Chapter 66
The Hanshin Daishoten was scheduled to begin at 3:35 PM, just ten minutes before the Spring Stakes.
Under normal circumstances, ten minutes was more than enough time to finish loading everyone into the gates... unless there were particularly difficult horses or unexpected problems such as a lost horseshoe.
After the live broadcast segment featuring Gold Ship, her words seemed to energize the other Uma Musume. The gate loading process went quite smoothly as a result.
At 3:45 PM, the commentator's voice came through right on time.
"All right, all the Uma Musume have loaded into the gates. Next up at Nakayama Racecourse, we have the G2 Spring Stakes. Turf, 1800 meters. Clear weather and good track conditions… Start!"
With a resounding bang, the gates flew open.
Kitasan Black had been coiled and ready. The moment the signal sounded, she lowered her body, drove powerfully off her rear left leg, and shot forward like an arrow.
In the next instant, something caught her eye from the side, and her brows furrowed slightly.
She was in gate 1, the innermost position, with every rival starting to her outside.
The instant the gates opened, a Uma Musume with long black hair and light blue earrings pressed in tightly beside her.
...Daiwa Major? It seems she wants to snatch the lead right away...
Still, that level of contact was not enough to count as a foul, so...
Is she trying to box me in...?
Her mind quickly ran through the race analysis she had studied so many times, and her frown deepened.
From the very moment the gates opened, she could tell that the stride and positioning of the number 2 horse, Daiwa Major, felt highly unusual.
In training she had practiced leading positions extensively. She had even run alongside elite frontrunners like Daiwa Scarlet, who was exceptionally skilled at controlling the pace from the front.
She had experienced a wide variety of positioning tactics during those sessions, including the one she had just used off the break.
However, Daiwa Major's approach felt completely different from anything she had ever sensed from Daiwa Scarlet.
According to the rules of the Twinkle Series, running diagonally across a straight section of the track was generally forbidden, since it could obstruct the path of horses behind.
A collision at full racing speed of around sixty kilometers per hour would be no joke.
Yasui Makoto had told her about many such incidents.
There was her senior Tamamo Cross, for example. She had been caught in a similar situation during her Classic year. The psychological scars left her unable to race at her full potential for a long time afterward.
More recently there was senior Mejiro McQueen. During the Autumn Tenno Sho she had interfered with other competitors by running diagonally. The stewards took it seriously and demoted her from first place all the way to last.
That event had also marked the first time a demotion occurred in a G1 race under the new rules in the Japanese Twinkle Series.
Yet Kitasan Black knew without a doubt that Daiwa Major beside her was not actually fouling.
This opponent's positioning was calculated to perfection.
Horizontally she stayed less than half a meter away, close enough to create constant pressure and the threat of contact, yet still left just enough space for reaction time.
Vertically she was likely a few to a dozen centimeters ahead. It was an incredibly subtle distance that allowed her to challenge for the lead immediately while making the inside horse feel constantly threatened by a possible cut-in.
Even more critical was the layout of the Spring Stakes course. The early straight was short, less than 200 meters, and the first turn came up quickly. The opening section was also slightly curved.
This made it very difficult to commit a clear diagonal-running foul, since there was actually sufficient room on the inside to maneuver.
The pressure also affected Kitasan Black's own stride.
Because of Daiwa Major's positioning, she was forced to keep making small, continuous adjustments inward.
The further she cut in, the further Daiwa Major matched her, maintaining that precise, unsettling distance.
As her brows furrowed even more, a sense of confidence and a strange surge of excitement gradually welled up inside her.
Her confidence came from the fact that Yasui Makoto had already prepared her for this exact scenario.
Not only had he warned her about it, he had also taught her precisely how to respond.
With that mental preparation, she felt no panic whatsoever facing Daiwa Major's tactics. She was certain she could handle it.
The excitement came from facing a truly worthy opponent.
All her previous races had been at the Pre-OP and OP levels. This was her first time competing in a major G2 event.
She had heard from Yasui Makoto many times about the difference in class between regular races and major ones.
She had often wondered what it would feel like to face a truly strong rival in a big race.
Now that the moment had arrived, she discovered she had only two clear feelings.
Opponents at this level really are on another tier.
But the chance to compete against someone this strong feels absolutely wonderful!
A shiver of excitement ran through her body from deep within. Kitasan Black could not resist scanning the other competitors on the outside with her peripheral vision.
At the same time, she quietly and subtly eased her pace just a fraction.
The runners farther out did not notice her glance or the slight change in speed.
Daiwa Major, however, noticed it very clearly.
And it left her both puzzled and surprised.
What is going on? Why does she not seem anxious at all?
That is odd. Trainer had specifically pointed her out as someone to watch, in addition to Real Steel and Noda King Colt, but...
Why is she not hurrying?
Is she not known for sitting back and then launching a powerful late surge to overtake the field?
By giving up the chance to break free so easily, has she abandoned that strategy?
But if she stays trapped on the inside, her finishing speed might not be enough...
So how does she intend to win?
Even as these questions ran through her mind, Daiwa Major remained aware of the situation on her other side.
She was in gate 2, only slightly to the outside of Kitasan Black.
This position had both advantages and drawbacks. The advantage was easier access to the rail and better stamina conservation. The disadvantage was the higher risk of getting boxed in by the pack.
However, when she broke from the gate she had already confirmed that the other competitors were mostly focused on gates 6 and 8.
Those central gates offered greater flexibility for both cutting in and moving wide, allowing for better tactical options and early positioning advantages.
Most importantly, gate 6 held the heavy favorite Real Steel, and gate 8 held the second favorite Noda King Colt.
One was renowned for her explosive finishing kick, and the other possessed a rare G1 victory among her peers. With good gate draws on top of that, it was only natural they attracted so much attention.
Because of this, most of the outside runners were preoccupied with the two favorites, completely unaware of the quiet battle unfolding on the inside rail.
Good. If things stay like this, once the early stages settle down I will be able to take the ideal leading position exactly as Trainer planned...
Just as that thought crossed her mind, Daiwa Major was about to turn her attention back to Kitasan Black when a figure with short light-brown hair suddenly shot forward from her left in her peripheral vision.
...So fast! That is...
Musee Sultan!
Of course! She is the one taking the early lead in this race!
Perfect. Everything is proceeding according to Trainer's prediction. In that case, the position right behind Musee Sultan will be mine...
"Eh?!"
The moment she prepared to accelerate, Daiwa Major suddenly cried out in surprise, her eyes widening.
Right after spotting Musee Sultan bursting ahead on her left, a figure with short black hair suddenly accelerated sharply on her right side and passed her in the blink of an eye.