[This is... this is an absolutely staggering showdown! A clash of three legends, yet just after the second turn, it has unexpectedly evolved into a death match between Secretariat and Nearl?!]
[The acceleration of the Big Red Monster and The Radiant Knight has already crossed Flightline's path; only these two can dash with such extreme efficiency, leaving the main pack far behind.]
[Incredible, truly incredible!]
[Who could have imagined that the second half, having just begun, has already escalated into a one-on-one duel to decide the title of the greatest dirt-track Uma Musume in history!!]
The voice from the announcer's booth swept over the vast spectator stands and reached the ears of fans watching the live broadcast worldwide.
The fierce, unimaginable intensity of the battle and the live commentary had many Pegasus fans and Big Red devotees brimming with anticipation and excitement.
In their view, since it had turned into a 'one-on-one' so early, even if the winner wasn't decided yet, at the very least...
At the very least, their respective idols—the Pegasus fans' and Secretariat's supporters' one-and-only favorites—could secure at least second place and aim for first, right?
--+--
"Miss Secretariat, go for it!! You have to take first place in this one!"
"The Radiant Knight has never been defeated, and this race won't be an exception, right?!"
"Nearl!! Nearl!! Nearl!!"
"Sniff... Flightline, my Flightline, you don't have to risk breaking a leg against opponents like this."
"This is so exciting, who will be the final champion? I've watched so many Breeders' Cups, but this one takes the cake—it's more thrilling than the last several, even dozen, editions combined!"
The voices of fans supporting different Uma Musume, alongside spectators who had come simply to enjoy the race, rose incessantly, creating a tremendous din.
--+--
On the dirt track.
At the front of the pack, a group of seven or eight American Uma Musume wore expressions of either shock or frustration.
Ahead of them, in their line of sight, were the positions on the innermost and outermost lanes.
"Guh... i-is it happening already?"
"This is insane. Flightline, who rarely goes for a Great Escape, chose to do so, and Big Red, always a late starter, is running upfront for the first time ever."
"Who would've thought? They're all legends, yet Big Red and The Radiant Knight could force Flightline 'out of the picture' this early?"
"I can't keep this up; I have to accelerate too. I can't maintain a standard front-runner pace, or the gap will grow too large and I'll stand no chance."
"Even among legends... is there still a gap? Do I even have a chance to win?"
These front-runners, positioned close to the escape-style Uma Musume, frowned slightly, the pressure they felt internally reaching its peak.
What could be more worrying for a front-runner than encountering an exceptionally strong Great Escapee?
This: knowing that Great Escapees have absolutely no chance of fading!
And not just one, but three of them!
Even more shocking was that Flightline, a proud Great Escape front-runner, was already falling behind by the halfway point, unable to even secure a top-two position!
The pace of this race could no longer be described simply as 'fast'; it had already thrown every Uma Musume behind into a panic!
--+--
And ahead of the escape-style runners, on the innermost lane...
The prodigy known as Flightline raced forward with cold, fierce determination.
But this usually clever and highly combative girl now stared wide-eyed, her heart filled with bitter frustration as she witnessed a scene she found unbelievable.
Ahead of her, The Radiant Knight, who should have been neck-and-neck with her, wasn't being shaken off by Secretariat's full-power acceleration but was instead closing in, accelerating even further!
In that instant, Flightline's heart jolted.
Her breath came rapidly as she gritted her teeth and pushed harder. She knew she wasn't holding much back.
Not only that, but Flightline, whose constitution wasn't her strong point yet had actively chosen the demanding escape-style strategy, had originally planned to... bet everything she had to increase her chances of victory.
After all, soon after this, there was one final [Dream Cup] awaiting!
In Flightline's view, even if she pushed herself to the point of broken bones or injury in this race, it wouldn't affect her ability to return to her peak, strongest form for the Dream Cup!
Preserving her body to win more ordinary races couldn't compare to this Breeders' Cup Classic and couldn't hold a candle to the Dream Cup. So Flightline was willing to stake everything, even her career, to boost her odds of winning.
But—!!
[Flightline, in third place.]
That was the latest position update from the announcer, nearly snuffing out the last hope and determination in Flightline's heart.
The Great Escape was symbolized by extremes, by burning everything you had—a strategy famously devoid of holding back.
If she were in second place, just slightly behind, there would still be a possibility of turning the tables.
Like Seabiscuit in that famous one-on-one duel, falling behind slightly had ignited a fierce fighting spirit, leading to a come-from-behind victory.
But in the entire history of the sport, there had never been a single case—not one!—of a Great Escape Uma Musume falling back to third place, several lengths behind, and still winning.
Having already gotten serious enough to use her 'Domain' to try and catch up to the two figures ahead, she was left with nearly one instinctive thought.
—It's over...
—Nearl and Secretariat, they're clearly... [Legends among legends] aren't they?!!
Even so, the last embers of Flightline's fighting spirit weren't completely extinguished.
Having resolved from the start to treat this as her final battle, having broken her usual pattern to employ the physically grueling escape-style running, how could she simply bow out now?!
Gritting her silver teeth, a look of utter resolve flashed across Flightline's seemingly delicate and exquisitely beautiful face.
Having come this far, Flightline had never once considered giving up, even if her chances of winning were now significantly lower than she had anticipated before the race.
"But I won't give up here."
"Bring it on, Nearl! Secretariat!!"
Flightline's swift footsteps suddenly displayed speed surpassing even the accelerating pack behind her, as she mustered every ounce of strength to unleash a fierce, domineering burst of acceleration.
Her lightning-fast steps created a terrifying surge of speed that seemed to shake the very air, sweeping across the track!
Now... Flightline, having truly launched herself, had become a storm capable of sweeping across America and the entire world!
And now, this storm, with the unyielding, relentless bearing of a monarch, charged forward... yet, the two figures ahead of her, one on the inside lane and one on the outside, still hadn't been reeled in.
One was like an unshakable mountain range, immensely towering—the Big Red Monster!
The other was like the blazing sun suspended high in the heavens, its radiant brilliance sweeping over everything—The Radiant Knight!
--+--
After the second turn.
Secretariat and Nearl passed through in sequence, and Flightline, in third place behind them, was visibly three lengths back.
And the gap was steadily widening!
If this were a typical short final stretch, this position would be close to the halfway point.
But the Breeders' Cup Classic, run over a distance of 2000 meters, was famous for its exceptionally long homestretch, which didn't favor come-from-behind runners who relied on a late kick.
Therefore, this super race, seemingly a middle-distance event, actually covered a relatively short total distance in the initial turns. In the blink of an eye, Secretariat and Nearl, accelerating wildly in their escape-style run, had already passed the second turn.
--+--
On the outside lane, in a very leading position.
The golden-haired maiden clad in knightly racewear, her bright orange eyes brimming with fighting spirit, felt more exhilarated and alive than ever before.
Most Uma Musume who poured immense effort into racing hoped for a satisfying, significant victory and to engage in a thrilling, hard-fought battle with excellent opponents.
Nearl was no exception. She wasn't like a certain lazy, just-wanting-to-clock-out, absolutely-no-overtime Platinum.
Beneath the exterior of The Radiant Knight, the earnestness and diligence etched into her very bloodline still flowed strong!
Thus, Nearl hadn't slackened in the slightest. Facing the second-generation Big Red Monster at her peak, she felt no panic, only a concentration of her will to fight.
"What a formidable opponent."
"Excellent. A worthy battle."
An indescribable excitement filled The Radiant Knight, Nearl's heart. Even if she appeared solemn, controlled, and full of regal poise, inside she was already fully engaged and thrilled.
Already hailed as a legendary Uma Musume, one tipped to surpass even the strongest legend, Man o' War, what she craved most was a true duel.
Nearl knew perfectly well that this would be her final legendary battle before the mythical [Dream Cup] truly appeared.
It was just like... another version of herself, the Pegasus Platinum, in the recently concluded Breeders' Cup Turf.
And since Platinum had achieved a perfect finale, how could she lose to another version of herself?
Now, facing her strongest active rival, the legendary monster Secretariat, waiting ahead for her charge, how could she not feel her blood boiling?!
In the next instant, the golden-haired knight maiden, racing on the outside lane, pushed even harder after the second turn, unleashing a second wave of acceleration.
Legend among legends, the strongest of the strong... who would it be?!
This battle would provide the answer!
--+--
Meanwhile, in the spectator stands.
Seabiscuit, the most popular former legendary Uma Musume in American dirt track history, was naturally in attendance.
Whether as a retired senior or a current official high-ranking within the racing organization, she couldn't possibly miss the most influential event of the American racing year—the [Breeders' Cup]!
"What incredible acceleration!"
"Such a terrifying pace, I've never heard of anything like it."
The current Seabiscuit stared intently at the accelerating figures of the top three Uma Musume, sighing in admiration.
Seabiscuit didn't believe there was any advice she could give to any of the three legendary monsters on the track.
In the upcoming Dream Cup, it was likely that The Radiant Knight, Nearl, and the Big Red Monster, Secretariat, would surpass veterans like herself and become the [top favorites] to win, wouldn't it?
And such geniuses weren't limited to just one, yet there could only be one winner.
This was... the harsh reality of the Uma Musume world!
And as she gazed at the large crimson figure on the innermost lane, leading the pack, she couldn't help but recall another large red figure in her mind.
"Alike, they're so alike."
"Both employ an absolutely domineering Great Escape, neither allowing anyone to get close."
The first-generation Big Red Monster had, for a very long time, been considered [Unprecedented and Unrepeatable], [Without equal in the past or future].
Man o' War possessed power that transcended her era, far surpassing ordinary legendary Uma Musume like Seabiscuit herself. After achieving dominance, she retired undefeated and peerless, cementing a legendary status akin to Eclipse.
In sports, there had always been a tendency to 'revere the past,' with fans often debating how figures from history might fare or even excel in the modern era.
Thus, Man o' War's status as the [GOAT], solidified by her early retirement, had accumulated an immensely formidable influence over time.
Generations of Uma Musume had grown up listening to her legends and made her their object of pursuit.
Because Seabiscuit had become a legend herself, she truly realized just how powerful Man o' War was, and how much greater she had been! Even by the time Seabiscuit retired, she hadn't shaken Man o' War's historical ranking.
But now—!
The entire world had come to believe that the dirt-track Uma Musume who would surpass Man o' War would be born in this very race.
"I had thought that I might not live to see a junior who could potentially surpass Man o' War."
"But I never imagined that not only would one appear in the last two years, there might be more than one!"
"So... who will seize the final victory?!"
A mix of anticipation and awe flickered across Seabiscuit's elegant features.
Then, her gaze first fell upon the one occupying the innermost post position: Secretariat.
"Back then, when Sham faced a Great Escape Secretariat, she tried every tactic. She'd break faster from the start, attempt to chase from behind, and even... engaged in a final [duel]."
"But against Secretariat's absolutely overwhelming speed and stamina, she could only meet defeat."
"And Nearl had inflicted a similar level of despair upon Sunday Silence and the third-generation Big Red, Easy Goer."
"Perhaps their bodies have already reached the pinnacle, the very limit of what an Uma Musume can achieve."
"Then perhaps the influence of the [gate] and the [course] will become the deciding factor."
Usually, the closer to the rail on a dirt track, the softer the footing, with the outside paths being firmer. So the seemingly hopeless outermost post position actually offers varying degrees of "compensation."
This evolves into a situation where the inner path is shorter, while the outer path demands less power and is more efficient.
Seabiscuit remembered clearly the characteristics of the course changed for this year's Breeders' Cup...
—The ground was firm, with a long home stretch.
When the entire track is on the firmer side, the advantage of the outer path plummets, leaving its disadvantages fully exposed.
If the home stretch were short, coupled with the energy-saving nature of the outer path, the disadvantage for outer post Uma Musume would be lessened, not nearly as severe as outsiders might imagine.
But... right now, Nearl, unlucky to have drawn the outermost gate, faced the disadvantages of a firm course and a long stretch run, with no luck on her side.
"Not to mention, Nearl herself is famous for her terrifying power."
In Seabiscuit's mind, she recalled Nearl's famous race scenes from the past, which included unbelievable, awe-inspiring images like [Accelerating through a Curtain of Rain] and [Uphill Acceleration].
Such feats could only be accomplished by a peerless monster possessing both stamina and raw power, along with superb adaptability.
The fact that she could replicate such historic, iconic scenes more than once proved the formidable nature of Nearl's strength.
But because the course was firm and Nearl was on the outside, she was practically "unable to use her full strength," left with immense power but few challenges in this race that truly tested it.
"One could say Nearl's advantage has been significantly compressed."
"I recall from data statistics of the last decade, the win rate for Uma Musume with inner post positions on courses with long home stretches is about 17% higher than those on the outside."
Seabiscuit frowned slightly, citing a specific statistic.
If it were a short stretch, like in the Arima Kinen, then Nearl's power and outer post advantage would be displayed perfectly.
But now... it was the Radiant Knight's moment of disadvantage.
"If she doesn't catch Big Red before the home stretch, it's over."
"Can you do it, Nearl?"
Seabiscuit then shifted her gaze to the silver-white Pegasus girl in the outside position.
The coldly gleaming knightly race uniform, to the shining Pegasus light wings that seemed to illuminate everything, captivated Seabiscuit, as well as the countless other Uma Musume spectators present.
Under the expectant gaze of the crowd, the Radiant Knight Nearl's second burst of acceleration in her Great Escape had already begun!
--+--
On the dirt track.
At the very front.
Secretariat's hooves pounded relentlessly upon the dirt, her terrifying efficiency leaving legendary Uma Musume like Flightline behind.
The sheer power was as swift and overwhelming as a hurricane, as she flew alone at the forefront, making the title [Big Red Monster] utterly fitting.
Secretariat was fully displaying her unique prowess. Having bathed in glory time and again, even when facing fellow legends, her goal was simply to surpass them.
The strongest dirt track Uma Musume of all time!
This was... the potential Secretariat could unleash!
And now, her task was to transform that potential completely into reality under the world's watchful eye, to defeat the Radiant Knight Nearl fairly and squarely, and here, prove herself the unprecedented strongest!
"Nearl... Only Nearl!"
"This monster isn't one you can defeat just by being [serious]."
Against all previous opponents, Secretariat had been confident of victory even with a poor start.
Including... the legendary Uma Musume Flightline!
But the Radiant Knight Nearl had not only forced Secretariat to break her own rule for a perfect start for the first time, but also made her feel unprecedentedly grateful for her inner post position!
Yet even so, the Big Red Monster's pupils constricted, still unable to shake off that troublesome figure on the outside.
"As expected, she's the one I must face with the resolve to stake everything, even relying on [luck], to possibly defeat."
"But no matter what, I absolutely will not lose!"
Yet, in Secretariat's field of vision, the golden figure on the outside, seen in her periphery, wasn't being shaken off!
Instead...
She had begun her unique, relentless pursuit!
[Acceleration! Acceleration! From number thirteen, the top favorite to win, Nearl, we have acceleration!]
[The Radiant Knight, with her second burst of speed in this front-running style, has already opened a considerable gap on Flightline!]
[Even! She's beginning to close in on Secretariat, another top favorite!]
[Two lengths! One and a half lengths!]
[And then... one length!]
[The two legendary Uma Musume, the only super-popular favorites to win, are now almost parallel, meeting after the second turn!]
When top-tier Uma Musume meet, it often means a fierce battle and a direct confrontation. Once you fall behind, that momentum is lost and it becomes extremely difficult to turn defeat into victory.
Especially since both Secretariat and Nearl were employing an extreme, all-out front-running style from the start, demanding immense speed from the beginning!
The commentator's high-pitched and excited voice continued to resound across the vast stands.
[As expected! It ultimately comes down to their duel! Will the Radiant Knight soar through the skies to overtake Big Red, or will Secretariat's front-running lead hold firm, allowing her to reach the legendary summit?]
[They're still battling, neither giving an inch!]
[Even though powerful Uma Musume like the Giant Killer Prove Out and the legendary Flightline from behind are already accelerating, they are powerless to close the gap, let alone overtake!]
[The two legendary monsters, running neck and neck, neither yielding first place—their deadly struggle continues! Who will break this deadlock?!]
With the commentator's ongoing rousing calls, the atmosphere in the stadium had reached its peak!
No matter how many Uma Musume were behind, including Prove Out and Flightline, all accelerating in pursuit, countless fans and spectators unanimously fixed their eyes on the very front of the race, watching this unprecedented clash.
--+--
And at the very front, on the inside.
That tall, imposing crimson figure was racing forward with utmost speed, giving it her all.
But unnoticed by anyone, Secretariat's scarlet eyes were now filled with shock, disbelief, and astonishment.
It seemed she couldn't believe that even after accelerating to this extent, she was nowhere near shaking off Nearl or securing victory...
She was even struggling just to maintain her current slight lead!
In Secretariat's peripheral vision, the deadly, dazzling golden figure from the outside, like an arrow shot from a bow, was closing in until she was completely parallel, running neck and neck!!
That is—Nearl was charging forward, fair and square!!
That extreme, overwhelming pressure, the feeling of giving her all yet only watching the other draw closer! An unprecedented sense of powerlessness began to spread through Secretariat's heart.
In all her time since debut, even when she lost her debut race due to a bump at the start, or when she was upset by the giant-killer Prove Out while not in top form...
Those defeats, not just once, had never made the proud and formidable Big Red Monster Secretariat feel the slightest bit powerless.
She always believed that with normal conditions and proper performance, she could surely get her revenge.
But in this race... Secretariat absolutely did not believe she was in poor form. On the contrary, she was at the peak of her older-horse years, her strength at the highest point of her career.
This version of her!
Clearly racing as fast as flying! Clearly possessing innate explosive power! Her first perfect start leading to an extreme front-running race! And being the more experienced, earlier-debuting Uma Musume!
And yet, she was still having the gap closed, until they were side-by-side?
How could the proud Secretariat possibly accept such a result?
Unconsciously, Secretariat gritted her teeth, her scarlet pupils sharply contracting. A low, unwilling roar of her opponent's name echoed in her heart.
"Margaret!!!"
In the very next instant, between the two Uma Musume running parallel for first place on the inside and outside, one managed to thrust a neck forward in a split second!
Suddenly, on the spectator stands, Man o' War and Seabiscuit's pupils contracted, their heartbeats quickening.
In their line of sight, the one who had gained a slight lead, claiming sole possession of first place a distance before the finish line, was... the golden-haired knight girl on the outside, Margaret Nearl!!
The Radiant Knight, having thrust her neck forward first, seemed to soar through the sky as she galloped unrestrained, clearing the third turn from her outside position!
This scene filled the eyes of every Uma Musume on the field, including Secretariat, with unwillingness and shock.
Could it be? Would Secretariat's Big Red legend, Flightline's sky-rending flight... be shot down here by Nearl?
"No!!"
"Absolutely not!"
The cold and formidable, utterly unwilling-to-admit-defeat Secretariat, she gathered her focus once more. With the most powerful strides of her life, she pounded the dirt track, straining to chase the figure ahead, striving to erase that tiny gap.
As they approached the fourth turn, on the eve of drawing closer to the home stretch!
In the very next moment—
As if declaring the resistance futile, a sound like a domino falling, pushed by Nearl—a sharp 'clang'—seemed to ring out. After that mere neck difference, usually insignificant to Secretariat, was born, the gap began to widen!
That neck difference was gradually reversed by Nearl, expanding to half a length, and still growing!
One length!
The difference in lengths was widening here.
In other words, the Radiant Knight Nearl's galloping pace was absolutely no less than the Big Red Monster's, even displaying a kingly bearing that seemed to surpass it!
Then it became—two lengths!!
The Radiant Knight Nearl's overwhelmingly tyrannical second acceleration, even while engaged in a stunning Great Escape, remained peerlessly magnificent, surpassing the acknowledged strongest of the present era... no, even the one many had once crowned the strongest of all time, Secretariat!
Even from the disadvantaged outermost post, against a historically top-ranked opponent who held a significant inner post advantage, she still shattered it, overtook in one move, and seized sole possession of the lead! Leaping towards the final, less-than-one-third remaining to the finish line!
And remember, her opponent was a Secretariat who had gotten her first ever good start.
'This...?!!'
Secretariat, now left behind, watched Nearl's black cape fluttering from the intense speed, and the pair of sacred, shining light wings on her back, falling into boundless silence.
Seeing clearly the scene of Nearl leading, realizing that even after starting her full acceleration early, even after using her full power and domain, she still struggled to chase the Platinum ahead...
Secretariat's serious expression, her exquisite features, were instantly filled with shock and bewilderment.
In her heart, the thought that flashed instantly was—within sight yet beyond reach!!
The current Big Red Monster had already accelerated to her absolute peak—surpassing every prior race, every training session, every shred of her past self. She'd even left Flightline, the Uma Musume in third place, so far behind that the gap was impossible to measure.
But when it came to The Radiant Knight, Nearl—no matter how fiercely her fighting spirit burned, no matter how terrifyingly powerful she became—was she truly destined to be left in the dust?
That final sliver of distance, which had seemed within reach, now stretched into an impossible chasm. Was she really racing against a legend?
Secretariat's mind raced uncontrollably.
'Am I even racing an Uma Musume?'
'It's like I'm racing the Three Goddesses themselves!'
Yet, even amid her awe, Secretariat's stride never faltered. Her powerful frame remained unshaken, her will undimmed.
Her burning determination—hot enough to incinerate the world—refused to yield, even before the divine.
"Then bring it on!"
"Let our strength decide who's truly the strongest!"
Even if she lost, it would only be by the slimmest, most desperate margin. She'd never allow Nearl to pull ahead by mere single-digit lengths!
In an instant—
Past the fourth turn, on the long final straight down the outermost lane—
The golden-haired knight surged past the Big Red Monster like a bolt of lightning…
No—more like an unstoppable storm, sweeping across the track with a ground-hugging flight toward the finish!
Her radiant wings shimmered behind her, and her jet-black cape snapped violently in the wind, painting a scene of breathtaking intensity that seized the eyes of tens of thousands in the stands.
Nearl's fighting spirit had long since ignited.
In the knight's amber eyes flickered a rare spark. She knew this race might be the greatest of her career—second only to the Dream Cup.
Since her debut, Secretariat had proven herself the finest rival Nearl had ever faced. Truly, she deserved her title as the undisputed greatest legend.
Against such a rival, only her utmost speed and total focus would honor both the opponent and the race itself.
And so, in attitude, in stride, in domain—The Radiant Knight resolved to unleash her most dazzling, all-out performance yet.
As she hit the final straight, her already brilliant domain began to climb higher still, surging beyond its previous limits in these last, decisive moments.
--+--
[(Unspent Fury) …]
[(Nod of the Sun) …]
[(Supreme Art) …]
[(Twilight) …]
[(Finale: Cataclysm) …]
[(Cycles of Bloom and Wither) …]
--+--
In a flash, an unprecedented radiance erupted from Nearl's golden form—pure, overwhelming presence!
Forged through relentless effort and sweat!
She'd already activated her Domain Skill earlier—
Yet now, astonishingly, she unleashed multiple new Domain Skills, each distinct and extraordinary. And as a front-runner—a Great Escape Uma Musume—she defied all logic once more.
It was as if her domain had birthed another domain above it.
On the final straight, these layered skills bloomed in full glory—dazzling, desperate, and devastatingly powerful—propelling her gallop into yet another gear.
Beyond the peak of her domain rose another summit!
A Great Escape Uma Musume… accelerating with a Final Kick on the final straight? What an earth-shattering sight!
Alone and soaring, Nearl—the front-runner—now outpaced even the fresh, late-charging pack behind her. Her acceleration was so monstrous that she finally overtook the indomitable Big Red Monster on the innermost lane, surging ahead with regal, unassailable dominance!
[What… what is this spectacle?!]
[Acceleration! The whole field is launching their final push! But the Big Red Monster—Secretariat—already holds a massive lead over Flightline behind her.]
[But the true crisis! The final answer! Isn't among the pack!]
[On her outer flank—the winged Pegasus has already hit the straight—and is visibly unleashing a third-stage acceleration!]
[A Great Escape beyond Great Escapes! Acceleration upon acceleration! Closing in on the title of "Greatest Legend in History" with one last, desperate burst!]
[In a heartbeat, Nearl overtakes Secretariat and races alone toward the distant finish line. Is there anyone left who can catch her!?]
--+--
On the dirt track, deep in the trailing pack—
The front battle had already transformed into Nearl's solo lead. The sight struck every watching Uma Musume like a thunderclap.
From the early leaders to the closers, despair settled over them all.
"No way… it's only halftime, and the gap's this huge? How do we even chase that?"
"The straight's long, but even if it were twice as long, we couldn't close that gap!!"
"What happened to the promised three-way showdown? It's like Nearl, Secretariat, and Flightline are in three totally different leagues…"
"Damn it! Flightline's already left me in the dust, Secretariat's annihilating Flightline—and Nearl… just how strong is she?!"
"They say heaven never shuts all doors… but this? This is a dead end!"
The gap was simply colossal.
Flightline alone had left nearly every other Uma Musume behind.
Yet even that notorious front-running monster seemed unworthy of second place in the Pegasus Hall!
And Secretariat—flushed, fierce, and utterly relentless—was giving everything. She, one of the greatest legends in racing history, was burning her body to ash, risking her entire career for one final, unprecedented burst of speed.
Accelerate!
Accelerate!
Accelerate!!
This was the duel of the ages—the Big Red Monster versus the Pegasus, Secretariat versus Nearl!
--+--
[Incredible! The Radiant Knight keeps surging down the backstretch, leaving even the chasing Secretariat behind? Yet the Big Red Monster refuses to yield, fighting with every fiber!]
[Three lengths! Three and a half!]
[Nearl leads alone, blazing like a meteor toward the final charge.]
[Now—four lengths!]
[What's happening? This isn't a neck-and-neck duel or a nose-to-nose photo finish!]
[Is the legend of The Radiant Knight… no, her myth—about to be written in full?!]
To any Uma Musume, this would be a vision of utter despair—and it now filled Secretariat's eyes.
Unconsciously, her crimson pupils shimmered with both bitterness and awe. Her proud, towering frame—once the terror of the track—was now trailing by multiple lengths, forced to watch helplessly as that lightning-bright figure charged toward glory.
The commentator's voice climbed higher, electrifying the air. Over a hundred thousand spectators felt their hearts race in unison.
The roar from the stands, the commentator's crescendo—everything screamed that the race had reached its climax.
The thunderous chants and cheers from the crowd erupted like a tidal wave, shaking the very sky.
Without question, this was the most glorious race in American—and world—history. Among titans, only one queen would wear the crown!
A tall, golden knight—radiant, majestic—swept toward the line. Her cape snapped like war drums, her luminous wings flared like those of a soaring Pegasus, and she charged with overwhelming, visible dominance.
The stadium's roar declared it plainly: one Uma Musume had seized an insurmountable lead and was moments from crossing the line!
"Come on!"
"Witness—to the very end!"
On Nearl's exquisite face, there was no elegant smile—only absolute, stone-cold focus.
For a true warrior, the moment you truly want to win… is the moment your smile disappears.
The finish line… was already within reach.
Under the eyes of the world—
The Golden Pegasus Knight, clad in gleaming, razor-sharp racing armor, blazed forward with unprecedented brilliance and glory!
Amid the most fervent cheers and celebration—
The commentator's voice soared, echoing through every stadium seat and into the ears of millions watching worldwide!
[Brilliant as Flightline! Monstrous as Secretariat—neither could close the gap!]
[The finish is near—the soaring Pegasus needs only one final beat of her wings!]
[At last—!!!]
[Rejoice! The first to cross the line, bathed in the greatest glory in history, crowned "Legend Beyond Legends"… is The Radiant Knight, Margaret Nearl!!]
The next moment, the stadium exploded in earth-shattering cheers—endless, tireless, deafening.
Remember: The Radiant Knight Nearl was merely a Classic-Year Uma Musume!
This was only her second year racing—and already, from obscurity, she'd ascended to legend, then toppled legends, now standing alone at the pinnacle of Uma Musume history!
[And so—it ends! The Radiant Knight, the dirt-track Pegasus Nearl, claims victory in a blaze of glory!]
[Historically, outer-lane, Classic-Year Uma Musume rarely triumph in the star-studded Breeders' Cup Classic. Let alone against older legends like Flightline and Secretariat!]
[And not just that—but she ran the hardest outermost lane, facing two inner-lane titans in lanes one and two.]
[Yet The Radiant Knight never fell into a desperate photo finish. She didn't win by a nose, a neck, or even a single length.]
[She won—by a staggering five lengths. Absolute domination!]
[Just as on turf: Pegasus Platinum, in her debut race, defeated the Crimson Queen Daiwa Scarlet by five lengths.]
[Now on dirt: The Pegasus Nearl, in her final race before the Dream Cup, defeats the Big Red Monster Secretariat—also by five lengths.]
[Beginning and end—both sealed with five lengths! The world-conquering Pegasus has won the greatest race on Earth!]
The commentator's awestruck words rolled on, filling the vast arena.
On screens and streams across the globe, hundreds of millions watched in stunned silence—then erupted in disbelief at the golden knight's overwhelming victory.
From English to Japanese and beyond, voices rose in every language, all singing the same song: celebration of Platinum's unimaginable, historic triumph.
And the commentator's praise was far from over—
[After this race, even the "Big Red Monster"—the dirt-track legend, long hailed as the greatest in history—will be surpassed by the rising Radiant Knight!!]
[The myth of the Uma Musume—destined to echo for a hundred years, or longer—begins right here, right now!]
[Turf racing's all-time GOAT—Pegasus Platinum!]
[Dirt racing's all-time GOAT—The Radiant Knight Nearl!]
The Radiant Knight now stood atop the world!
--+--
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.