The Hanshin Daishoten was scheduled for 3:35 PM, just ten minutes before the Spring Stakes.
Under normal circumstances—without any troublesome Uma Musume resisting the gates or unexpected incidents like lost horseshoes—ten minutes was more than enough to finish preparations.
After inserting a brief livestream segment featuring Gold Ship, it seemed that her words had inspired competitors beyond just Kitasan Black. Gate entry went unusually smoothly.
At exactly 3:45 PM, the announcer's voice echoed clearly across the track:
"All Uma Musume have entered their gates."
"Now, at Nakayama Racecourse, the G2 Spring Stakes, turf 1800 meters. Weather clear, turf condition good..."
"Start!"
The gates flew open with a resounding bang.
Without the slightest hesitation, Kitasan Black, already coiled for release, ducked her body low, driving powerfully forward with her left rear leg, exploding into motion.
But in the very next instant, she glimpsed something from the corner of her eye, causing her brow to wrinkle slightly.
She wore number 1 in this race, positioned at the innermost gate. All her rivals were outside.
The moment the gates opened, an Uma Musume with flowing black hair and pale blue earrings closed in aggressively from her right side.
Mynah Major, huh? Trying to snatch the lead right from the start...
But the angle wasn't sharp enough to break any rules, so…
Does this even count as gate blocking...?
Rapidly recalling the countless scenarios she'd studied, Kitasan Black's brow furrowed deeper.
She'd noticed something peculiar about Mynah Major's strides and positioning right from the gate.
Kitasan Black had practiced starting tactics extensively, regularly training alongside masters like Daiwa Scarlet, an expert front-runner.
She had experienced countless positioning techniques during those sessions—and she'd executed one herself just now.
But Mynah Major's current maneuver was unlike anything she'd seen from Daiwa Scarlet.
According to Twinkle Series regulations, diagonal cutting across the track was prohibited, as it risked dangerously interfering with trailing runners.
At speeds of 60 km/h, a collision could be catastrophic.
She'd heard stories from her trainer Yasui Makoto about such incidents: distant yet haunting examples like Tamamo Cross-senpai, who had suffered lasting psychological scars after a similar accident during her classic year, and more recent cases like Mejiro McQueen-senpai, who had been stripped from first to last place in the Tenno Sho (Autumn) due to obstructing another competitor. That race marked the first ever G1-level demotion after the Twinkle Series introduced the interference rules.
However, Kitasan Black knew clearly that Mynah Major wasn't violating any rules.
Her positioning was skillful—barely half a meter away horizontally, close enough to appear intimidating yet leaving just enough space for reaction. Vertically, Mynah Major was just centimeters ahead—an ambiguous gap that allowed a swift dash forward or an abrupt inward cut at any moment.
Crucially, the straight segment at the beginning of the Spring Stakes was less than 200 meters, quickly leading into the first curve, which meant the entire initial stretch subtly curved inward. This slight bend made enforcing the straight-line interference rule tricky, providing ample wiggle room on the inside.
As a result, Kitasan Black found her stride cramped. Forced inward repeatedly by Mynah Major's relentless pressure, her movements became smaller and tighter.
This confirmed her suspicion—the opponent was deliberately targeting her.
The further Kitasan moved inward, the more Mynah mirrored her, always maintaining that delicate distance.
Yet, despite the furrow in her brow, an odd sense of excitement and growing confidence stirred in Kitasan Black's heart.
Her confidence stemmed from Yasui Makoto's careful preparation—he'd forewarned her about scenarios like this, including exactly how to handle them. She felt completely calm, sure she could manage the situation.
Her excitement, though, was due to the caliber of competition she now faced.
Until now, she'd only competed in Pre-OP and OP races. This G2 stakes race was her first taste of graded competition.
She'd always wondered how she'd feel and react when facing such formidable opponents, and now she found herself in exactly that scenario.
Graded race competitors really are on another level…
But this kind of competition... is exactly what I hoped for!
An electrifying thrill surged through her, filling every muscle, and she couldn't help but steal a glance at the rivals outside.
Simultaneously, she subtly reduced her pace—a small, intentional adjustment.
No one farther away noticed Kitasan Black's subtle shift in pace or her quiet glance.
But Mynah Major saw everything clearly—and felt deeply confused.
What's going on...? Why doesn't she look anxious at all?
Strange. Trainer said apart from Unyielding True Steel and Noda Gold, she's also someone to watch closely.
But why isn't she panicking?
Isn't she known for stalking tactics and then overtaking with a final sprint? Why give up the chance to break forward now?
With her inner position and limited final speed, how does she plan to win...?
Despite her confusion, Mynah Major hadn't forgotten the other opponents.
Wearing number 2, her gate position was just slightly outside Kitasan Black's. It had both advantages and drawbacks: easier access to the inside lane and energy savings—but higher risk of being trapped within the pack.
Yet, from the start, she'd noticed other competitors' focus was on gates 6 and 8.
Those positions were significantly better. Centrally located, they provided strategic flexibility—cutting inward or outward easily—allowing early positional advantage.
More importantly, gate 6 belonged to the race favorite Unyielding True Steel, famous for devastating late kicks, while gate 8 was occupied by Noda Gold, another popular contender boasting rare G1 victories among her peers. With such stellar positions, it was natural they'd attract everyone's attention.
Hence, most outer competitors were busy jostling with Unyielding True Steel and Noda Gold, completely missing the subtle drama unfolding inside.
Perfect. Once we're through this initial phase, I'll grab the optimal stalking position as trainer planned...
Just as Mynah Major refocused her attention on Kitasan Black, a sudden figure with short, light-brown hair flashed into view from her left side, overtaking at lightning speed.
So fast! That's...
Susan Muse!
As expected—she's going for the lead!
Perfect. Everything's unfolding exactly as trainer predicted. Now, just behind Susan Muse, I'll...
"Eh?!"
The instant she prepared to accelerate, Mynah Major gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.
At the same moment she'd spotted Susan Muse on her left, another shadow with short black hair surged forward on her right, blasting past her in the blink of an eye.