For an Uma Musume, there's only one chance in a lifetime to compete in the Classic Triple Crown races. Once victory slips away, there's no opportunity to reclaim it ever again.
It's precisely because of this that the Classic Triple Crown holds such lofty status. Under such stringent conditions, everyone believes that an Uma Musume capable of seizing the Triple Crown will inevitably become one who conquers the racing world.
But the conditions for the Classic Triple Crown are, after all, far too demanding. Since its inception, only a handful of Uma Musume have ever achieved the Triple Crown.
Many others with formidable strength have fallen along the path to the Triple Crown due to various circumstances.
Some even had to halt their journey despite already winning the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby.
Among these regrettable dual-classic winners, there was one Uma Musume who came from the local circuits to the central racing stage.
During her era, the racing world was largely dominated by elite stables. In pursuit of victory, every Uma Musume unanimously adopted the most monotonous and coldly efficient running styles.
With superior training equipment and more professional training plans from the elite stables, the less privileged local Tracen Academies grew increasingly weaker.
At the time, everyone believed that institutions like local Tracen would gradually fade into history.
And then, an Uma Musume quietly began her rise.
From the Junior Crown Cup to the Kasamatsu Kinen, from local circuits to the central stage, from obscurity to fame that shook the world—that Uma Musume was like a meteor, tearing through the sky dominated by the elite stables with an unstoppable force.
Her name was Dream Weaver.
She was the Uma Musume who defeated Orfevre, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe champion, not once but twice.
After claiming victory in the Satsuki Sho with a Great Escape, Dream Weaver won the Japanese Derby with a stunning Great Chase. Facing Orfevre, a prodigy seemingly destined to reign over the racing world like a king, she emerged victorious in both encounters.
Some called her the "Crimson Harbinger," while others hailed her as the "Hero of Kasamatsu." But regardless of the title, everyone held the same expectations for her.
Back then, people believed that she and Orfevre would become the twin rulers of their generation, jointly dominating the racing world and breaking the curse of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Yet no one could have predicted that her fate would truly be like that of a meteor—streaking across the sky after a moment of brilliance.
Just as people were disheartened, thinking the local circuits would return to their former state of decline, an Uma Musume named Oguri Roman took to the stage of the Mile Championship under the banner of Kasamatsu.
With her victory, she proved one thing to the world:
Oguri Cap was not an isolated miracle, and Dream Weaver would not be a fleeting star. After them, hope still remained in the local circuits.
In a post-race interview, Oguri Roman left these words for the cameras:
"Watch... with your own eyes, as I win this race."
Her words, spoken to the screen, seemed addressed to every discouraged Uma Musume still lingering in the local circuits.
From that moment on, local Uma Musume began charging onto the central stage one after another, driven by dreams and hope.
Even the bigwigs of the central racing world were astonished by such miracles and changed the rules to adapt to the evolving era.
For local Uma Musume to enter the central stage, they now had to demonstrate strength overwhelming enough to dominate local competitions.
But such scheduling was overly demanding for local Uma Musume already short on resources. At the time, almost everyone believed Dream Weaver's decline was due to inadequate recovery after local races and participating in too many competitions.
While they couldn't solve the resource shortage in local circuits all at once, they could open a window for all Uma Musume chasing their dreams.
Thus, races like the Haneda Hai gradually increased. Winning just one such race would grant a local Uma Musume qualification to enter the central stage.
They no longer had to frantically compete in race after race, like Oguri Cap and Dream Weaver once did, just to earn a spot and be seen by the world.
Now, all Uma Musume aspiring to reach the central stage needed was a single victory in a race like the Haneda Cup.
Their talents wouldn't be wasted in the local circuits but would instead be realized earlier in central cup races.
In the past, people referred to Oguri Cap's era as the "Generation of Miracles," believing that dazzling period was just a fleeting miracle.
Now, under the sky paved by Dream Weaver and Oguri Roman for local Uma Musume, more and more local talents have emerged, achieved great results on the central stage, and many have begun to believe that the current era is the true Miracle Generation.
The advantages accumulated by elite stables in training environments and tactical preparations are very real, and most races still feature prominent names from these established families.
Yet, from Oguri Cap to Dream Weaver, countless Uma Musume have proven, time and again, that miracles do happen on the racetrack.
Even with all the drawbacks and limitations of the local circuits, they can still give birth to Uma Musume bright enough to become stars.
While it's still not possible to ensure every Uma Musume starts from the same point, progress is being made, step by step.
Uma Musume from local Tracen Academies shine on the central stage, while those from central Tracen strive to keep up, and elite stable Uma Musume spare no effort in pursuit of victory.
All Uma Musume step onto the same track, fighting for their victories and glory.
Some idealists began to dream that perhaps one day, a fairytale world where every Uma Musume finds happiness would finally arrive.
And the one who started it all, the pioneer of that fairytale era, could only be Dream Weaver.
That Uma Musume from the countryside who made it to the central stage ultimately fulfilled the vow she once made at the Kasamatsu racetrack.
Now, the Kasamatsu racetrack no longer has only the nine spectators from back then. Thanks to the vigorous development of local Uma Musume, the Kasamatsu racetrack has become just as she said—
Dream Weaver slowly opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling above, her body wrapped in warmth.
She looked down and saw a pure white blanket covering her. She instinctively tried to push it aside, only to find her hand passing right through it.
Staring at her semi-transparent hand, she realized she had returned to that state where she couldn't interact with the world.
But she glanced around in confusion. This was unmistakably a hospital room. If she had awakened here, why was she still like this?
Before, she could've been dismissed as a spirit bound to the graveyard—but could she now be a spirit bound to a hospital bed?
Just as she was puzzling over this, the door to the room suddenly swung open. The Uma Musume standing in the doorway looked at Dream Weaver on the bed and said,
"Dream, I'm here."
Dream Weaver followed her gaze and turned to look.
There, lying on the hospital bed as if asleep, was her own body.
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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.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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If you guys wanna check it out.