"The top pick—Platinum."
"Miss Platinum, please proceed to the track entrance."
Before long, a staff member for the race pushed the door open and delivered the reminder.
The silver-haired girl already had her bow slung across her back and her quiver fastened, calmly stepping forward.
Platinum's expectations for this race weren't particularly high. There were no opponents skilled or intriguing enough to make her want to take it seriously and finish things quickly.
So, Platinum turned her thoughts to racing strategy.
'Should I go for the lead?'
'Or… maybe hang back instead?'
As Platinum swiftly made her way out from the backstage area—
The staff member turned and continued.
"The second pick, Fame and Glory, please prepare to enter."
The golden-haired young lady known as Fame and Glory was one of the core members of the Coolmore Group.
She, too, could hardly wait for the race to begin!
This was the Undefeated Pegasus, Platinum! It was no exaggeration to say the whole world was watching.
If she could be defeated… even by the dirtiest, most underhanded tactics of boxing her in…
The infamy would be worth it—the glory would be immense!
Rather than remaining obscure forever, why not seize this victory, stained though it might be with notoriety and honor? Rally the strength of the Coolmore Group, form a legion-like offensive, and trap Platinum!
Fame and Glory refused to believe that any Uma Musume could break through a defense line formed by four out of eight opponents containing her.
If someone actually managed that… what kind of monster would they have to be?
Fame and Glory didn't think that was possible. Her task now was to prepare to snipe the Pegasus!!
Finally… the chance had come!
'During this time, we specifically sought out front-running Uma Musume to improve our starting acceleration, positioning, and even pace control.'
'Box in the Pegasus, control the rhythm, and victory will be in our hands.'
'Aside from Platinum, the other four Uma Musume are nothing special. The winner will definitely come from our Coolmore Group!'
--+--
[The Eclipse Stakes begins! With nine participants—the closest to double digits in this event's history—this race welcomes heavyweight contenders.]
[Now entering the track is the Pegasus Platinum, returning to Europe at last after claiming victory in the UK's Epsom Derby!]
[Having earned the title Eclipse, Platinum now charges toward victory in the Eclipse Stakes!]
[Will this become a classic battle where Eclipse pays homage to Eclipse? Or… will it unfold into a fierce conflict beyond ordinary imagination?]
[Can the widely anticipated Eclipse reign over the Eclipse Stakes? Behold the entrance of Japan's greatest, strongest, and most beloved Pegasus of all time!]
As the commentator's voice rang out—
The door to the horse girls' preparation area swung open, and a silver-haired girl carrying a bow and arrows stepped into everyone's view.
The close-up on the large screen switched to the entering Pegasus, Platinum.
--+--
In the stands, Platinum's appearance was met with an immediate, thunderous wave of cheers!
After all, this was the home ground where European Uma Musume like Fame and Glory held the advantage!
Not only that, but Uma Musume from the Coolmore Group like Fame and Glory enjoyed extensive promotion and publicity across Europe due to their family backgrounds.
Yet despite this, Platinum's popularity far surpassed that of all four Coolmore Group horse girls combined—amounting to half the total number of participants!
"Whoa, Platinum is number one!!"
"Traveling to Dubai and Japan to watch her races was such a hassle. Finally, we get to see her compete in Europe!"
"Pegasus, Pegasus, Pegasus! Miss Platinum is the greatest!!"
"I underestimated her before, thought Galileo would win for sure and didn't bother watching. I can't miss her return to European races this time!"
"This is fascinating—Asia's Pegasus versus Europe's Coolmore Group? Platinum, Light of Asia, you mustn't lose!"
"Races aren't won by numbers alone. Platinum is undoubtedly the strongest!"
The roaring cheers surpassed those for any previous Uma Musume, setting a new record for the loudest applause an Asian Uma Musume had ever received in a European race!
And this wasn't even Platinum crossing the finish line in victory—it was just her entrance!!
Her popularity in Japan spoke volumes! She had already far surpassed symbols like Symboli Rudolf and Oguri Cap, breaking through the constraints faced by Japanese Uma Musume and making her name known worldwide.
The tens of thousands of spectators and fans in the stands erupted with a volume that exceeded even the cheers typically heard at the climax of a G1 race!
To receive such an overwhelming ovation at her debut appearance—even looking back through the entire history of European G1 races, such an exaggerated reaction was unheard of.
And as for Platinum herself—!
Her gate draw was utterly conventional, right in the middle: gate number five.
Compared to the consecutive outside gates in her previous few races, having middle gates for the last two or three was a stroke of decent luck.
As the silver-haired girl with her bow and arrows calmly, confidently stepped into the starting gate…
[Next to enter is the second pick, Fame and Glory. She is the current rising star of the Coolmore Group and perhaps Platinum's number one rival in this race.]
[As the leader of the Coolmore Group's current forces, can she deliver a spectacular performance for the audience?]
[Let's… wait and see!]
--+--
Soon, all the horse girls had entered their gates, and the countdown reached its final moments.
Few noticed that the Coolmore Group Uma Musume on either side of Platinum couldn't help shifting their gaze between the exit ahead and Platinum in the gate beside them.
'Gulp…'
'This Pegasus is terrifying. The aura she radiates after stepping into the gate is no less intense than when I unleash my full power.'
'Is Platinum serious right now? Or… hasn't she even started trying yet?'
'An opponent like this… indeed, only by boxing her in do we stand a chance! Sorry, but this is how it has to be!'
--+--
[10!]
[9!]
[8!]
The countdown began.
The silver-haired girl gently touched the quiver on her back.
It held only… eight arrows!
For European races, that might be considered a lot, but Platinum still felt a slight regret.
Having grown accustomed to races with over a dozen horse girls, firing more than ten arrows per race, Lady Platinum found events with single-digit opponents somewhat unfamiliar.
But for now… win the Eclipse Stakes first, then acquire the second set of victory equipment—the Knight's Armor!
[3]
[2!]
[1!!]
As the gates flew open, every horse girl on the field snapped into focus.
At this moment, Fame and Glory, in the gate beside Platinum, felt her heart racing wildly.
'Platinum has always used either front-running or come-from-behind tactics.'
'The come-from-behind style, with its drawbacks outweighing its advantages, is rarely used in Europe or America.'
'In her recent races, from the Dubai World Cup to the Takarazuka Kinen, based on the recordings I've seen, the Pegasus has been front-running.'
'Clearly, to adapt to her upcoming campaigns, Platinum must have trained specifically for starts, just like I did. She'll definitely go for a big lead as usual.'
'Bring it on—my start and initial acceleration won't be slower than yours!'
Finally—
In the next second!
All the gates opened simultaneously, and the nine horse girls burst forth together, a spectacular scene unfolding.
Among those nine, nearly half launched into acceleration the moment they left the gates.
It was a visibly swift start, enough to put them ahead of most of the field.
Just as the two Coolmore Group Uma Musume on Platinum's left and right were about to overtake her in the middle…
In an instant, both of them—hyper-focused on Platinum's position and speed—felt their pupils contract.
Huh? What??
Even Glory of Honors, the second pick and strongest member of the Cursed Demon Group, broke out in a cold sweat.
'No way… Why isn't she going for the lead?'
'Not accelerating out of the gate—is she planning to hang back as a stalker or a closer?'
Most of the time, seeing an opponent slow out of the gate like a closer was a good thing.
It meant they were naturally behind. In fiercely competitive races where first and second were separated by half a length, or at most a length or two, that could be the decisive factor in defeat.
But… Platinum was different!
At this moment, Fame and Glory was certain: with Platinum's extraordinary ability, she could easily leave world-class Uma Musume in the dust by lengths upon lengths.
Even if she started as a stalker or closer, naturally falling behind by two lengths, theoretically, beating them by several lengths would be no issue.
'No, we have to box her in! Even if Platinum isn't front-running but closing…'
'If we let her move freely and accelerate at will, we'll still lose!'
'The only difference might be whether she wins by ten lengths as a front-runner or by a few lengths as a closer—the outcome remains the same!'
So…
In the next instant, Fame and Glory clenched her silver teeth, biting down until she felt a sting of pain, and made her decision.
Then… change formation! Have the other Coolmore Uma Musume slow down and flank Platinum on both sides! I'll block the Pegasus from the front.
Though Platinum's closing tactic had caught them off guard…
Having already prepared a plan for boxing her in, Fame and Glory had considered how to respond if Platinum chose to close.
Thus, she had also trained for tactical adjustments in case Platinum opted for a closing style! Even if she's closing… box her in!
With impeccable coordination, the other Coolmore Uma Musume slightly reduced their speed, closing in toward Platinum in the middle.
Then—
As the two Coolmore Uma Musume held their positions on Platinum's left and right without accelerating, they maintained their pace.
By the time Fame and Glory had accelerated to a position ahead of Platinum, her own speed suddenly dropped—a visibly startling moment that the entire audience could see.
That's right: an Uma Musume who had clearly accelerated out of the gate to seize position, upon seeing Platinum not accelerating, rushed ahead of her and then slowed down…
Coupled with the two Coolmore Uma Musume sticking to Platinum's sides as she held back, this move was blatant and shameless!
Though it lasted only a few seconds, the large screen revealed everything clearly.
From both sides of the stands, countless sounds of shock and disbelief erupted!
The noise grew so chaotic it was nearly impossible to make out individual words, yet the intensity was overwhelming!
The Coolmore Uma Musume had no energy to spare for the audience's reaction; their focus and attention remained entirely on the silver-haired girl they had trapped.
As Fame and Glory, now at a reduced speed, finally caught sight of the two familiar Coolmore Group members in her peripheral vision… her anxious heart settled somewhat.
'Finally—we've boxed Platinum in!'
'Though the cost is high… at least our chances of winning are greater. It's all worth it!'
As long as they won!
Even if it meant infamy, even if it violated the spirit of competition among horse girls—so what?
Could so-called spirit compare to the value of a precious G1 championship or the honor of being the one to hand the Pegasus her first defeat?
Of course not!!
As long as they won, with time, this shady race would fade from memory, becoming just a footnote in history like other infamous races, or forgotten entirely!
As long as—they won!!!
Wild triumph surged through the hearts of these three horse girls.
--+--
In the stands!
Countless voices, filled with shock and uproar, continued to rise.
A horse girl hanging back—and she still got boxed in??
Not just boxed in, but… accelerated horse girls slowing down to complete the encirclement!
This sight—even the most ignorant spectator or die-hard fan of the Coolmore Uma Musume couldn't ignore it, let alone dismiss it as a normal racing occurrence!
Even the commentator's voice trembled with panic and disbelief at what was unfolding.
[Platinum has not launched into her characteristic Great Escape.]
[While holding back, she now finds herself boxed in. Platinum faces a difficult situation ahead! She is in grave danger!]
[Unprecedented—a closer being boxed in?]
[The current leader is employing… a slow front-runner tactic? This is the worst possible scenario for Platinum!!]
Anyone could see this was no ordinary situation.
But as a commentator, maintaining neutrality was fundamental and standard practice.
Usually, even if the commentator was a fan of a particular horse girl, they would only unleash their most passionate praise during the final sprint, when their favorite was charging toward the finish line.
For instance…
"This is the once-in-a-lifetime Pegasus!"
"Platinum has completely left Galileo in the dust! Galileo is a worthy rival, but against Platinum, all challengers, all courses, all records will be broken!"
"The Titan of Turf has arrived!"
"First Place is… Nearl! Second Place is—nowhere to be seen!!"
In the past, these exhilarating, high-energy commentary lines had sparked discussions worldwide.
They were all truly iconic quotes!
Typically, only the final moments allowed commentators to shower praise and openly favor a particular horse girl.
After the gates opened, the commentator's duty—their standardized script—was to clearly report positions and situations from front to back, ensuring audiences and fans worldwide could follow the action.
This was essential for helping viewers who might only know one or two horse girls, or even none at all, quickly get acquainted with the race.
But now, upon witnessing Platinum being boxed in, this commentator couldn't hold back—they immediately highlighted Platinum, trapped at the back.
Even without explicitly calling out the Coolmore Group's intentional boxing-in…
Mentioning Platinum's dilemma, being surrounded, and facing danger… was already a clear expression of deep affection for the silver-haired girl and intense displeasure at the malicious tactics!
Yet the commentator's voice couldn't overpower the race, nor could it calm the many upset spectators.
On the large screen, the audience clearly saw the three Uma Musume moving with coordinated intent, forming a net around Platinum!
If Platinum had been boxed in while accelerating out of the gate…
The protests and dissatisfaction might not have been so severe.
After all, getting blocked or trapped while jockeying for position—like being "put in a pocket" with other horse girls cutting off your path—was a common occurrence in almost every race.
But that kind of "pocketing" usually happened to stalkers or front-runners who lost positioning early on.
This time, though?!
"Seriously? Platinum's a closer—a closer! And you still box her in??"
"This is too much, it's so unfair! How can they do this to Platinum?"
"Racing like this—these horse girls have no shame!"
"Wait… Coolmore Group, I've always been a fan of your horse girls. I'd keep supporting you even if you lost fair and square. But this boxing-in… I just can't accept it."
Even a female fan of Fame and Glory, the second pick, couldn't help protesting loudly, her voice brimming with disappointment and anger.
"This is a race, not a hunt!"
A seasoned Uma Musume Racing fan, though equally upset, chose to encourage Platinum instead.
"Platinum, go for it! Break through their trap and show them what you're made of!"
"The Pegasus… has never lost. This time won't be an exception… right??"
"Ugh… as much as I hate to admit it, this level of encirclement, combined with that slow front-running pace, leaves Platinum with almost no chance."
As the spectators' protests grew louder, the atmosphere on the track grew tense.
Even in the front rows of the stands—
Daiwa Scarlet, a well-endowed red-haired girl wearing a face mask, couldn't help but remove it, staring wide-eyed at Platinum, boxed in at the very back on the grass.
Trapped like that, with the race pace deliberately slow, meant every horse girl would have strong finishing speed and stamina for the final straight.
Platinum's signature tactic—early acceleration, controlling the race rhythm, and winning with sheer superiority—!
Was now being sealed by the encircling Coolmore horse girls!
"They can play like this??"
Daiwa Scarlet couldn't imagine any horse girl capable of breaking through such a net.
"The undefeated Platinum… is she going to lose?"
--+--
Ahead of Platinum!
Fame and Glory, running in front, maintained a cold, determined expression.
'Don't blame us for being underhanded—you're Platinum, after all!'
At the very back, the silver-haired girl's exquisite face showed not a trace of tension.
It seemed the esteemed Lady Platinum, when faced with boxing-in! With being hunted!
Perhaps… she, a veteran of countless battles, didn't care about such things.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say—she was already accustomed to it!
'Boxed in, unable to accelerate?'
'Not enough—this level of encirclement isn't enough!'
Platinum surveyed the scene ahead, and the two nervous Coolmore Uma Musume blocking her left and right, preventing any breakthrough.
The languid Lady Platinum often couldn't be bothered to think deeply, just wanting to finish work and go home—but that didn't mean she couldn't analyze her current situation.
In fact, this boxing-in only made Platinum's heart… beat faster! As if it had ignited unusual thoughts and fighting spirit.
The assassin's instincts and reactions immediately showed her the way out.
'At the very least, they should have blocked me from behind too, right?'
In the next moment, her amber eyes filled with a commanding light. The silver-haired girl suddenly… halted her steps!
Amid the high-speed race, with no prior sign of deceleration, under the stunned, dumbfounded gazes of the two Coolmore Uma Musume beside her…
'Huh??!'
Platinum executed a sudden emergency stop!
That silver figure, tightly encircled at the back as a closer, came to an abrupt halt, completely dropping to last place…
No—!
Rather than saying she was left behind, it was more accurate to say Platinum, with absolute dominance and confidence, was leaving all the leading Uma Musume behind.
But such a sudden stop could easily widen the gap to several lengths, maybe even more.
In the next instant—!
The silver figure, like a ship raising its sails undaunted in a storm, began accelerating forward again!!
'If that's how it is, then I, Platinum, will fight with all I have!'
Now… the Pegasus begins to angle forward, accelerating!
[Unique Skill: Activate]
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.