"The Dream Cup?"
Symboli Rudolf's voice carried the weight of someone explaining something important. "Yes, the Dream Cup is the nation's most grand All-Star event. Anyone with a certain level of fan support can participate."
"I see." Hayato wasn't angry that she hadn't mentioned this beforehand. He hadn't planned to extract any benefits from this arrangement anyway. It just meant Oguri Cap's inherent skill development would need to wait a bit longer.
Having a race like this was actually good news. Those uma musume who'd retired due to injuries and faded from the public eye could still appear on the racetrack. That alone was worth celebrating.
That's why it was called the Dream Cup, after all.
Since everything was decided by fan votes, it was also called the Star Cup. Just appearing meant enormous prize money even for last place, essentially serving as retirement funds for uma musume.
"I apologize for not explaining this matter earlier." Symboli Rudolf's tone carried genuine regret.
"It's fine. Just consider that you owe me a favor."
"You dare make Rudolf owe you a favor?" Maruzensky laughed behind her hand, the sound carrying mock reproach. Hayato was definitely the first person to dare speak to Rudolf like that.
"What's there to fear?" Hayato shrugged. "You owe me one, too."
"Hehehe..." As they chatted, Maruzensky's laugh grew more genuine. That really did seem to be the case, didn't it?
She also owed Hayato once.
Symboli Rudolf actually appreciated Hayato's directness. Anyone else really wouldn't use this kind of tone with her. She felt like she'd found another person with whom she could have normal conversations.
After Hayato left, they started talking again. "Rudolf, do you really believe what he said?" Maruzensky still couldn't quite accept the fact that she might be a reincarnation.
"Mm." Symboli Rudolf seemed to still be thinking about something, nodding absently.
"That's impossible, isn't it?"
"Hm?" Symboli Rudolf snapped back to attention, realizing Maruzensky was waiting for an actual answer. "Whether it is or isn't, won't we know after trying?"
"Then what is he? How does he know these things?"
"I think perhaps something like a divine messenger."
"A divine messenger? Him? Are you telling me Hayato was sent by the Three Goddesses to save us?"
---
March 3rd, weekend.
Hayato brought his three Uma Musume to Nakayama to watch the Yayoi Sho race.
Checking out the opponents' abilities ahead of time was also a form of learning.
After winding through various paths to enter the venue, they bought some snacks being sold by Uma Musume along the way.
These uma musume charged ridiculous prices. It was basically highway robbery.
Things like "carrots grown by Oguri Cap's own family" and "Western pastries nurtured with Super Creek's motherly love."
They were admittedly delicious, though. Hayato couldn't really complain while eating them.
Hayato hadn't brought Oguri Cap along. She was currently devouring an all-you-can-eat buffet somewhere nearby, probably traumatizing the restaurant staff.
As they entered the venue, the announcer's voice rang in their ears.
"Betting their tickets to the Satsuki Sho, just who will claim the precious winning in the Yayoi Sho before going to the Satsuki Sho? I'm announcer Misato Akasaka. Today we've invited Hosoe Junko as the live commentator for this race."
"Hello everyone, I'm Hosoe Junko. I'm very pleased to be the commentator for this race."
In the spectator seats, Hayato spotted one of the BNW members. Biwa Hayahide.
"The Satsuki Sho is next month." Biwa Hayahide's voice carried clear anticipation. "I really look forward to battling them soon."
"Naturally, you'll have to count me in too." King Halo had already stepped forward, unable to resist joining the conversation.
"Mm, yes indeed!" Biwa Hayahide glanced at her and nodded in acknowledgment.
All of them had now completed their second races with perfect two-win records.
In King Halo's previous Kisaragi Sho race, she'd still used runaway tactics, leading second place by five horse lengths. With results like these, passing through the upcoming Spring Stakes would be completely without issue.
"That line again." King Halo's smile had an edge to it. "I definitely won't give first place to any of you."
"I return those words to you." Biwa Hayahide acknowledged that King Halo was strong, but that kind of runaway tactic wasn't something she'd worry about.
If her opponent were Silence Suzuka, she'd pay special attention. But as for King Halo? She already had an absolutely perfect formula to deal with her.
After some waiting...
"Alright, the competitors have begun entering the racing grounds one after another. Competitors, please enter the starting gates and prepare yourselves."
CLANG!
"It's started! All the Uma Musume have completed beautiful starts!"
As the announcer's voice carried over, the group's gazes turned toward the grounds below.
Whether it was because runaway uma musume had become popular lately or not, two runaway uma musume appeared right from the race's start.
The fight for first place was fierce from the get-go.
Hayato took the opportunity to explain. "The Yayoi Sho course is the same as the Satsuki Sho. Toward the end, there's a 200-meter uphill. I brought you all here so you could learn something from watching how they handle it."
For the sake of this slope, the three had undergone special training after dinner for an entire month. They all now had uphill and downhill acceleration skills. He'd really put effort into preparing them.
"You're Trainer Hayato, right?" Biwa Hayahide glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "I heard you have the ability to see the outcome of a race at a glance. Who do you think will win this race?"
"What ability to see race outcomes at a glance?" Hayato felt the outside stories were way too exaggerated. There was an element of rumor and boasting to them. "Don't believe what people say carelessly. I just have relatively good eyesight. For small races, if I see an uma musume whose abilities far exceed the others, then I dare say she'll probably win."
This wasn't any amazing ability. A first-class trainer like Tojo Hana could also determine which uma musume had better odds through data analysis and calculations.
Tojo Hana couldn't just glance at Uma Musume stats like Hayato could with his System. She had to collect all her information the old-fashioned way.
Hayato waved his hand dismissively. "As for Grade-level races like this one, where the competitors' abilities aren't that different, I don't dare casually comment on who'll win or lose."
"I see." Biwa Hayahide lowered her head in thought, then changed her approach. "Then who do you think has better odds among them?"
Hayato answered without hesitation. "Winning Ticket probably, then Narita Taishin. Their abilities are comparable, but I still think Winning Ticket can take it. The reason? Mainly because the runaway style has appeared."
Winning Ticket's running style aptitudes were Pace-Chaser B, Late-Surger A. Narita Taishin's running style aptitudes were Late Surger B, End-Closer A.
If a runaway Uma Musume appeared in a race, it would be very disadvantageous for End Closer-type Uma Musume because they'd be separated too far from the front runners right from the start.
So no matter how you looked at it, Winning Ticket had more of an advantage.
This was currently a GII-level race where the Uma Musume's abilities weren't far apart. But if it were like Seiun Sky and Silence Suzuka's debut race runaways, if someone still dared use End-Closer tactics, they'd be left twenty lengths behind.
-----
A gap of up to 20 lengths once occurred in 1973, Secretariat - Belmont Stakes. It happened because of the significant difference in stats compared to the other horses.
https://youtu.be/V18ui3Rtjz4?si=7am6lZDDFuKHHGnJ