabbed a can of sparkling water from the fridge, then left the Box he had just entered barely a minute ago—
Sipping the sparkling water, Shuta An went downstairs, preparing to walk the course before even the display segment of today's first race had begun.
As an insider, the young man had the qualification to walk the course, so stepping onto the turf was smooth, and no one stopped him.
The first step Shuta An took onto the turf, he frowned.
"Just as I thought." the young man murmured to himself. "The turf's moisture content is quite high. Can this really be listed as a good track? The experience is clearly that of a slightly heavy track."
And the condition of the turf made the young man realize another very important thing.
"The solution I told Teio for the Hanshin 2200 meters definitely cannot be used."
Because as long as Mejiro Palmer wanted to win, she would definitely not set a super-fast pace on this kind of turf.
"Then Teio will most likely have to use her own understanding."
Shuta An already understood this, and knew that its occurrence was inevitable.
"But it doesn't matter."
The young man did not feel nervous.
Because the battle strategy Tokai Teio had proposed at the time was already one of the less common solutions for the Hanshin Racecourse 2200-meter course.
—
At noon, Shuta An waited until the Sadalsuud team of Uma Musume arrived at Hanshin Racecourse before leading them to lunch.
"The completion times for this morning's races were all a bit slow." While eating lunch, Mejiro Dober looked up at her lover. "Ann, are you prepared?"
"High turf moisture content is not a bad thing for Tokai Teio."
The young man shook his head.
"In fact, I think this course is even more beneficial for Tokai Teio—I can't help but feel sorry for Miss McQueen."
"Ann has a lot of confidence in Teio."
Mejiro Dober raised an eyebrow, not surprised. Once you spend enough time with Tokai Teio, it's hard not to believe in her.
"A heavier track also means greater consumption, but thankfully Teio's next race is in August, so she'll have time to recover well."
Shuta An had already told Mejiro Dober about Tokai Teio's desire to go to Europe next Monday.
Therefore, Dober's took over the conversation.
"Then she should indeed go to Europe early, so as not to waste time adjusting to the time difference."
Shuta An didn't comment on this, as from his observation, Tokai Teio adjusted to the time difference quite easily.
—
Meanwhile, Tokai Teio in the waiting room was sitting on the sofa watching the live broadcast.
"During the first race, I thought the competition level was too low, but now after three turf races, looking back, it must be that the turf today is very wet?"
Tokai Teio narrowed her eyes and muttered to herself.
"In that case, I can't use the Trainer's instructed tactics. My initial idea must be correct—even if the Trainer were standing here now, he would probably agree with me."
Tokai Teio changed her posture, leaning on the sofa.
"McQueen must have also noticed the issue with the track today and will likely choose the same— No, she will use her stamina advantage to get an even better position than me!"
The Undefeated Triple Crown had already analyzed the potential actions of her only opponent in this race.
Tokai Teio, brimming with confidence, looked up at the ceiling of the waiting room.
"McQueen, I certainly can't beat you in long-distance races, but in middle-distance, you are even less of a match for me. If this Takarazuka Kinen doesn't make you realize this, then I will personally make you experience this fact in this year's Japan Cup and Arima Kinen."
When the staff of Hanshin Racecourse outside the door reminded the Uma Musume participating in the Takarazuka Kinen to start reporting, Tokai Teio, who had long been ready, pushed the door open, walked with light steps to the registration desk, and signed her name.
—
After completing this, Tokai Teio stood alone at the exit of the underground passage, looking at the outdoor scenery. It had rained intermittently for most of last night, and after a morning of races, the inner turf track already looked somewhat muddy. Because of this, Tokai Teio, standing at the exit, could clearly smell the scent of soil.
Looking at the poor turf, she did not show an expression of disgust; on the contrary, gazing at the track where she would battle an hour later, Tokai Teio was now full of fighting spirit.
"The turf is like this, yet it's still rated 'Good.' Sometimes I really don't understand what the URA Association and these Racecourse managers are thinking."
Mejiro McQueen, who had also finished signing in, came to Tokai Teio's side and complained.
"It's not surprising."
Tokai Teio, however, understood why this discrepancy occurred.
"After all, the track rating looks at the average water content across the entire track. Today it should be infinitely close to 'Slightly Heavy,' but on average, there must be sampled areas with very low water content."
"Probably the far outside lane." Mejiro McQueen shrugged. "This is good news for us."
"Don't joke, McQueen." Tokai Teio rolled her eyes at her friend. "Can we really run on the far outside the whole time? We definitely need to stick close to the inside to save energy."
Mejiro McQueen's lips curled up, seemingly in a very good mood, as if she felt no pre-race pressure.
"It looks like Teio is also very relaxed."
After hearing Mejiro McQueen's remark, Tokai Teio patted her shoulder and said the words she had wanted to tell her friend since Wednesday but hadn't—
"McQueen, promise me. After you lose to me later, don't show weakness and cry."
"I won't!" Mejiro McQueen glared back. "Rather, Teio, you shouldn't cry either!"
"I won't either."
Tokai Teio's face showed a gentle expression, but this expression looked quite intimidating in Mejiro McQueen's eyes.
"Because I am Teio, who will not lose a race."