Chapter 44. Neither Triple Crown nor Triple Tiara Will Happen This Year!
Before heading to the media area for interviews, Shuta An glanced at the finishing time displayed on the board—2:26.5.
"It's not the Japanese Oaks record," he muttered.
The current record stood at 2:26.1, set by Eishin Sunny on a good track. Today's Tokyo Racecourse, however, was listed as a heavy track. The difference was significant.
Anyone hearing his comment would probably think he was showing off.
But Shuta An, in a good mood, didn't care.
Even if Symboli Rudolf were standing beside him, he would still smile and ask her whether she knew that the Uma Musume he trained had almost broken the Japanese Oaks record—on a heavy track.
Still in high spirits, the young man walked into the media area. He didn't speak immediately. Instead, he raised both hands and waved.
Only then did he say,
"First, congratulations to Dober for securing a ticket to England."
The reporters naturally understood what he meant. Based on her performance today, the destination was already clear. Barring any unexpected developments, Mejiro Dober would definitely be heading to the Yorkshire Oaks.
Of course, that didn't stop the reporters from asking the same old questions—questions they were tired of asking, and Shuta An was tired of answering.
—
After the interviews ended, Mejiro Dober remained in the waiting room to rest, while Shuta An returned to the VIP box to pick up Tokai Teio and Kurofune.
The two had already collected Mejiro Dober's support goods from the Tokyo Racecourse staff and were fully equipped according to the method taught by Agnes Digital.
"Wow." Shuta An paused at the door, slightly surprised when he saw them. "Alright, let's go. Time to cheer for Dober."
"We're performing that solo song today, right?" Tokai Teio asked.
"Yes." Shuta An nodded.
"Everything has already been submitted to the URA Association. Sony confirmed yesterday that it will officially release tomorrow."
He paused slightly.
"Winning this race is the best possible outcome for Dober and the Mejiro Family in every sense."
Tokai Teio understood what he meant.
She had heard from Mejiro McQueen about the Mejiro Family's financial situation. If Mejiro Dober's solo song became a hit, it would ease part of the burden Mejiro Ramonu was carrying.
Under normal circumstances, Uma Musume who released solo songs only received a 1% royalty share, just like ordinary singers.
But Mejiro Dober and Silence Suzuka were different.
As their Trainer—and producer of the singles—Shuta An had given up his own share of the royalties. On top of that, he had used his influence to make Sony give up part of their profit.
This time, the two Uma Musume would receive a 20% after-tax share.
Even the most famous singers in Japan would envy such a split.
Without that level of return, Tokai Teio felt that even if Mejiro Dober released ten songs, it wouldn't be enough to cover the Mejiro Family's financial gap.
—
After changing into a spare racing outfit, Mejiro Dober stepped onto the stage.
The Japanese Oaks Winning Live required three songs.
The first was "Brilliant-Phantasia," always performed for Triple Tiara races.
The second was an encore performed by the top three most popular Uma Musume before the race, with the song chosen by the most popular among them.
Today, Mejiro Dober chose to sing Silence Suzuka's solo song.
The third—was the winner's solo track.
And Mejiro Dober would perform her own song:
"Sailing To The Future."
—
After finishing the first two songs, Mejiro Dober returned backstage, drank some water, and took a short break.
Then she stepped onto the stage again—alone.
During the earlier performances, she had already located her Trainer and her two juniors. So this time, the moment she appeared, she sent a wink in that direction.
After doing so, a faint sense of unease rose in her mind. As if she had forgotten something. But standing on stage, she suppressed the thought for now.
"The final song today is my solo track, which hasn't been officially released yet," Mejiro Dober said after bowing.
"I want to thank my Trainer for helping me find a song that perfectly matches my taste."
"'Sailing To The Future.' I hope everyone enjoys it."
—
"Have you heard this song?" the Mejiro family's old lady asked.
"I have." Mejiro Ramonu nodded. "It's a very good song."
She paused briefly, then added,
"It's not one of those songs focused entirely on romance."
"It doesn't matter," the old lady said, shaking her head. "In our current situation, we don't have the luxury to be selective."
She looked at the stage.
"I only hope that without affecting Dober, your burden can be lightened."
"…."
Mejiro Ramonu lowered her head. In her eyes, having her junior share the family's pressure meant her own inadequacy.
"Everyone says I have 'demonic charm'…" she thought. "If that were true, I would have solved the family's problems long ago."
—
On the screen, Mejiro Dober had already reached the chorus.
"We live in a brilliant era—what awaits us in the future that keeps moving forward?"
"I only wish to embrace that longing for you, believing in an unchanging promise, I will continue forward."
—
Symboli Rudolf watched the performance quietly.
"This kind of song—" she muttered, "the Mejiro Family's elders won't find it easy to accept, will they?"
Her lips twitched slightly.
"But then again—what right do they have to complain now?"
She had already heard from Ramonu about their situation. The Mejiro Family needed to win three G1 races this year just to break even. And even that required strong merchandise sales.
Compared to that—Symboli Rudolf felt fortunate. Her own family wasn't a massive structure like the Mejiro Family. She didn't have to worry about such things.
"Where is their future?"
Her gaze shifted. Far ahead—to the young man cheering below the stage.
"Shuta-kun will never step in to cover Mejiro's losses."
—
After a simple celebration at a restaurant near Tokyo Racecourse, Shuta An first sent the three Uma Musume back to Central Tracen Academy, then returned home alone.
Silence Suzuka still had to focus on her studies at the academy. The training camp and summer expedition did not mean she could neglect her academics. To fully commit to the Twinkle Series, she planned to finish this semester's exams before the official start of the July summer break and also get ahead on next semester's material.
Although staying at her lover's house would be more comfortable and quieter than the dorm, Silence Suzuka knew herself well. If she came here, her study time would most likely turn into "health and physical education."
After discussing it with Shuta An, she chose to hold back for now and remain at the academy to study seriously.
As for Oguri and Berno, after learning that Shuta An would take the team to Hokkaido for a summer training camp—and then bring Silence Suzuka and Mejiro Dober to England—they left Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and went to Leeds, the largest city in Yorkshire, to scout ahead.
At least, that was what they said.
Soon after, the Dream Cup Association in England learned of Oguri Cap's arrival and happily sent her an invitation, hoping she would participate in next month's Dream Cup Week at Ascot Racecourse.
"Although the prize money isn't as high as Dubai's, it looks interesting. I heard the Queen of England will also attend, so I'm planning to register for a 2000-meter turf race,"
Oguri Cap wrote on Line.
Shuta An took a quick look at Ascot's track layout and replied: "I think 1600 meters would suit you better."
Even if he didn't fully understand every detail of the Dream Cup, a racecourse was still a racecourse.
"Alright, then I'll register for the 1600-meter race," Oguri Cap replied immediately.
—
That night, Shuta An sat alone in the garden, drinking quietly. Afterward, he took a bath and went to bed.
For him, tonight's Dream World was important. Because he would be riding Adorable, a mount arranged through Yoshida Zenya, in the Japanese Oaks.
In the Dream World version of the Oaks, his opponent was Nishino Flower.
In Shuta An's eyes, this was the perfect chance for revenge. He believed Nishino Flower, like Kyoei March, would struggle with the 2400-meter distance.
Although Adorable had lost to Nishino Flower by 0.1 seconds in the Oka Sho, Shuta had already confirmed through multiple training sessions that Adorable could handle 2400 meters. Even if not perfectly, she would still adapt better than most of the field.
—
When he opened his eyes, he was already in the jockey waiting room at Tokyo Racecourse.
He glanced at the screen.
Next race: Japanese Oaks.
"No warm-up today," Shuta An muttered. "But it doesn't matter. Even without one, I can still give Nishiyama Shigeo a proper answer."
Unlike the Satsuki Sho, Yutaka Take also had a mount today—Kyowa Hoseki.
Shuta An's mount came through Shadai's connections.
Yutaka Take's came from his father's stable.
"In Japan, being a jockey really comes down to connections," Shuta An thought, unable to help sighing.
"What are you thinking about?" Yutaka Take sat down beside him.
"I'm second favorite today, you're fourth. But Nishino Flower, the favorite, is only at 3.0 odds. Doesn't seem like the public is that confident in her."
"I'm not either," Shuta An said plainly. "She hasn't even run 2000 meters and is jumping straight to 2400."
"You shouldn't be saying that," Yutaka Take shot back. "Adorable hasn't run beyond 1600 either. At least my Kyowa Hoseki just won the Flora Stakes."
"Then let's bet," Shuta An said, raising an eyebrow. "Who finishes higher—Adorable or Kyowa Hoseki?"
"Deal," Yutaka Take agreed immediately. "I'm aiming to win this one."
"What a coincidence," Shuta An smiled. "So am I."
The bet was simple.
Loser pays for a high-end meal in Kyoto after the Derby.
A few minutes later, the two stood up with the other jockeys and headed to the waiting area.
Shuta An mounted Adorable and immediately felt it. Her condition was excellent.
"Better than expected," he thought. "Winning is very possible today."
His mounts for this year's Triple Tiara were not fixed. But since he was riding Adorable today—he intended to win.
"I'll try to make sure neither the Classic Triple Crown nor the Triple Tiara happens this year," he muttered.
"What did you just say, Shuta-kun?" the stable groom asked, turning around.
"Nothing," Shuta An shook his head. "Just hoping Adorable and I can win today."
Adorable's Trainer, Minoru Kobayashi, had never worked with Shuta An before, but he trusted his ability completely. When he heard that Shadai Farm had arranged for Shuta An to ride Adorable, he was thrilled.
He had even prepared the celebration party in advance.
"Adorable will definitely win the Japanese Oaks!" Kobayashi was full of confidence. "And I'll finally claim my first G1 victory in thirty years!"
Until now, he had only won eight graded stakes races.
Today, in his eyes, was the greatest opportunity of his career.
"As a Ritto Trainer, I've never been able to secure Shuta An before," he thought. "This is a rare chance. I have to seize it!"
With that in mind, Minoru Kobayashi threw himself completely into Adorable's final preparations.
"I absolutely cannot hold them back."
—
At the start of the race, Shuta pushed Adorable relentlessly, his aggressive push right after the start was meant to compensate for Adorable's relatively slow acceleration.
Because of that, Adorable secured sixth place within 200 meters of the start.
But Shuta An did not relax.
"Even with a good position, I can't lower my guard."
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"We're still hugging the rail. I need to find a way to shift outward on the bends."
Although Tokyo Racecourse has a final straight of over 500 meters, there are always runners who remain boxed in until the very end, never finding a path to break through.
Shuta An had no intention of becoming one of them.
He chose his moment—just before entering the first bend.
—
In the stands, Trainer Kobayashi noticed Adorable's slight deceleration.
Beside him, owner Haruo Negishi frowned.
"I know Shuta-kun is a champion jockey, but he looks like he's slowing down here. Did he spot a problem?"
"He's trying to get out of the box early," Kobayashi replied calmly. "Shuta-kun's riding is always proactive."
"If the farm hadn't approached me, I wouldn't have believed Adorable could get Shuta An to ride her on a stage like the Japanese Oaks," Negishi sighed. "If there's a chance in the future, I'd like to work with them again."
"Shadai's connections are strong," Kobayashi shrugged. "Even I wouldn't be confident inviting Shuta-kun myself."
"There's also a Shadai-owned racehorse in this race."
"Then why did they assign the best jockey to us?" Negishi couldn't understand.
"I don't know either," Kobayashi admitted.
In his experience, jockeys didn't have much room to negotiate with farms or owners. If you were the main jockey, you rode the horse assigned to you—even if you weren't satisfied.
That was the norm.
But Shuta An was different.
A large part of Sunday Silence's value had been built by him personally, and even the Yoshida family's purchase of the stallion was tied to his advice.
Because of that, Shuta An held a special position. And the Yoshida family treated him accordingly.
—
In the VIP box, Yoshida Katsumi watched the race quietly.
"From now on, Shadai must produce competitive Classic-level racehorse every year."
He had no intention of repeatedly asking individual owners for favors just to find mounts for Shuta An.
Compared to that—it would be better to win major races together, properly.
—
On the track, Shuta successfully moved Adorable out from the innermost lane on the bend.
The cost—one position.
Adorable dropped to seventh after entering the straight opposite the stands.
"Trading one place for positioning—worth it."
Shuta An was satisfied.
On the back straight, he did nothing extra.
No tricks. Just steady riding.
Adorable maintained her position, and the surrounding runners posed no immediate pressure. There was no need for unnecessary control.
—
"It looks like he's waiting for the final straight," Yoshida Katsumi murmured after taking a sip of sake. "Still the safest approach."
—
After navigating the final bend cleanly, they entered the final straight.
Shuta An acted immediately. Two forehand whips.
Adorable surged forward, breaking out of the leading group. Because the front-runner, Brand Art, was close to the inner rail, Shuta An didn't need to adjust his path at all.
Left-hand whip.
Right-hand drive.
Clean line.
—
Nishino Flower was already losing speed.
Adorable passed her.
As he did, Shuta An turned his head slightly and gave Kawachi Hiroshi a brief grin.
There was no hostility between them.
Kawachi Hiroshi returned a helpless smile.
Then Shuta An faced forward again. No distractions. He drove Adorable harder.
Now—the rhythm was perfect.
No resistance. No pressure.
The sound of hooves behind him began to fade.
"Now."
Shuta An glanced at the distance marker, quickly judging the remaining stretch.
Then he checked both sides. No threats. No one closing. He pressed his legs firmly against Adorable's sides.
"Go!"
—
The moment Adorable crossed the finish line—
Shuta An threw his whip aside, rose from the saddle, and punched the air toward the stands.
"There will be no Triple Tiara! No Triple Crown! I said it!"
His voice carried across the track. Every jockey heard it. Most of them would also ride in the Derby.
And at that moment, a single thought passed through their minds—Will Shuta An crush Mihono Bourbon's undefeated Triple Crown in Derby…just like he did today?
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