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Once the field entered the long backstretch opposite the stands, the formation gradually settled. The overall tempo eased; one by one, the Uma Musume eased their strides, saving every bit of leg strength for the decisive final straight. Among them, Oguri Cap and Gold City advanced shoulder to shoulder. Neither showed the slightest intention of bumping for position; instead, the two maintained an even, composed rhythm.
Gold City cast a sidelong glance at the gray filly beside her and muttered, half-to herself, "Is it really alright for you to be this far back, Oguri Cap?"
"It's fine," Oguri answered without a hint of tension. "I'm not unfamiliar with a late-surger strategy. Since this is 2400 meters, I might even perform better than if I stayed in front."
Gold City wasn't surprised that Oguri heard her murmuring. "But the three behind you aren't easy opponents."
"Not only them," Oguri replied, her tone calm even though she couldn't shake her head while running. "This is the Japan Cup—our domestic pinnacle for middle-to-long-distance races. Every Uma Musume who made it here is strong."
"Being praised like that by Miss Oguri Cap is…complicated," Gold City puffed her cheeks slightly, thinking of her dry winning record since the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. If nothing unexpected happened, she would be stepping away from the Twinkle Series stage after the first half of next year, shifting her focus to modeling. For a moment, Gold City fell quiet.
Oguri did as well. Her eyes stayed fixed on the front runners—the very ones who had pushed her out of position earlier. From the outside, she planned to catch up and sweep past every one of them.
"The leading group is approaching the third turn!" The live commentator's excited voice rang through the stadium.
"Oguri Cap still isn't moving forward! Was her pre-race front-runner declaration just a bluff? This position is a pure late-surger strategy!" The guest commentator sounded baffled. "If she doesn't widen the gap before the final straight, she'll have to rely entirely on her burst but that's even worse! Both Tony Bianca and Tamamo Cross overwhelmingly surpass Oguri Cap in explosive power. Is the 'French Two Crowns' really planning to fight opponents' strengths with her weaknesses? Isn't that far too reckless?"
Gold City shared the same concerns. And the fans in the stands were even harsher—
"Did the Senko strategy fail?"
"Of course, she'd lose a collision with overseas Uma Musume."
"Switching tactics midway is going to ruin her whole race!"
"Changing running styles isn't something you can just do spontaneously!"
"Didn't Tamamo Cross struggle after changing her style in her last race?"
"Why would Oguri Cap suddenly go for a late-surger strategy? Was it her Trainer's order?"
"I completely don't understand the logic behind this choice—"
Every anxious voice drifted to Shuta An's ears. Berno Light—who had barely calmed down—was trembling again. "Is Oguri really going to be okay running like this?"
"She'll be fine," Shuta reassured, patting her shoulder.
Quietly, he added only in his heart: 'Even if she loses, I'll take responsibility on my blog. Oguri will never take the blame.'
But the other Trainers in the VIP area had a very different reading—
"Oguri Cap always forward runs in Central's big races. Changing tactics now will definitely cripple her performance."
"This wasn't planned. She was forced back after that bump. She may look like she's using a late-surger strategy, but her expenditure is higher than if she'd stayed in front. She can't possibly repeat the Autumn Tenno Sho."
Overseas Trainers agreed—
"Shuta An is still green—too confident in a Japanese Uma Musume's ability to withstand physical confrontation."
"A pace-chaser plan against foreign Uma Musume was folly. She fell back because she couldn't endure the collisions."
"Even if she tries to sprint later, will she have enough stamina left?"
But a few Trainers kept their guard up. Even now, while Oguri Cap sat in 10th place, they didn't dare underestimate her.
Komiyama-trainer narrowed her eyes. "She looks too comfortable. Even if she spent a lot earlier, she still has plenty saved for the final straight—I'm certain."
Luigi Camici muttered thoughtfully, "These people underestimate the meaning of 'French Two Crowns.' She beat an opponent who marked her relentlessly at Chantilly. Oguri Cap isn't finished. Tony Bianca knows that too."
Indeed, Tony Bianca continued marking Oguri Cap without the slightest intention of leaving her side.
"Her stamina isn't a problem," Tony Bianca thought. "And since the samurai-like one next to me is marking her too, I should trust her judgment."
"We're nearing the final turn," she murmured. "Show me what you'll do, Oguri Cap."
But before Oguri could respond with action—Tamamo Cross, with impeccable timing, slid outward, then suddenly accelerated.
"Now!" Tamamo Cross's voice burst like lightning. "Watch closely—this is the 'White Lightning'!"
Her explosive move made even Oguri Cap blink in surprise. Tamamo Cross was an End closer—she shouldn't be accelerating here, long before the final straight.
'If she accelerates now, can Tama maintain high speed all the way—'
Oguri cut off her own thought. 'No. I must assume Tama's race goes perfectly. I need to act based on that premise'
"Since Tama has started moving—" Oguri assessed her stamina, glanced at the runners ahead, and shifted one step outward. "Then I have to match her pace!"
Tony Bianca was startled too—but unlike Oguri, she didn't follow.
"No matter what Tamamo Cross does, I stick to my tactic. I won't accelerate until the final straight!"
But the one most shaken by Tamamo Cross's early surge wasn't Oguri, Tony Bianca, or Gold City—
It was the forward running group.
Blocked by Gold City and Oguri Cap earlier, and completely locked in their own positioning duels, the forward runners were caught off guard when Tamamo Cross swung wide, overtook Oguri and Tony Bianca, and swept up toward them.
"Is she accelerating here?!" Kondor sputtered. "What is she thinking?!"
Shady Heights blinked at the sudden white flash behind her. "Miss 'White Lightning' finally lost her patience? I thought the French Two Crowns Uma Musume would move first—I set the pace to a slightly slow 61 seconds per thousand meters, but if the end closer start accelerating here—"
Her expression tightened. "Can you really maintain that speed to the end?"
The Japanese escape runners, however, saw something entirely different.
"As expected of White Lightning! That momentum is insane!" Gold City gasped, impressed.
Suzu Parade gave a weary smile. "I suppose it's about time for me to retire. These juniors are too spirited. I'm already in my fourth year—I only hoped not to finish last today, yet still got dragged into this wild pace~"
In the commentator box, excitement flared.
"Tamamo Cross begins her move from the back! She's passed Oguri Cap and Tony Bianca! Is she planning an outside slingshot around the bend?!"
"A wide outside surge on the turn—Tamamo Cross's presence is immense today!"
Komiyama-trainer clenched her fists. "She's been frustrated by Autumn Tenno Sho, and today her opponents are even stronger. That's why—today, Tamamo Cross is in peak condition."
But while all eyes were on the white streak sweeping forward—
One Uma Musume in the pack quietly focused—Obey Your Master.
Before deciding on the Japan Cup, she'd changed teams—not by choice, but because her previous Trainer dropped her. A Uma Musume dismissed for "insufficient ability" rarely finds a new team at West Coast Tracen. But thanks to her seniors, especially A.P. Indy, she found a second chance—and a new Trainer, Frankel.
"If high-moisture turf doesn't suit you," he'd said, "then let's try a different approach."
Under his guidance, she challenged firmer tracks. She earned her first graded stakes win—the G2 Red Smith Handicap at 2000 meters. Her momentum carried her into four G1 and one G2 attempts, but victory still eluded her.
'Am I only this capable? Am I destined to never taste a G1 win?'
Just as doubt began to devour her—Frankel placed a form before her.
"The Japan Cup entry form," he said. "Tokyo Racecourse is drier, faster. The 2400-meter distance suits you. The field will include the French Double Crown winner and the Arc champion—but would you like to try?"
Obey Your Master stared down at the form, then lifted her head.
"I want to go."
"Then fill it out," Frankel smiled. "Don't train on the Academy turf—it's softer than Tokyo's. Tokyo is—something you'll have to see for yourself."
Now, watching Tamamo Cross roaring forward, Obey Your Master muttered:
"I studied Tokyo Racecourse for months—trained in secret—researched every opponent—even disguised myself. But—there's no need for that anymore."
A relieved smile crossed her face.
"Trainer—I've found the answer."
She stepped outward, raised her head—and exploded forward, chasing Tamamo Cross's shadow with a ferocity that caught the attention of the entire field and every spectator.
Shuta An's eyes widened.
"That is—" He frowned deeply. "Is that a Zone?"
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