Chapter 40. Dober's Gate Position and Teio Abnormality
After the clouds and rain had dispersed, Shuta Ann, adhering to the principle of "separating the wet from the dry," carried Silence Suzuka from the guest room to his own bedroom. Only after coaxing the carrot Uma Musume to sleep did he hold her and fall into the world of dreams himself.
After winning the Prix Ganay yesterday, Shuta Ann gave the camp staff a day off. However, he couldn't enjoy a holiday himself because today he had interview invitations from several newspapers to attend.
"Racing Post, TDN, Equidia—newspapers and magazines from Europe, America, and Japan have all requested interviews. It was just one Prix Ganay, after all..." Sitting in a cafe, Shuta Ann couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Is it because this was the first European G1 victory?"
The first invitation he had to attend today was from TDN (Thorofare Daily News). This American newspaper has a long history in a country where history itself isn't that long. They had always been very focused on Shuta Ann, who had won the honor of being a Triple Crown-winning jockey in the US.
Before the start of the Prix Ganay, this newspaper specifically warned racing fans not to underestimate the American Triple Crown jockey and his choice for the best partner—piecing together the reasons why Tokai Teio should not be underestimated using only fragments from previous interviews.
Before the race, this report was mocked by many European experts, but after the results came out, the TDN report was vindicated. Now, it was the European experts' turn to be laughed at by the fans.
"It's been a long time," the TDN reporter greeted as he sat down. "The last time we met should have been after Sunday Silence's Belmont Stakes victory."
"It has indeed been a long time," Shuta Ann pondered for a moment. "Now, Sunday Silence's first generation of foals are already running around happily at the ranch."
"That sounds great," the reporter laughed.
"Sunday Silence's bloodline isn't particularly outstanding in the US. As a Triple Crown horse, if he couldn't get good resources locally, it would truly be an insult to the Triple Crown series. Honestly, if the Yoshida family hadn't bought Sunday Silence, I find it hard to imagine how shameful it would be for race organizers if Sunday Silence's breeding resources in America couldn't even compare to those of the opponents he defeated."
Actually, the reporter was exaggerating; during those races, Easy Goer was more popular than Sunday Silence. Shuta wasn't bothered by the comparison, knowing through his unique skills that Sunday Silence would eventually transform the Japanese breeding industry.
—
That afternoon, in another cafe, a reporter from the Racing Post questioned him: "What level of height can he reach?"
Facing the question, Shuta Ann pondered before answering: "To become the strongest horse in Japanese history."
"Japan's strongest?" The reporter raised an eyebrow. "If Tokai Teio can win races like the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the British Champion Stakes, and the Prince of Wales's Stakes, I believe he could compete for the title of the world's strongest."
Shuta noted the reporter intentionally avoided mentioning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe—classic British bias, focusing only on domestic races even though the Prince of Wales's Stakes was still a G2 at this time.
Shuta shrugged off the attempt to coax him into racing in the UK. He didn't want Teio to run at Ascot unless a week of clear sunshine evaporated 90% of the turf's moisture.
—
The final interview was from the Japanese magazine Yushun. To Shuta's surprise, the reporter bowed deeply before even sitting down.
"Thank you very much!!" the reporter exclaimed. "Because Tokai Teio was able to win his first European G1, you are the true hero!"
"I don't deserve such praise," Shuta waved his hands. "The other staff members are heroes as well."
The reporter explained they had flown straight from Tokyo without rest and apologized in advance for any sleepiness. Shuta, completely understanding the dedication, prepared to begin the final session of the day.
—
On May 15th, ten days before the Japanese Oaks, the URA Association officially announced the gate positions for the highly anticipated second leg of this year's Triple Tiara series.
"Why is it gate number 16 again?!" Shuta Ann couldn't help but shout in his office after seeing the draw results.
"Why don't you just throw Dober into gate number 100?! Might as well just toss her into gate 16 for the Shuka Sho too, URA!"
There was a natural reason for the young man's intense dissatisfaction.
"There are 16 participants in this Japanese Oaks, and Mejiro Dober ended up being assigned to the outermost lane—" Kitahara muttered softly.
"But this is the first time I've seen Ann-san lose his composure like this over a gate position."
"How could I not lose my composure?" Shuta Ann sat back down and rolled his eyes.
"Since the establishment of the Japanese Oaks, whenever the number of participating Uma Musumes exceeds 10, no Uma Musume from the outermost lane has ever won."
"While I believe Dober won't be bound by history, I still wanted a bit of good luck," the young man finally added.
"Then just create history." Kitahara, having sat for too long, stretched while speaking. "I believe Ann-san has that ability."
"The most important thing is still Dober's performance." Shuta Ann's gaze fell upon the computer screen.
"Anyway, with this gate draw, I really need to think about how to change our tactics."
After finishing with his own matters, the young man continued.
"Speaking of which, Kitahara-san, how are the preparations going on your end for Hana Park and the Aoi Stakes?"
"It's going well." Kitahara was very relaxed. "Although Hana Park's result in the Oka Sho wasn't great, she said she enjoyed the run and can now focus on the short-distance Twinkle Series with peace of mind."
"Kyoei March would really be cursing if she knew." Shuta Ann couldn't help but let a smile hang on his face.
"In a once-in-a-lifetime race, besides having strong enemies, there's also an opponent who is obsessed with getting revenge for the previous race."
"It's just a matter of timing and fate."
Kitahara didn't laugh; truth be told, he could feel that Hana Park had helped Mejiro Dober quite a bit, but Kitahara didn't mind.
"Ann-san has helped me plenty in the past; this time can be considered my way of paying back a favor," he thought.
—
Before the gate positions were drawn, Shuta Ann had considered planning a "Pace-chaser" tactic for Mejiro Dober in the Japanese Oaks, aiming to put pressure on Kyoei March and force her to lose speed and collapse early.
But since they were assigned the outermost lane, Shuta Ann glanced at Kyoei March, who was in gate 14, and couldn't help but shake his head.
"As expected, I'll still have to consider letting Dober run as a 'Chaser' this time."
Starting from the far outside meant that fighting for a good leading position early on would be extremely difficult. Shuta Ann didn't think it was a good idea. Although the young man was confident Dober could handle the 2400-meter race, he still needed her to consume as little stamina as possible.
"If she consumes too much energy fighting for a spot at the front, the variables will increase."
With this thought, the young man decided to let Mejiro Dober run more conservatively in the early stages.
"This is Kyoei March's first time challenging a 2400-meter race; the pace of the race definitely won't be pushed too fast by her."
This was also an important reason why Shuta Ann felt comfortable planning this way.
—
At noon, Shuta Ann, who had gone to the cafeteria alone, was blocked by a seemingly fuming Tokai Teio.
"Teio, is something the matter?" the young man asked.
A few days ago, he had informed her that she and Kurofune would be returning to Hokkaido for summer training camp together and casually told her to prepare for her debut in the Twinkle Series, so he didn't quite understand why Tokai Teio would have such an expression.
Tokai Teio had originally been mentally rehearsing how to criticize her trainer—
Previously, after Silence Suzuka participated in that program, she had missed morning practice the next day, which made Tokai Teio suspicious.
Later, she had secretly witnessed several intimate scenes between Suzuka-senpai and her trainer. However, Tokai Teio also knew about the relationship between Oguri Cap-senpai and the trainer. She suppressed the urge to go directly to Oguri Cap-senpai to tattle, intending instead to ask the trainer what he was really thinking.
But now that she was here, Tokai Teio found herself at a loss for words. Shuta Ann appeared perfectly calm, as if everything Tokai Teio had seen was merely an illusion.
"It's nothing." Tokai Teio bit her lip, turned around, and ran off.
"How strange." Shuta Ann frowned. "I always get the feeling she has something on her mind."
—
That evening, in a family restaurant outside Central Tracen Academy, after Shuta Ann described Tokai Teio's behavior today to Silence Suzuka, the carrot Uma Musume tilted her head and asked curiously,
"Did Ann really not see it?"
"See what?" The young man was very confused.
"Earlier in the courtyard at night, when Shuta was holding me, Teio was actually secretly hiding in the back." The carrot Uma Musume blinked.
"I originally wanted to warn Shuta, but you directly muffled my mouth."
"I see~" Shuta Ann's mouth twitched. "Then I know why Teio was acting like that."
Even though this matter didn't have much to do with Tokai Teio, it looked like it affected her state of mind, so the young man knew he couldn't just sit back and ignore it.
"I'll go settle it later."
After saying that, he picked up his fork, speared a piece of beef, and stuffed it into his mouth.
After all, it was a family restaurant near Central Tracen Academy; the culinary level could only be considered above average, but it focused on large, filling portions. The dish sizes were benchmarked against the appetite of Uma Musumes. Shuta figured a small portion of beef curry would leave him 80% full.
"How will you settle it? Do I need to explain? After all, Ann..."
"are busy with Dober's pre-race planning for the Japanese Oaks, right?" Silence Suzuka raised an eyebrow.
"And will Teio go and complain about her troubles to Dober or Kurofune?"
"She won't." Regarding Silence Suzuka's doubt, Shuta Ann was quite confident.
"Suzuka, you yourself know Dober is preparing for the Japanese Oaks. Teio has a very sensible personality; she won't interfere with Dober's preparation because of her own troubles. Just me having a good talk with her will be enough."
"I suppose so." Silence Suzuka lowered her gaze, her tone full of regret.
"It's a pity this kind of thing can't be told to the outside world."
"I'll work hard to think of a way in the future."
Seeing his lover's soft expression, the young man couldn't help but make a promise.
"I think there will be a way."
"I don't mind that." Silence Suzuka shook her head repeatedly. "Because as long as I can see the same scenery together with Ann, that's enough."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested for some advanced chapters, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens