October 27th – The Uma Musume racing world, already shaken by the mysterious black Uma Musume's letters, was rocked by two more earth-shattering announcements.
First, Narita Brian declared her intention to run in the autumn [Tenno Sho].
When people first saw the news, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
Why would Narita Brian, originally slated for the Triple Crown route, suddenly enter the intensely competitive [Tenno Sho]?
Could it be a warm-up for the final crown?
That seemed recklessly bold no matter how you looked at it. Didn't Narita Brian's trainer know any better?
Or was it that even the average fan could see the folly, yet that trainer remained stubborn, insistently entering Narita Brian into the race.
But before anyone could make sense of it, another piece of news dropped.
'Genius trainer Fumino Nase, joining forces with Sirius Symboli, aims straight for the autumn [Tenno Sho].'
"…"
Two big names in the horse racing world were now baring their fangs at the [Tenno Sho].
You've got to be kidding…
The race was already tense enough, and this was like throwing a bucket of water into a boiling oil pot, sending the already complicated situation into a complete frenzy.
The list of participants for the autumn [Tenno Sho] was now mostly set.
It included Maruzensky, announcing her comeback; Tamamo Cross, currently on a winning streak; Oguri Cap, also on a streak of major stakes wins, fresh off her victory in the [Mainichi Okan].
And then there was Sirius Symboli, who, despite losing the [Mainichi Okan], had shown equally astonishing prowess, and Narita Brian, currently holding two classics crowns.
Any single one of these Uma Musume was a top-tier contender in G1 races.
If the previous [Mainichi Okan] was hailed as a super G2 with strength rivaling a G1, then this autumn's [Tenno Sho] was shaping up to be the pinnacle, a super G1.
This massive lineup was already comparable to the year-end fan-voted [Arima Kinen].
And besides these star Uma Musume, the [Tenno Sho] had also gathered plenty of other skilled runners.
Like Road Royal, for instance.
It was practically a race that gathered all the shining Uma Musume from across the [Twinkle Series], even making spectators wonder if they were watching a [Dream Cup League] where all the star Uma Musume assembled.
One had to wonder if that black Uma Musume, before sending her letters, had ever anticipated it would escalate into such a terrifying spectacle.
Now, she was standing alone, challenging all the star Uma Musume of the Central Racing Association!
No matter how you thought about it, it seemed unrealistic.
Especially with the Central Association's published statements regarding the black Uma Musume's rule violations on the track and issues related to banned substances, which had left many fans with an extremely negative view of her.
The current discourse surrounding the black Uma Musume was a chaotic debate.
Some said the Central Association was trying to shift blame and smear her. Others argued the fault lay entirely with the black Uma Musume, and the Central was simply stating the facts, exposing her disgraceful behavior.
Her reason for publishing that statement in the newspaper was nothing more than an attempt to ruin the Central's reputation; someone who didn't play by the rules to begin with would naturally do such a thing.
Opinions were split, but overall, criticism of the black Uma Musume overwhelmingly dominated.
Some were even betting that she would never show up at the race.
Rumors swirled that to deal with this unruly individual, the Central had gone all out this time.
The venue had undergone complete renovations, every detail was being checked, and all staff were personally selected from within the Central Association, leaving no room for her to exploit.
So, many believed she had no chance of appearing.
If she issued a challenge but failed to show up, the black Uma Musume's reputation would be utterly destroyed, leaving her no place left in the entire racing world.
Based on the current situation, the vast majority were pessimistic about the black Uma Musume, with only a minority believing she would actually compete.
As for those who believed she could win in a field gathering so many powerful contenders? They were few and far between.
But however you looked at it, starting with the black Uma Musume's letter, this autumn [Tenno Sho] had generated unprecedented hype.
The giant screens on Central Street played information about the race's participants almost non-stop, 24/7.
Wherever you went, you could hear people discussing it.
They were all waiting, anticipating the start of the race.
--+--
"O-Oguri?"
On the training field, Oguri Cap was stopped by a breathless Belno Light.
"Trainer Musaka is calling for you."
"Right now?"
"Yes, we need to go out for a bit."
Puzzled by Belno Light's secretive manner, Oguri Cap followed her, a trail of question marks hanging over her head.
When they found Trainer Musaka, he waved her over.
"Trainer Musaka, where are we going?"
Hearing Oguri Cap's question, Musaka Ginjirou gave a mysterious smile.
"The Autumn [Tenno Sho] is coming up soon. This must be your first G1 level race, right? There's something you need to receive."
He led Oguri Cap into a black car. As they drove, Oguri Cap watched the warm up screens flashing on the big screens along the street, and she could feel her nerves tightening almost without realizing it.
Just as Musaka Ginjirou had said, she was about to face her very first G1 race.
Saying she wasn't nervous at all wouldn't be true; it was her first time competing against so many rivals on the same stage.
Watching Maruzensky's races, in particular, had left her utterly shocked.
Whether it was the speed she displayed or her racing technique, it was a world apart from any race Oguri Cap had ever experienced.
After that race, Oguri Cap tried to imagine it.
If she were on that track, could she defeat them? Could she win…?
It was hard. Very hard.
No matter how much she tried to psych herself up, Oguri Cap couldn't be completely confident.
Under the flickering street lights, Oguri Cap gradually sank into thought. Noticing her slightly serious profile, Belno Light wanted to lighten the mood and searched for a topic.
"By the way, Trainer Musaka, shouldn't you tell Oguri Cap what we're doing now?"
Hearing this from the passenger seat, Musaka Ginjirou shifted his position.
"You're right. Oguri, you don't have your own racing silks yet, do you?"
"Silks... I have my training gear here."
"Not training gear," Musaka Ginjirou explained.
Every Uma Musume, when participating in a G1 race, wears a special uniform.
This meticulously designed outfit, what Uma Musume call their 'Winning Garb,' is something they only wear in the highest caliber of competitions.
Moreover, through the designers' precise calculations, they've minimized any negative impact the silks might have on performance.
For an Uma Musume, the purpose of this garb is to signal to her that she is about to face her most difficult, and also most glorious, race.
"What we're picking up today is your Winning Garb," Musaka Ginjirou said.
"My... Winning Garb..." Oguri Cap's eyes widened.
"That's right. Put on that garb, and then, with a mindset like never before, go forth and meet the challenge."
--+--
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.