Chapter 70. An Unexpected Miracle (Part 1)
Shuta Ann was not exaggerating.
Even if he could not physically take Silence Suzuka's injury upon himself, he could activate "One Heart, One Body" and share her pain. If suffering could be divided, he would willingly bear half.
"It's only a fracture…I truly have to thank the three goddesses," he murmured.
Yet relief quickly gave way to uncertainty.
"If she keeps leading like this— is that sustainable? But if she can't lead, Suzuka won't be happy. Should we change tactics? Or—should she retire from the Twinkle Series?"
The thought tightened his chest.
"She wanted to catch up to Oguri's pace. She's only halfway there—"
Covering his face, he spoke in a low, weary voice.
"Suzuka—what future should I prepare for you?"
He was no stranger to injuries. Oguri Cap had rested through the first half of two consecutive years. But this—this was the first time he had personally watched one of his own Uma Musume falter on the track before his eyes.
The memory of that deceleration still gripped him.
"Thank goodness the final straight didn't worsen it," he exhaled. "The doctor says two months. I'll give you more. No more races this year. We'll return next season—Dubai Turf, at the end of March."
Five months.
Plenty of time to heal.
He lowered his hands and studied her sleeping face.
Then, gently—almost hesitantly—he reached out and held her left hand, the one resting outside the covers.
Her skin was warm. Soft.
"Thank you, Suzuka," he whispered. "Thank you for coming back safely."
Because it was a private room, he could not stay overnight. When visiting hours ended, he left for a nearby hotel.
The door clicked shut.
Silence Suzuka opened her eyes.
"Pretending to sleep for so long—I almost really fell asleep."
She exhaled softly.
"Good thing I lasted longer than Ann."
Her cheeks warmed.
"Why say those things when you think I'm asleep? I'd rather hear them when I'm awake."
But she did not forget their promise.
"If I win the Tenno Sho (Autumn), you'll grant me one wish."
Originally, she had only intended a small request—to shorten the distance between them just a little.
But after what she had experienced in that forest—after brushing against destiny itself—
Her resolve changed.
"No one knows whether tomorrow or an accident comes first."
Her hands tightened against her chest.
"Next time…I'll say everything directly."
She would not wait any longer.
Even if Oguri-senpai and the others stood ahead of her—
It did not matter.
—
Meanwhile, after arriving at the hotel, Shuta Ann bathed quickly and lay down.
Tonight, he too would challenge the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in the Dream World. No sane trainer would schedule a Kikuka Sho immediately followed by a Tenno Sho (Autumn) for the same horse. Naturally, he was not riding Tokai Teio.
Nor had he received an invitation to ride a top favorite. So he decided to go all in.
He accepted the mount on Restoration—a five-year-old filly from the Shadai Race Horse Club. (She is really a mare not typo)
According to club regulations, Restoration would retire before March next year. With aptitude between 1600m and 2000m, this Tenno Sho (Autumn) would almost certainly be her final G1.
And her first.
"It took seven races to break her maiden—then one class win. Nine races later, another victory. Slowly, stumbling upward through the ranks—until she won the Fuchu Himba Stakes under Hiroki Sugawara. Her first graded title."
For her, this was a once-in-a-lifetime stage.
Originally, he intended only to finish safely and prepare her for broodmare life.
But now—His eyes sharpened.
"It rained on the day of the Fuchu Himba Stakes. Heavy track. Just like today."
If she handled mud once like before—
"Top five…might not be impossible."
If that happened—Wouldn't that be a miracle?
He adjusted his rain gear and stepped from the jockey room toward the paddock.
Behind him walked Yutaka Take, silent.
The favorite for this Tenno Sho (Autumn) was Mejiro McQueen—and Yutaka Take held her reins. He knew full well that if Shuta Ann had not chosen Tokai Teio and relinquished McQueen, this opportunity would not be his.
But gratitude would not dull him.
"I won't hold back, Ann-san. I'll prove Mejiro McQueen is no weaker under me. I'll win this Tenno Sho (Autumn). Spring and Autumn double."
Few had ever achieved that feat.
The chance stood before him.
He would be lying if he claimed he felt no tension.
Yet watching Shuta Ann's back—steady, unaffected by the downpour—Yutaka Take steadied himself.
"Restoration is only the tenth favorite. But I won't underestimate her."
When the gates opened—
He froze.
From the far outside gate 17, Restoration broke slowly.
In an instant, she fell to the very rear of the field.
"Phew~"
Yutaka Take exhaled in relief.
Slightly wide of the rail, Yutaka Take still committed to his customary forward-running tactics.
For this Tenno Sho (Autumn), the designated pacemaker, Prekrasnie, had drawn gate 10—a manageable distance. That made her an ideal target to shadow.
Breaking cleanly, Yutaka Take immediately guided Mejiro McQueen into pursuit, settling just behind Prekrasnie and waiting for the decisive moment. As a Spring Tenno Sho champion, a 2000-meter contest—even on testing ground—posed no meaningful concern in terms of stamina.
However, Mejiro McQueen did not secure second position. Hiroki Tanomogi, aboard White Stone—runner-up in last year's Kikuka Sho—rode aggressively from the outset. To edge ahead of Mejiro McQueen, Tanomogi even went to the whip early.
Noticing this, Yutaka Take allowed himself a faint smile and yielded the spot without resistance.
"He's overexerting. No need to waste energy here," he assessed calmly.
Behind them, Shuta An remained anchored at the rear. Given the heavy track, he deliberately avoided the churned-up inner rail, instead positioning Restoration in a more central lane.
Upon entering the backstretch opposite the grandstand, he observed the field ahead drifting outward to avoid the trampled turf near the inside. He made no immediate response—only noted it.
"It's too early to act," he reminded himself.
Approaching the second turn, Shuta An narrowed his eyes toward the front. Through the rain and thunder of hooves, he thought he had heard raised voices—perhaps a complaint, perhaps contact.
Regrettably, the words were indistinct. He even prepared to steady his mount in case of trouble.
But as they entered the bend, no danger materialized.
"Tch."
Clicking his tongue softly, he gradually angled Restoration inward, intent on conserving ground.
"Trust her ability on heavy turf. Attack from the inside. Hunt down Prekrasnie," he urged himself.
As for Mejiro McQueen, Shuta An knew his strength better than anyone. Among this Tenno Sho (Autumn) field, he believed none could truly threaten McQueen. His own objective had been pragmatic: a top five—perhaps, if fortune favored them, even a top three.
—
In the grandstand at Tokyo Racecourse, Yoshida Zenya stood beside Trainer Takaaki Hanasaki, both watching the giant screen.
"Shuta-kun is far back. Even with Tokyo's long straight, the turf is dreadful today. Can he really close from there?" Yoshida Zenya wondered aloud. As club manager, he understood the odds—but hope persisted.
Hanasaki shrugged. "I left tactics entirely to him. I only provided race footage and training data."
"I heard he personally rode Restoration throughout the week?"
"That's right. Said he wanted to build rapport. In just a week, she began trusting him. She even accepted carrots from his hand."
"I've heard he forms bonds with horses easily," Yoshida Zenya mused.
"Perhaps it's simply talent," Hanasaki replied.
—
Exiting the final bend, Shuta An increased pressure. He raised the whip in his right hand, flicking it lightly beside Restoration's face—a visual cue rather than immediate punishment.
The week's groundwork bore fruit. Responding instantly, Restoration accelerated upon straightening.
Because the whip had appeared on her right side, she naturally drifted inward—a movement Shuta An had anticipated.
Once on the inside lane, nothing obstructed her path. No traffic. No searching for gaps.
Only forward.
But the crowd's attention remained fixed on Mejiro McQueen at the front.
"Mejiro McQueen has broken away! Two lengths—three—four! No one can deny her the Spring and Tenno Sho (Autumn) double!" the commentator roared.
"As expected," Yoshida Zenya sighed. "He's too strong."
At odds of 70 to 1, Restoration had never been viewed as a serious contender—even with Shuta An in the saddle.
Yet Shuta An paid Mejiro McQueen no mind. Victory was beyond reach; that much he understood. But Restoration's response felt exceptional beneath him.
"Second place," he calculated. "That's attainable."
Without hesitation, he deployed his signature drive—pushing and striking in fluid rhythm. Restoration surged.
Just as he had predicted, she relished the heavy ground.
"Overtake them. One by one," he demanded.
She complied.
Rivals fell away. Prekrasnie loomed ahead, already five lengths adrift of Mejiro McQueen.
Eda Teruo, aboard Prekrasnie, watched the favorite disappear into the rain. His drive slackened, resignation creeping in.
Then, from his left, Shuta An and Restoration swept past decisively.
From second to third in an instant.
Eda felt irritation—but with only twenty meters remaining and no reserve left in his mount, prudence prevailed.
"For us jockeys, the prize difference is marginal. The horse's safety comes first."
At the front, Yutaka Take raised his fist in triumph.
Five and a half lengths behind, Shuta An and Restoration crossed the line.
"Second place," Shuta An exhaled. "More than enough."
As he guided Restoration off the racing line to clear space for the winner's lap, a voice called out behind him—
"Shuta! Wait!"
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