Chapter 160: Using the St. Lite Kinen as a Test Run
All G1 races in the Twinkle Series have their corresponding preliminary races, which are mostly G2 and G3 events.
Every preliminary race grants priority entry rights—placing within the designated ranks allows a racer to directly qualify for the associated G1.
Usually the requirement is first place, though sometimes it extends to the top two or top three.
For example, in the Spring Stakes that Kitasan Black previously raced in, the top three finishers earned priority entry into the Satsuki Sho.
Aside from providing qualification, preliminary races also serve as a "rehearsal".
Take the Spring Stakes again: both it and the subsequent Satsuki Sho are held at Nakayama Racecourse, and the distances are fairly close—1800 meters and 2000 meters.
Participating in the Spring Stakes clearly helps a racer become more familiar with the Satsuki Sho.
Judging from past results, racers who place well in the Spring Stakes generally perform well in the Satsuki Sho too.
However, in Makoto's view, some preliminary race setups aren't all that reasonable.
For example, the Kikuka Sho trials: the St. Lite Kinen and the Kobe Shimbun Hai.
The Kikuka Sho is a 3000-meter long-distance race, yet these two trials are mid-distance races of 2200 meters and 2400 meters.
The courses are drastically different as well—the Kikuka Sho is run at Kyoto Racecourse, while the two trials are held at Nakayama and Hanshin respectively.
According to the Association's explanation, the setup of these preliminary races has historical roots, backed by various references to racing history.
That reasoning isn't incomprehensible, but in terms of race preparation, the St. Lite Kinen and Kobe Shimbun Hai are clearly less relevant than the Spring Stakes is to the Satsuki Sho.
Still, after thinking it over, Makoto found he had no real alternative.
With Kitasan Black's popularity, qualifying for the Kikuka Sho wouldn't be a problem.
The issue was that aside from the two preliminary races, the other available races were even less suitable for reference.
It was already August, and the Kikuka Sho was in September. During this period, there were only two long-distance races available: the Tancho Stakes and the Sapporo Nikkei Open.
Both were indeed long-distance races, but the distance was only 2600 meters, and even then, the venue was Sapporo Racecourse.
Sapporo is located in Hokkaido, and its environment is dramatically different from Kyoto.
Not to mention the turf was special—it used a foreign grass variety not found on any other Japanese course.
All in all, these two long-distance races were far from ideal, and historically, no Kikuka Sho contenders had used them as prep races.
Using the St. Lite Kinen to test the results of the special training, then relying on further 3000-meter workouts and endurance training to target the Kikuka Sho—that was Makoto's plan for this training camp.
What he didn't expect was that not only were Silence Suzuka and Rice Shower unaware of it, but it seemed even Kitasan Black herself didn't remember.
"St. Lite… ah, right…"
Reminded by Makoto, Kitasan Black showed a look of sudden realization.
Scratching her head in embarrassment, she glanced apologetically at Makoto, then looked toward Silence Suzuka and Rice Shower.
"Sorry… I was only thinking about the Kikuka Sho. The St. Lite Kinen—well, I have been preparing seriously for it!"
Seeing her hurried attempt to explain, the two veteran racers simply smiled kindly and nodded, and Makoto's slight exasperation faded instantly.
Just as Kitasan Black said, even though her focus was entirely on the Kikuka Sho, she had never slacked off even once during this nearly month-long training camp on Mount Mitō.
Or rather, precisely because she was so fixated on the final race of the Classic Triple Crown, her concentration had been so intense.
The first two weeks consisted of two overload training sessions per week; this week, it had already increased to three.
Every morning was basic training, with specialized training sessions and paired runs in the morning and afternoon.
Between them were indoor workouts and machine training at Lake Okutama, plus swimming sessions.
Day after day of this routine—Kitasan Black's hard work was something all three of them saw clearly.
"I'm not blaming you. As long as you still remember the St. Lite Kinen, that's enough."
Makoto said this with an amused smile, then his tone grew serious.
"This race is at Nakayama, so you're very familiar with the course. The distance is 2200 meters, so that won't be a problem either."
"My plan is this: since you know the track well, and the race distance is within your capability, we can use this race as a rehearsal for the Kikuka Sho."
"If everything goes smoothly, we'll be able to determine exactly what running style and tactics to use in the end."
Kitasan Black nodded with the same serious expression, then suddenly her eyes lit up, and she asked a bit eagerly:
"A rehearsal for the Kikuka Sho… Trainer, does that mean you want me to use the burst front running style in the Kikuka Sho?"
Hearing this, Silence Suzuka looked at Makoto thoughtfully, while Rice Shower, who had been quiet until now, hesitated.
"Burst front running in the Kikuka Sho… it would be very hard to win, wouldn't it? Rice remembers that even without burst front running, in past Kikuka Sho races, the number of front runners who won…"
Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly panicked.
"S–sorry, Makoto-san! Rice wasn't doubting you… Rice just… just…"
After nearly a month together, Makoto was fairly familiar with Rice Shower's personality—he knew she was quite shy and introverted, so he quickly spoke with a reassuring tone.
"Rice Shower, you don't need to worry so much. I understand what you mean."
"In fact, not just the Kikuka Sho—Burst Front Running in long-distance races, or even just winning as a front runner, is rare to begin with."
"Let me think…"
He recalled the race history.
"In terms of the Kikuka Sho alone, a front runner who won… I remember Seiun Sky."
After mentioning the racer's name, he continued:
"So precisely because front runners have a hard time winning, I want to help Kitasan Black expand her range of front running techniques."
"I talked about this with Suzuka as well, and she also thinks this approach is perfectly sound."
This had been Makoto's intention from the very beginning.
For fans, the sight of a front runner alone at the head of the pack is a beautiful scene.
But for racers and trainers, getting a front runner to win is far harder than using other running styles.
When you are out in front by yourself, you rely entirely on your own judgment of the race situation—one small mistake and everything collapses.
The stamina cost is high too, you have to adjust your pace multiple times to ensure you don't slow down at the finish.
And the entire time you also have to respond to the attacks from behind. That takes not only physical stamina but also mental focus to read the situation.
For short, mile, or mid-distance races it's manageable, but for long distances everything is magnified—saying the burden doubles isn't an exaggeration.
Based on that, Makoto asked Rice Shower to help improve Kitasan Black's defensive endurance, and asked Silence Suzuka to help her expand her front running techniques.
Using the St. Lite Kinen as a trial run—this was the approach that would maximize their chances of winning the Kikuka Sho.
"Mm! Suzuka-senpai already told me about this!"
Kitasan Black nodded repeatedly.
"She told me before that her Solo Front Runner style isn't suitable for everyone, and that I should just learn what I can instead of forcing it… she said something similar just now, too."
"I see…"
Rice Shower let out a small breath of relief, pressing a hand gently to her chest.
"Then Rice has nothing to worry about… so…"
She looked up with a slightly timid but confident smile.
"Rice will keep working hard to help…"
"Thank you so much, Rice Shower. And thank you too, Suzuka."
Sincerely expressing his gratitude, Makoto then shifted the topic with a smile.
"But since we've been doing special training for so long, it's time for a bit of a break."
"And it just so happens that there's a race on this week's race day, Kitasan's been saying for ages that she wants to go watch it."
"So let's take the opportunity to head to the racecourse and relax a bit."
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