First off, no matter what opinions everyone holds, you're all readers who've kept up with the latest chapters, and many of you know real-life horse racing far better than I do—some are even way more knowledgeable than little old me.
Naturally, everyone's entitled to their own perspective.
I just hope you'll lend an ear to my take on things.
I suppose writing that Barbatos beat Tamamo Cross by two lengths might stir up a bit of debate.
I originally planned to save this for the next chapter, but let me share my thoughts here.
Earlier in the story, Symboli Rudolf mentioned that Tamamo Cross's Zone isn't flawed like Inari One's or Super Creek's—it's still in peak form.
But what's at its peak is her Zone, not her physical condition.
The Tamamo Cross racing against Barbatos has declined significantly in speed, stamina, and strength.
Just think back to Tamamo Cross in her prime—even at the Arima Kinen, she was on a completely different level compared to other Uma Musume.
Back then, Dicta Striker and Super Creek couldn't even hold a candle to her.
--+--
Oguri Cap's trainer once said that the Zone isn't some sudden power-up—it can't fundamentally transform your speed. In other words, even without a Zone, if you're fast enough, you can still beat an Uma Musume who has one.
So even though Tamamo Cross's Zone remains in peak condition, her physical decline is something her Zone simply can't compensate for.
The fact that she managed to close a 15-and-a-half-length gap right out of the gate, catch up to Barbatos, and even overtake her just goes to show how incredible Tamamo Cross still is—and how narrow the margin is between her and Barbatos in this state.
As for those final two lengths, credit has to go to Barbatos's ultimate ability, Sion's [W] skill.
That ability starts off slow and gradually ramps up in speed, which is why she could overtake early on, only to be reclaimed at the very end.
And one more thing—
At the Arima Kinen, Tamamo could activate her Zone even before reaching the final stretch.
But the Tamamo of now…
--+--
Hehe, I know it's a bit of a spoiler, but I want to reassure you all.
As for future races, I've actually given them plenty of thought. That's why I've been laying the groundwork with characters like El Condor Pasa, King Halo, and Urara—originally, they wouldn't have been so sleep-deprived from classes. It's all setting the stage for what's to come.
--+--
T/N: This does not count as a chapter
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 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!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.