From the moment the gates sprang open, the real battlefield wasn't among the three Uma Musume contending for the absolute lead—it was within the chaotic, compressed front-running pack behind them. There, nine Uma Musume fought tooth and nail for good positions, their competition far more vicious than the clean duel occurring at the very front. And in the middle of that storm stood Oguri Cap, the "French Two Crowns Uma Musume," the prime target of every opposing eye.
I have to get a good position…!
With that single thought repeating in her mind, Oguri Cap sensed the intentions of those around her and kicked into acceleration, determined to secure a promising spot— but Ellerslie Pride had the very same idea. Fearlessly, she squeezed in close, shadowing Oguri from the side, her posture radiating readiness to attack the moment an opening appeared.
Compared to her, Ellerslie Pride was still mild. Michelle My Baby, on the other hand, acted without hesitation. The instant she spotted Oguri Cap holding a favorable position, she surged forward—and rammed the gray filly aside. The impact wasn't maliciously violent, but it was certainly intentional.
"Sorry! I really need that spot too!" She declared it with a grin, leaving Oguri wearing an expression that said: Of course—I expected this.
At that moment, Oguri recalled the warning Shuta An had entrusted to Berno Light before the race.
So this is the diagonal collision he meant—But isn't this a foul?!
Meanwhile, in the Mejiro family's private box—
"Isn't that a foul?!" Mejiro Palmer exclaimed, mirroring Oguri's thoughts. She wasn't alone; the other juniors shared the same bewilderment.
"Technically, it's a foul," Mejiro Ramonu replied calmly. "But it's hard to penalize. Since Oguri didn't visibly lose speed or stumble, the URA will label it 'reasonable contact.'"
She sighed. "And besides—Michelle My Baby races like this all the time in America. From her perspective, that bump earlier wasn't even a problem."
"That's ridiculous!" Mejiro Dober protested.
Ramonu shook her head. "The overseas Twinkle Series has different standards. Since Japan invited foreign Uma Musume, the URA is making concessions on these small details. I only hope Shuta-kun warned Oguri—otherwise, the trouble won't end with just Michelle My Baby."
Down below, Berno Light turned toward Symboli Rudolf. "Even 'The Emperor' is fine with this?! Oguri almost tripped! It was dangerous!"
"Stop." Shuta An cut in gently before Rudolf could respond. He faced Berno seriously. "European and American Uma Musume are raised on collision-heavy racing. It's part of their instinct. You can't blame them for using their usual style."
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "And we have to trust Oguri now. She already survived far worse bumps in France. She'll be fine in the Japan Cup."
Berno Light clenched her fists. "I just hope nothing goes wrong."
Shuta turned to Symboli Rudolf. "To be honest, if this kind of thing keeps happening, I don't want Oguri in next year's Japan Cup."
He added quietly, "We're here for our fans—not to serve as sandbags for 'reasonable collision.'"
Symboli Rudolf's mouth twitched slightly. After a long pause, she nodded. "I understand. I'll relay your complaint to the URA. Oguri is our Uma Musume. The rules shouldn't work against her."
Of course, Oguri Cap had no idea what kind of fierce conversation was unfolding in the VIP lounge. All she knew was this: she was being overtaken and shoved around repeatedly, and her position was slipping.
This is bad!
Even Berno Light felt her gut twist watching it. Oguri's being pushed out of the leading group!
Oguri felt it too. This isn't working!
She scanned the pack. On the outside, Tony Bianca was running freely, her line wide and unobstructed. She must be confident in her burst power.
Oguri shoved that thought aside. She needed to focus. The pressure was suffocating, the collisions endless. Following Shuta's pre-race plan had become impossible. After several rough bumps, Oguri quickly realized that pushing back would only bleed her stamina dry. So she made a choice. She stopped resisting—and allowed herself to drift to the back of the forward pack. Behind her now were Tamamo Cross and Tony Bianca.
'Pressure's rising' Oguri's lips curved faintly. Oddly enough, her foul mood lightened. 'Good thing Ann made me train with Miss Symboli Rudolf and Miss Mejiro Ramonu to prepare for heavy marking. Without that training, I'd be charging forward like an idiot right now.'
Shuta An, watching closely, let out a breath. "Good. She didn't stubbornly force her way forward."
He tapped his head. "I miscalculated—I underestimated the foreign racing style."
But he didn't lower his expectations. He knew Oguri Cap. He trusted her.
———
Back in the pack, Oguri noticed something.
'Even after kicking me out, they're still fighting each other like crazy—They're burning so much stamina.'
Mejiro Dober anxiously muttered, "Oguri wasted so much stamina earlier— This is bad"
Meanwhile, Shuta An narrowed his eyes. "No, this is good. She wasn't forced out—she chose to conserve stamina. Meanwhile the others are still grinding each other down."
Symboli Rudolf nodded. "At this rate, they won't have enough for the final sprint."
Shuta smiled faintly. "No matter how the race ends, I'll praise her for this."
Just then, the big screen displayed Oguri's expression. Berno Light blinked. "She doesn't look tired at all."
Shuta agreed. "Compared to the front pack, she's in much better shape."
Behind Oguri, Tamamo Cross and Tony Bianca marked her, but the two were also wary of each other. As a result, the pressure Oguri felt was far lighter than during training.
'So that's what Ann meant—I wouldn't face pressure as intense as the combined mark training during the actual race.'
Oguri exhaled softly, letting everything settle. 'We're approaching the first turn. Time to study how much the front runners are wasting.'
———
The live commentator observed Oguri's backward position but misread the situation: "Oguri Cap is far behind today. Is the front too chaotic? If she uses a chasing strategy while being marked by Tamamo Cross and Tony Bianca—can she still unleash her signature burst?"
Shuta scoffed silently. "Oguri's burst power is on par with both of them."
Symboli Rudolf added, "But because she usually leads, her 3F data never looks as impressive. People think she's weaker. Overseas races don't even track that data."
Shuta sighed. "I want to correct people—but I'll wait. If the result goes badly, it'll sound like an excuse."
Symboli Rudolf murmured, "If she wins, you won't need to say anything. Public opinion will handle it."
Her bitterness hinted at old injuries Shuta had no intention of reopening. As the two fell quiet, Oguri Cap entered the first turn—in 11th place.
Behind her: Moonlight Lunacy, Tamamo Cross, and Tony Bianca. In front of her: Gold City, one horse length ahead. When Oguri gave up her position, Gold City stepped inward, subtly creating space for her—an unspoken acknowledgment of her choice. Oguri silently appreciated it.
Miss Gold City is beautiful and kind.
But kindness wouldn't stop Oguri from racing seriously. The moment she entered the curve, she gauged everyone's movements—and accelerated.
"Is she advancing again?" Berno Light gasped.
"This isn't recklessness," Symboli Rudolf said firmly. "She wants to catch slipstreams in the middle stage."
Shuta elaborated, "If she moves up just one horse length, she can ride the air resistance of several runners at once. The stamina she saves will offset the energy she wasted after the bumps."
Symboli Rudolf gently smiled and looked sideways. "Oguri's race awareness is far sharper than I thought."
Shuta shook his head. "That's all Oguri. I only guided her a little."