I had to make a small change to the race schedule due to Grand Ekinoks's sudden flu. Grand Ekinoks would be taking part in the 1800-meter turf race exactly one week later. This race is also a G3.
She needed to recover urgently to be ready for this race, and as a trainer I did everything I could.
For three days, after finishing my desk work, I would go to her and feed her a handmade soup made from bone broth. It was strange how this sulky Umamusume had been so compliant and obedient for those three days.
At the same time, I could hear Cannon's constant glances at us and his stifled chuckles that he was trying to hide. In moments like these, I wanted to sink into the ground.
I was just doing my job, and these efforts had paid off.
Grand Ekinoks had recovered and for the remaining four days we passed the time with light workouts.
However, after recovering, she had become even more irritable. There were times when she dismissed me in a way I couldn't understand. For example, after I offered her a bottle of water after training, she suddenly turned her face, grabbed the water from my hand, and said something like, "There was no need for you to do that."
Days like this passed, and finally the day Grand Ekinoks would race had arrived.
As always, I was at Veliefendi Hippodrome today as well. Grand Ekinoks would race in the third race of the day. After finding a quiet spot for myself to sit, I wondered who her competitors were and checked the names on my phone.
1. Koşturan (FR)
2. Nazlı
3. Redneck
4. Grand Ekinoks
5. Shining Wolf
6. Horizon (IRE)
I was intrigued to see that another Umamusume from France was in this race. Even though she had never competed on turf before, a bad feeling rose inside me.
When the race time came, I started watching the paddock with utmost attention. The commentator was about to start introducing the umamusume.
"Koşturan, who has gone 4-for-4 on dirt, is making her first appearance on turf today."
The umamusme stepping out of the paddock was more diminutive than Grand Ekinoks. Her hair was cut in a blunt style, very short, and her blue-gray tones were mixed with strands. She moved forward like a soldier and saluted like one. Every umamusume would greet the spectators with a smile, but I hadn't seen Koshturan smile properly.
She looked more like a robot than a horse to me. I didn't feel any particular way when I saw or heard her name.
The competitors continued out of the paddock. The favorite in this race was horse number 3. She had raced seven times and had four first-place finishes, including a G2 victory. She would almost certainly race in the Uma Trial Stakes as well.
Just as I watched Grand Ekinoks emerge from the paddock, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Of course, it was none other than Melisa.
"Isn't it a small world that your red riding hood and my soldier meet by coincidence?"
He was obviously talking about Koşturan. By then Grand Ekinoks had left the paddock and was stepping forward with determined strides.
"Since she'll race on turf too, she'll surely be racing in the Uma Trial Stakes, right?"
"Of course she will race."
"So we'll be competitors."
The thought of competing against the mentor who guides me felt very strange.
Meanwhile, Grand Ekinoks looked directly at me, then turned her back and hurried away.
At this moment, Melisa said something to me unexpectedly.
"Today looks like you might lose."
I stared at her, unable to understand. How could she be so sure? Was it because of her own umamusume?
For some reason, I felt that wasn't the case, and I was afraid she might be right.