[Sea the Stars is a Thoroughbred who was born and trained in Ireland. His career record is 9 starts, 8 wins, including 6 G1s. Absolutely brilliant.]
[He is hailed as the perfect horse. Why is he so legendary? When I finished his entire story, I could only marvel, his talent truly sits at the world's peak.]
[However, to talk about Sea the Stars, one must first talk about Urban Sea. Because Sea the Stars, who possesses the grace of a global Horse King, belongs to the "Urban Sea" lineage.]
In Ireland:
"Oh? It seems I'm part of the same group as Urban Sea-sama, just like the Gold family. Urban Sea is wonderful, she's refined and has a great temperament. Every night when the stars are out, she watches them with me. She's so incredibly gentle."
"She even looks after me like a mother. Trainer Mizuki praised me as a world-class King, perhaps that's because I'm always with Urban Sea. Excellence rubs off, I suppose."
"Sometimes I fall asleep while stargazing, and Urban Sea gently carries me back or covers me with her blanket. Even though I'm the one who likes the stars, she accompanies me every time."
"I think... her real-life counterpart must be very strong and gentle too." Sea the Stars smiled, a cute expression on her face.
She loved the stars but felt lonely sometimes, Urban Sea always seemed to know and would lean against her so they could watch together. The scent of Urban Sea's blanket was faint and pleasant, making her feel safe.
Now, Sea the Stars was desperate to see what the real Urban Sea was like, hoping she had great results and stayed healthy.
In Tracen:
"Restoring the glory of the Gold family is our duty!" Gold Ship declared, her eyes shining. Their "Gold Family" seemed to have a daunting gap to cross compared to this "Urban Sea" family.
She hadn't known before, but now her competitive streak was triggered— especially knowing she finished 14th in the Arc. Even if she were just sightseeing, she shouldn't have run that poorly.
However, standing beside Gold Ship was another famous figure: the JRA's first world-ranked #1 horse, Just a Way. In 2014, Just a Way topped the world rankings with a massive 130 rating. He was evaluated as the absolute ruler of the mile, the likes of which hadn't been seen since Taiki Shuttle.
Just how exaggerated was Just a Way?
Japan's legendary "7 G1" Empress, Gentildonna, was once left in the dust by Just a Way in the 2,000m Autumn Tenno Sho, where he pulled away by a staggering four lengths.
However, a World Horse of the Year like Just a Way hasn't even been inducted into the JRA Hall of Fame. The reason lies in the baffling management of his team.
To give an example: Gold Ship and Just a Way were in the same stable. Just a Way was a pure miler, capable of 2,000m at most. Yet, when Gold Ship went to run the 2,400m Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the team— simply to keep Gold Ship in high spirits— dragged a peak-condition Just a Way along to run the Arc as well.
The team's reasoning? Just a Way and Gold Ship were best friends. When Gold Ship refused to train, the team would bring Just a Way out to accompany him. They essentially raised a World Number One Miler as Gold Ship's sidekick or study buddy.
If Gold Ship threw a tantrum and went on strike, the team just hauled Just a Way out.
They forced a world-class miler— arguably Japan's best ever— to accompany Gold Ship in middle-to-long distance races. This ultimately led to Just a Way retiring with only 4 G1s.
This move perfectly illustrates the JRA's absolute obsession with the Arc. When Gold Ship ran the 2014 Arc, he had great stamina and a long late kick, so they went all-in, even dragging Just a Way into the fray.
But reality proved the team paid the price for their hubris. Gold Ship was essentially there on a sightseeing tour, while the team thought they were playing 5D chess by bringing Just a Way as a training partner.
In truth, Gold Ship was operating on a completely different atmospheric level of eccentricity.
Looking at JRA history, Just a Way (2014) was Japan's first World Number One, and Equinox (2023) was the second. Equinox's rating reached a terrifying 134, tying him with El Condor Pasa of the 1998 Golden Generation as the highest-rated Japanese horse in history.
El Condor Pasa was also a tragic case, in any other year, his rating would have made him the World Horse of the Year, but he lost to the "Genius of the Century," Montjeu (136), at the pinnacle of the world.
As El Condor Pasa says in the first season of the anime, he was just one step away from the top of the world.
However, El Condor Pasa isn't the unluckiest. There's also Baaeed (135), who was hunted down by Flightline (139).
And Baaeed, funnily enough, is the "great son" of Sea the Stars.
At Tracen, Just a Way said with a smile, "Gold Ship, do you want me to accompany you in training? My speed has increased a lot lately."
Gold Ship replied, "No need! Little Gold Ship has already connected to alien radio waves and received the universe's most advanced training methods. If you have that much free time, go practice on your own."
Gold Ship and Just a Way are good friends, but Gold Ship is a bro— she would never force Just a Way to train for her benefit. She certainly wouldn't approve of her real-life team's ridiculous operations.
"Alright, let's work hard together!" Just a Way nodded repeatedly. She also wanted to see how strong Sea the Stars really was.
Little did she know, Sea the Stars was also an absolute ruler of the mile, perhaps even stronger than her.
At the Satono Estate:
"Kitasan, I want to join Tracen and then challenge the Arc de Triomphe. The Satono family's 'No G1' curse, the URA's 'No Arc' curse— I want to break them all," Satono Diamond said with resolute eyes. Once her mind was made up, it wouldn't change.
"Dia-chan, I support you! As long as it's not dangerous, I'll support you forever and ever!" Kitasan Black pumped her fist.
She felt a surge of admiration for Dia, who never bowed to difficulty. Dia had a will like a diamond, and Kitasan wanted to learn from that.
In America:
"Urban Sea, Sea the Stars... are you all that strong? You're in the ranks of World Horse of the Year too? Fine, fine... so you're determined to be enemies with me, right?"
"You'll regret this!"
Baaeed was panicking. Her goal was to dominate Europe and become the world's strongest, but she hadn't seen her name yet. Instead, she saw 140-rated Frankel and Sea the Stars.
She was angry!
She was so mad she... well, she just got mad, but she was more desperate than anyone to see her own name!
However, she didn't realize her words were a bit rebellious. Sea the Stars is her biological father, and Urban Sea is her grandmother.
She wants to be enemies with her dad and grandma? She's asking for the belt!
But even if she knew, Baaeed wouldn't be afraid. If Sea the Stars really came to beat her, she could just hide behind Urban Sea.
Mizuki's log continued:
[Speaking of Urban Sea, there's actually a very amusing story. She didn't originally belong to China, but to a Japanese owner, Masahiko Sawada.]
[At the end of the 20th century, Sawada bought Urban Sea at a French auction for the incredibly low price of 5,915,910 Yen. She almost went unsold as many didn't think much of her. Sawada began breeding her. He had a total of 45 horses in his stable, but he eventually noticed Urban Sea's uniqueness. Believing she could win a G1, he placed her in Stall No. 1.]
[However, in 1991, the financial bubble burst. Sawada's businesses were hit hard, and his empire vanished overnight. He had no choice but to list all 45 horses for sale at fire-sale prices.]
[At that moment in France, everyone was in a panic. But Mrs. Ling Tsui, a jewelry businesswoman, stood her ground. One day, she received a call from her lawyer, Patrick, who was incredibly excited, claiming there was an urgent matter she had to see to at the office.]
[There, she met a trainer named Jean Lesbordes. Patrick introduced Lesbordes, who told Mrs. Tsui about Sawada selling his 45 horses. He particularly highlighted Urban Sea, hoping she would buy all 45. It was a guaranteed win.]
[Mrs. Tsui knew nothing about horse racing, but shockingly, after a brief overview, she really bought them all. This is the terrifying power of money.]
[Mrs. Tsui could never have imagined that this one move would result in the birth of the greatest broodmare in the world— bar none. After she bought the horses, her son, Christopher Tsui, also fell in love with them, and they enjoyed the racing industry together.]
[Urban Sea debuted in a 1,600m race at Maisons-Laffitte in October 1991. However, she then hit a losing streak. It wasn't until August 1992 at Deauville that she won a fillies' race by 2.5 lengths, followed by a 3rd and a 2nd place finish.]
[In 1993, Urban Sea reached her peak. Returning from a break, she won the G3 Prix Exbury, defeating Marildo (who would win the G1 Prix Ganay a year later) by a length.]
[Urban Sea then traveled to the Hong Kong International Cup. In 1993, this was a G3 event, but its prestige was already growing. At the time, Hong Kong had powerful horses, the most famous being the "Hong Kong Horse King," River Verdon. He was the first Triple Crown winner in Hong Kong history, with 16 wins, 5 seconds, and 2 thirds in 38 starts.]
[The fact that so many races were upgraded to G1 after his retirement speaks to his quality.]
[Urban Sea's strategy at the Hong Kong Cup was simple: Keep a close eye on River Verdon and beat him. However, she didn't expect River Verdon to be out of form that day. The two horses became so entangled in their duel that neither won, finishing 5th and 6th respectively.]
[This feels like a massive case of déjà vu, similar to the 1999 Kyoto Daishoten, where Ryuji Wada had T.M. Opera O shadow Special Week so closely that Spe-chan ran his career-worst 7th. Wada realized he'd been "baited," and Opera O accelerated too late, finishing 3rd.]
[Regardless, Urban Sea's performance returned to normal back in France. She won two races in August and then set her sights directly on the 1993 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe!]
Inside Tracen, countless Uma Musume grew tense. They had seen Trainer Mizuki mention Urban Sea, but she hadn't revealed the Arc result yet.
Urban Sea only had one G3 win at the time— could she really win the Arc?
When Japan sent Nakayama Festa to the Arc, many had no hope because he had only won one G1, making the board was considered a miracle. So, you can imagine that a horse like Urban Sea, coming off only a G3 win, was seen as having no chance. Her odds were 37-1, the absolute bottom of the popularity rankings!
In Hong Kong:
"River Verdon-senpai finished 5th in the Hong Kong Cup? It's a shame she lost, but maybe it was just a bad day," Golden Sixty said. "She was the first Triple Crown winner in history. If I ran against her, would I have a chance?"
Golden Sixty stood with a high ponytail, holding an oil-paper umbrella. She often used the umbrella as a lance for strength training— an elegant, ethereal Uma Musume. She had a reserved aura and wore glasses, and she was a stunning beauty without them.
She admired River Verdon-senpai and wondered how far she herself could go. She didn't realize that she was already at the pinnacle of Hong Kong's Horse Kings.
At Tracen Academy:
"Uwaaa, so embarrassing! I even dragged Opera O-san down in that race." Spe-chan's cheeks were burning. Being mentioned once was bad enough, but having her "7th place" brought up again made her face look like a ripe apple.
Buena Vista found it quite funny. 'That race sounds like a blast, I want to see a recording of 7th-place Special Week-senpai.'
Seiun Sky laughed, "Nya-haha! The Arc, huh? Anyone who wins that is truly something. I wonder when I'll see news about my real-life counterpart. If I won the Arc, my grandpa would probably pass out from joy."
In the Student Council Office:
"Urban Sea... challenged the Arc directly? With only a G3 win, did anyone believe in her? This is even crazier than Nakayama Festa," Symboli Rudolf remarked.
She was surprised to learn Urban Sea once belonged to a Japanese owner. Fate is a strange thing. If Sawada had kept her, would he have run her in the Arc? At the very least, the URA would never have sent a G3 winner to the Arc.
In Ireland:
"It seems my strength was quite ordinary," Urban Sea shook her head.
She realized she had the worst record of anyone entering the Arc.
'But Trainer Mizuki is writing about me... could I have actually won?'
She shook her head. She shouldn't be so greedy. "Failure is a constant in life, we just have to get used to it."
She figured she maybe took a top three spot. Little did she know, a miraculous reversal was coming.
Mizuki's log continued:
[The 1993 Arc was a star-studded field with 23 runners. Almost all had G1 wins, while Urban Sea had only a G3. The gap in strength was obvious, almost no one bet on her.]
[By the way, the 1993 Arc also featured Opera House, whom many might not know, but her most famous descendant is the "Overlord of the Century's End," T.M. Opera O.]
[I'm wondering: If Wada met Opera House, what would she call him? Well, Wada is 46 now, and his son is in jockey school. He might not be a world-famous jockey, but he can provide his son with plenty of resources. Hopefully, his kid finds his own 'Opera O'— and hopefully doesn't follow Kenichi Ikezoe's path.]
[That'd be a bit dangerous.]
[Back to the Arc. A sudden accident occurred for Urban Sea: Her primary jockey, Michael Kinane, suddenly announced he would no longer ride her. He chose to ride the top French horse, Hernando. Hernando was the strongest horse in France at the time, with multiple G1s, and was the heavy favorite.]
[Urban Sea's rider was replaced by Eric Saint-Martin, the son of a friend of Lesbordes. He was just starting his career. In this desperate situation, Lesbordes could only choose to believe in them both, hoping for a miracle.]
[Meanwhile, the team was praying for one thing: Rain in Paris. Urban Sea had incredible heavy track adaptability. If it rained, the soft turf would turn into mud, increasing her chances.]
[However, the weather didn't cooperate. On the morning of the race, the sky was clear. Mrs. Tsui sent her husband and son to cheer, while she stayed home to pray.]
[And shockingly, her prayers worked. Just one hour before the race, a heavy rain fell upon Paris.]
At Tracen, everyone was speechless.
"Is this a miracle?" Twin Turbo asked, fresh out of the shower. Her roommate was Inari One, one of the "tiny terrors."
Inari (139cm) and Tamamo Cross (140cm) were the famous "small fries" of Kanto and Kansai.
Inari was stunned too. She had prayed for rain when she was punished with sweeping duty once, but it stayed sunny until the day she finished, then rained for three days straight. She nearly fainted from rage.
"It seems like the heavens, the earth, and the people were all in sync," Inari said.
In Hokko Tarumae's room:
Copano Rickey burst in wearing a purple nightgown, clutching a feng shui compass. "Tarumae-san, did you see?! This is Feng Shui! The mysterious power of the East! Who dares say Feng Shui is useless now?!"
"Urban Sea's team must have understood Feng Shui, so the rain came exactly when needed!"
Hokko Tarumae jumped. She had been practicing a "super-cute idol pose" and would have died if seen.
She puffed her cheeks. "Rickey-san, that's just a coincidence! Believe in science!"
"It's not!" Rickey cried, frustrated. "Feng Shui is deep Chinese divination! I'm going to explain it to you!"
She dove into Tarumae's bed to explain.
"Ow, idiot, you're stepping on my foot!"
Elsewhere:
"Oh? So miracles are born as long as you believe in them? Ni-hee-hee! Teio is going to create even more miracles! Let's start with a 20-race winning streak! Or maybe 25? 25 doesn't sound quite as cool, though..."
Tokai Teio put her hands on her hips, laughing happily.
"Teio, come play games with me!" Mayano Top Gun called out.
The high-blood-pressure-inducing "Night Owl/ Energy +30" event was about to happen.
"Coming, coming! Let me finish reading the log first!" Teio was incredibly curious, she wanted to see if that jockey, Michael Kinane, would regret his choice.
In reality, Kinane's regret likely cut bone-deep. After all, the glory of an Arc-winning jockey is supreme.
Elsewhere, T.M. Opera O was stunned. "To think there was a time when a jockey was switched at the last minute! But Wada would never do such a thing. No matter what kind of horse he's on, he rides them to the very end."
"That guy... he's middle-aged now. Is his son really becoming a jockey too? That's quite interesting."
Opera O wondered for a moment what her own future children would do. They would likely gallop across the turf too, and as long as they were happy, it was fine.
In reality, Opera O's lineage was somewhat tragic. Because the owner, Mr. Takezono, rejected many mares sent by Shadai, Opera O never had the chance to breed with top-tier mares. Consequently, few of her descendants achieved great results.
But as Opera O said, if her children were happy, that was enough, she wouldn't blame them for not winning.
Still, Opera O had a thought: If her children loved running, it would be wonderful if they could pair up with Wada's son.
In truth, if the real Opera O had met Wada and asked her to ride her offspring, even if the horse couldn't win a single race, Wada would never refuse. He would ride them until retirement, giving his all every single time.
Meisho Doto added, "That's wonderful, Opera O! Wada is gradually establishing himself. But Opera House... isn't that your teacher? Mr. Wada should probably just call her 'Teacher.'"
Doto had met Opera House before, her laughter was bright, but Opera O had clearly surpassed her teacher. Opera O performed dramas every day, making even Opera House feel inferior.
Mizuki's log continued:
[Soon, the 1993 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe officially began. Twenty-three horses surged out, and Urban Sea's start was perfect. After the start, she moved directly into the lead group— her most comfortable running style, allowing her to utilize her speed while maintaining flexible space to adjust.]
[However, Urban Sea soon fell into a hard battle. Her pace was slow, and she was repeatedly overtaken by other horses on the first two turns, eventually getting trapped on the inner rail. By the final turn, she was buried in the pack with seemingly no way to sprint.]
[Yet, working in perfect sync with her jockey, Eric Saint-Martin, Urban Sea took a high-risk gamble, accelerating through a narrow gap between two horses to find her only exit. Together, horse and rider charged toward the supreme glory of the world: The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.]
[Her path to the championship was within reach, but in a world-renowned race, her enemies were equally formidable. At that moment, White Muzzle charged from the outside, while Opera House began to accelerate in the center. The three horses ran neck-and-neck in a fierce final struggle.]
[Ultimately, Urban Sea was the last one standing. Her late kick accelerated faster, pulling away from the other two step by step. She overtook White Muzzle and Opera House, crossing the line with a half-length lead to claim the supreme honor of the Arc— a prize jockeys spend a lifetime chasing!]
[Just like that, Urban Sea became world-famous!]
In Ireland: "
"Solemia, sit down."
Sea the Stars was overjoyed to see Urban Sea win the Arc. They were currently on the bed watching a video of the real Urban Sea. Solemia was there too, so Sea the Stars invited her to sit up.
"Congratulations, Urban Sea! You're incredible. You broke through all the doubts with your own late kick. That's terrifying strength. I bet that jockey's regret is absolutely gut-wrenching," Solemia said with a sweet smile.
"I was just lucky. And don't talk about the jockey like that— everyone has their own path," Urban Sea replied.
In truth, she was thrilled— this was the Arc, after all— but she tried her best to stay calm.
"Hehe, Urban Sea, you're secretly smiling, aren't you? I saw it!" Sea the Stars teased. Urban Sea's expression was too cute, with little dimples appearing.
"I... I am not!" Urban Sea's voice turned shy and even trembled a bit. She was truly thin-skinned and couldn't handle being teased.
"Hehe! By the way, sitting on this one bed are three winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe," Sea the Stars noted.
"I guess we're pretty strong then," Solemia said shyly. She felt she was far behind Urban Sea and Sea the Stars, especially since Urban Sea was called the greatest broodmare in world breeding— though she didn't quite understand what that meant.
"Anyway, this entry is about Sea the Stars, right? I wonder how terrifying her results will be. I'm about to experience the 'gap' between world-class levels and everyone else," Solemia sighed.
"I don't know, but if I judge by my own feelings, I should have been quite strong at my peak," Sea the Stars said.
What she didn't realize was that she might have finished her racing career before she even reached her true peak.
In the Student Council Office:
"Sigh, an Arc winner... Urban Sea..."
Symboli Rudolf felt a pang of regret. If things had gone differently, she might have been the first Japanese horse to win the Arc. It was so close.
"Indeed. We were clearly there first," Narita Brian added.
Air Groove shook her head and continued preparing materials for the Newcomer Performance on January 30th. She thought about how if she ever had a daughter, she would let her run to her heart's content.
In reality, Air Groove's story was tragic. She died due to internal bleeding after giving birth on April 23, 2013, at the age of 20.
It was because of Air Groove's precedent that Daiwa Scarlet was able to retire from breeding at the end of 2023 to live a peaceful life in retirement.
Mizuki's log continued:
[Mrs. Ling Tsui's actions created the legend of Urban Sea, and similarly, the legend of Sea the Stars. Her husband, not understanding the breeding industry, wanted to sell Urban Sea after her racing career ended. This immediately drew intense interest from the Sheikh of Dubai and the Yoshida family of Japan's Shadai Farm, who offered huge sums of money.]
[But Mrs. Tsui strongly opposed her husband's plan. She ultimately founded her own company and paid out of her own pocket to buy Urban Sea.]
[Urban Sea's professional career had ended, but soon after, when Mrs. Tsui gave Sea the Stars to her son, Christopher Tsui, who loved racing...]
[Sea the Stars, as the supreme continuation of the Urban Sea line, began his own legend.]
[As for Sea the Stars' career results, I mentioned them earlier: 9 starts, 8 wins, with 6 G1s. Even more shocking: He ran his first race at the Curragh on July 13, 2008, and retired after the Arc at Longchamp on October 4, 2009. He claimed 6 G1s in just about one year and two months.]
[This means that starting from his first classic race— the 2,000 Guineas on May 2nd— until the Arc on October 4th, he completed a streak of 6 consecutive G1 victories in just six months!]
At Tracen, everyone froze.
"6 consecutive G1s, including the Arc... this girl is disturbingly strong."
Gold Ship was stunned. She knew she also had 6 G1s, but it took her nearly four years to get them. Moreover, Sea the Stars' 6 G1s included the Arc, and she did it all in a single year— the 6-win streak happening in just six months.
"Things that take normal horses three days to learn, she learns in 15 minutes. Her leg power is clearly elite. She's the type with top-tier intelligence and talent, she was born to run."
"Sea the Stars... I need to gather some data on her. This girl... she's too much."
Gold Ship decided that if there was ever an international exchange, she'd drag Sea the Stars to Team Spica first. "Little Gold Ship" would give her a proper welcome— it would be great if she actually came to Tracen.
Meanwhile, T.M. Opera O was amazed.
"6 G1s in half a year? I ran eight races in one year and got 5 G1s, but she got 6 in six months! Ha~hahaha! Interesting! So interesting! But the Overlord won't admit defeat!"
"My fighting spirit is at its peak! Trainer Mizuki said I belong to the Sadler's Wells line and have adaptability for European turf. Doto, if I fought Sea the Stars, who would you pick to win?"
Opera O's spirit was burning. She didn't know what results she would have achieved in Europe, but with Sadler's Wells blood in her, she might have thrived there.
However, crossing an opponent as terrifying as Sea the Stars would be incredibly difficult.
Meisho Doto, of course, firmly chose Opera O. She would always believe in Opera O-san.
Elsewhere:
"Can I... compete with her? No... as I am now, I wouldn't stand a chance."
Biwa Hayahide was a rationalist who used logic to find the path to victory. She calculated her chances against Sea the Stars but eventually lowered her head, admitting her current inadequacy.
She knew Sea the Stars was strong, but not this strong. 6 G1s in six months, including the Arc. Logically, she stands no chance... and yet, a desire to challenge her flickered in her heart.
Fighting Sea the Stars would surely make her stronger.
She didn't believe she would necessarily lose once she grew stronger, her long stay in the hospital had forged a resilient spirit that didn't fear any hardship.
In Britain:
"She's like a monster. I really want to meet her, this Sea the Stars."
Frankel looked at the entry, a powerful battle aura erupting from her. Her expression was one of intense excitement— the look of a performer who has found a worthy rival. She wished she could race Sea the Stars right now.
After all, a 6-G1 streak in six months was a feat even she hadn't achieved. She was 14-for-14, but it took her two years and four months to reach 10 G1s. Sea the Stars might have been even faster. Frankel saw no reason not to challenge a rival with such breathtaking talent.
"Oh? Frankel, the World Horse of the Year, is calling someone else a monster?" Enable said calmly.
She could feel Frankel's battle intent, the girl was a perpetual combatant with an unshakeable competitive streak. Facing the legendary Sea the Stars, she couldn't suppress the urge to run with her.
Enable felt the same. Seeing such powerhouses— Frankel and Sea the Stars— was a good thing. Her own ambition was massive. Faced with these disturbingly strong opponents, she wanted to use her own legs to win.
Enable also wondered: 'Why did Sea the Stars stop after only one year? That should have been her peak. Surely it wasn't because she couldn't find any more enemies and chose to retire?'
'That would be a joke.'
"Regardless, let's see. As for the Arc... I'm going to win it. And I won't just win, I'll complete an unprecedented Arc Triple Crown!"
Enable's spirit was high, she wanted to forge her own legacy and make sure everyone remembered her name. If she achieved three consecutive Arc wins, she'd be on par with Frankel!
Mizuki's log continued:
[Sea the Stars was a Thoroughbred born and trained in Ireland, raised on the farm run by Christopher Tsui and his father. He was not only intelligent but also extremely competitive— if a horse was near him, he had to overtake it.]
[To prevent him from overexerting himself, his trainer usually only assigned one lead horse to run with him. Even then, he worked incredibly hard. He truly was a horse born for the track.]
[Despite being competitive, he was extremely gentle and cooperative during training, moving at a faster rhythm than other horses. He wasn't a picky eater, finishing his meals quickly after training— except for one habit. Every time he ate, he would push the garlic to the side and save it for last. If the trainer wasn't watching, he wouldn't eat it at all.]
[But the trainers obviously noticed. They made sure he ate it every time, so he always ended his meals with the garlic.]
[He's different from Oguri Cap. Oguri not only eats a ton, but he actually likes garlic. If Oguri were next to Sea the Stars, I bet the smart Sea the Stars would slide all his garlic over to Oguri's plate.]
[And Oguri probably wouldn't even notice. He'd just think his meal was a bit bigger today— or not notice at all. He'd just eat whatever is in front of him.]
In the Ritto Dorms:
"Oguri, you see? Trainer Mizuki isn't exaggerating. You really do eat whatever is given to you. At least pay a little attention! Last time, you ate all the food belonging to that new junior who just joined Tracen."
Tamamo Cross sighed, completely done.
"I'm very sorry. I wasn't paying attention then... but I did treat her to a meal later!" Oguri Cap replied. She thought garlic was quite tasty, though the truth was there wasn't much she didn't find tasty.
In Ireland:
"Oguri Cap? Can she really eat that much? It feels like an exaggeration. I think I'm a big eater, too. By the way, isn't there an international exchange in a few months? I'm going to go and have a contest with Oguri Cap then."
Sea the Stars thought she had a chance of winning. She was smart, but she lacked case studies, and she hadn't seen Oguri Cap in action at the dinner table. She figured if it were a set amount of food, she could finish it quickly, spoon by spoon.
What she didn't realize was that the moment she thought about eating "spoon by spoon," she had already lost.
Oguri Cap eats bowl by bowl and does it quickly. The girl is truly terrifying. Sea the Stars would soon find out that despite being maxed out in every other stat, there was one skill she could never surpass Oguri Cap in: Eating.
Mizuki's log continued:
[Sea the Stars continued to grow, and after fully adapting to the track, he debuted in 2008. However, he failed in his first race, finishing fourth after being boxed in. He quickly learned his lesson, and in his future races, no horse would ever box him in again.]
[On August 18, 2008, he secured his first win at Leopardstown.]
[On September 28, 2008, he won the G2 Beresford Stakes at 1,600m, his first graded victory.]
[He then began preparing for the 2,000 Guineas. During this time, however, he fell ill with a high fever and had to stop training. It took two and a half weeks of recovery before he could return.]
[He arrived at the 2,000 Guineas plagued by sudden accidents and was not favored. His popularity was far below the favorite, Delegator, and the Coolmore Group's seeds, Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman.]
[But Sea the Stars was about to conquer everyone. He honored the memory of Urban Sea, who had an accident, with this race, surging out at the break and accelerating before the finish to defeat Delegator by 1.5 lengths.]
[Just like when Frankel won the 2,000 Guineas, everyone knew a shining star was being born.]
[But Sea the Stars triggered extreme anxiety in the European Coolmore Group. Coolmore is a massive breeding conglomerate that had dominated Europe for years through horses like Galileo. If Sea the Stars kept winning, it would be a massive blow to their empire.]
[So, for the Epsom Derby, Coolmore intended to crush Sea the Stars completely. Out of the 12 entries, 6 were Coolmore horses— nearly all top-tier G1-level competitors— forming a wall to box him in.]
[Their goal wasn't even to win, it was simply to ensure Sea the Stars lost!]
[However, as mentioned before, Sea the Stars is perfect. His strength was simply on a different level compared to the G1 horses of the Coolmore Group.]
[Though they were all G1 winners, their power was not equal, and after Sea the Stars' initial defeat, he would never give anyone another chance to box him in.]
[During the saddling period of the Epsom Derby on June 6, 2009, the young Christopher Tsui was so nervous he was speechless, but Sea the Stars remained incredibly calm.]
[Under the gaze of 100,000 spectators, this highly anticipated clash between Sea the Stars and the European overlord Coolmore began. After the gates opened, Coolmore's ace, Fame and Glory, broke quickly and took the lead into the first turn.]
[After his start, Sea the Stars constantly adjusted his position, refusing to let the pack behind form a perimeter around him.]
[When the race reached the 2,000m mark and hit the final 400m straight, the crowd erupted. Everyone knew the climax had arrived. Some didn't even dare to blink, fearing they would miss a single frame of the action.]
[Sure enough, on the final straight, Coolmore's ace Fame and Glory was the first to begin the sprint. Taking massive strides, his frantic momentum propelled him forward with incredible speed, drawing closer and closer to the championship.]
[Meanwhile, the Coolmore horses behind Sea the Stars also began to accelerate. They intended to squeeze together alongside him, making it impossible for him to sprint and forcing him to decelerate. If they could block him for just a moment, Fame and Glory would take the crown.]
[However, Sea the Stars gave them no such opportunity. Their top-speed gallop posed absolutely no threat to him. The moment Fame and Glory accelerated, Sea the Stars launched his own charge simultaneously. His late kick was utterly insane, step by step he surged forward, the terrifying power he generated instantly closing the gap with Fame and Glory.]
[Sea the Stars' extreme sprinting speed allowed him to eventually overtake Fame and Glory, crossing the line nearly two lengths ahead to claim the Epsom Derby title. His proud posture was an unacceptable, extreme nightmare for the Coolmore Group, which had long dominated Europe.]
[The 2009 Epsom Derby was voted a legendary race in the UK. The boxing-in maneuver Sea the Stars faced was even more blatant than what T.M. Opera O endured. Coolmore came at him openly, not even bothering to hide their tactics.]
[But in the end, everything Coolmore did only increased Sea the Stars' value, serving as a resounding slap in the face to all of them.]
In America:
"Wait, am I a member of the Coolmore Group?" Galileo was stunned. She didn't understand why Sea the Stars' victory would be a blow to them.
She certainly cared about Sea the Stars, but she would never go so far as to box someone in— to win like that would be a disgrace among disgraces.
"Don't be upset, Galileo. It's not your fault," Sadler's Wells comforted her.
Little did Galileo know that Sadler's Wells was the first-generation ruler of Europe for Coolmore in the 80s, and he and Urban Sea had literally produced countless world-famous horses together.
As Sadler's Wells looked at the name "Urban Sea," she couldn't take her eyes off it. For some reason, seeing those characters made her feel a bit giddy.
Maybe she just thought the name sounded nice?
In reality, a horse's name can boost its popularity, but Japan has some ridiculous ones. The most outrageous is probably "I Love G-Cups."
The announcer for that newcomer race was likely dead inside when reading it, though upon further reflection, he probably realized he didn't actually hate it.
"Of course! Whatever Coolmore did has nothing to do with me!" she snorted.
She figured Coolmore was a "breeding group," which might mean an educational conglomerate similar to a student organization at Tracen. Maybe Sea the Stars had started a rival one.
She would never participate in a boxing-in tactic, she welcomed fair competition. She had a strange feeling toward Sea the Stars— a powerful competitive urge. She thought if they really were in the "breeding industry," she'd love to see how they compared.
Galileo didn't realize that "breeding" here didn't refer to education, but to reproduction. However, they could certainly compare: So far, in terms of breeding, Galileo's produce remains unrivaled.
While Sea the Stars' offspring need more time, they are already formidable— especially horses like Baaeed, who already has the aura of a world-class Horse King.
At Tracen Academy:
"That Epsom Derby was incredible! It feels like the coordination between Urban Sea, Sea the Stars, and their jockeys was seamless. This is amazing... I need to communicate more with Trainer Mizuki and work harder too!" Hokko Tarumae said.
Copano Rickey, having finished her Feng Shui explanation, sat beside her to watch.
"I'm fired up too!" Copano Rickey added. She had just debuted, and while she knew there was a gap in strength, it didn't stop her from wanting to challenge the strong.
She felt that through these challenges, she could hear the "Voice of All Things"— a power granted by her Feng Shui— guiding her on where to run to win.
In Britain:
"Hmph, it looked effortless. Sea the Stars, I wasn't nervous for you for a second. I knew you could win." Baaeed snorted, but her eyes betrayed her longing.
She wanted to find Sea the Stars for a race. She wasn't familiar with Coolmore, and she wanted to test for herself if they were truly top-tier. Baaeed refused to admit Sea the Stars was stronger, but her actions showed she acknowledged her.
She desperately wanted to run against her.
Truly, this "great son" was destined to chase after her "father."
At the American training grounds:
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Flightline was filled with fighting spirit. To see such a powerful Uma Musume made her want to work harder. She began karate-chopping bricks, her hands fast and forceful.
However, she seemingly overexerted herself. She stumbled, and her hand slammed hard against a safety bolt. Her tail went numb, and she let out a weird Uma-cry, doubled over in pain.
Secretariat was at a loss for words. 'Is this idiot going to injure herself again? She's just about to make her comeback. What a moron.'
Mizuki's log continued:
[After that Epsom Derby, Sea the Stars was unstoppable.]
[On July 4, 2009, he took the Eclipse Stakes, becoming Coolmore's nemesis by once again defeating their Rip Van Winkle.]
[On August 18, 2009, he went to the International Stakes and won by a length over Coolmore's Mastercraftsman.]
[On September 5, 2009, at the Irish Champion Stakes, he beat Fame and Glory for the second time by 2.5 lengths, completing a quadra-kill against Coolmore.]
[It seems it wasn't Coolmore boxing in Sea the Stars, but Sea the Stars surrounding the entire Coolmore Group by himself.]
[Then came October 4, 2009. Sea the Stars arrived at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the stage where Urban Sea once created a miracle. The competition was still fierce, including the two-time Arc runner-up Youmzain, the St Leger and Breeders' Cup winner Conduit, and the Grand Prix de Paris winner Cavalryman.]
[Yet, among such a lineup of powerhouses, Sea the Stars was unsurprisingly the first favorite— the heavy favorite. It was as if he were asking, "Are you all just here to fight for second place?"]
[His popularity at the time reflected his sheer dominance. He stood high above all other horses.]
[And Sea the Stars did not disappoint. His final race directly ignited the crowd. His "Last Dance" was destined to go down in history!]
[Once the Arc began, Sea the Stars surged out. The strategy remained the same: Join the lead group early and save stamina for the final sprint.]
[Soon, they reached the final straight. When Sea the Stars began his sprint at the 400m mark, he was 7 lengths behind the leader, Stacelita, who was within reach of the championship.]
[But the moment Sea the Stars accelerated, everyone was stunned. He charged toward Stacelita, his terrifying momentum instantly erasing the 7-length gap. He completed the overtake and pulled away— one length, two lengths. Stacelita sprinted with everything she had, but that gap of several dozen meters was the distance between her and the world.]
[The crowd went wild, hailing Sea the Stars as an absolute genius. Any other horse compared to him seemed lackluster. Sea the Stars continued to accelerate at full tilt. Behind him, Youmzain gave chase desperately, trying to catch his speed, but could only watch him fly toward the finish.]
[Sea the Stars won the Arc by a dominant 2-length margin.]
[After this battle, he received the ultimate praise once again: People called him a horse seen "only once in a lifetime."]
For a moment, all of Tracen was speechless.
Ines Fujin had just returned home. She wasn't staying at the dorms today and had brought her part-time work home with her.
Her younger sister asked, "Onee-chan, is Sea the Stars a monster? She didn't just win the Arc, it felt like the Arc wasn't even her limit."
"Why did she retire? Did she really feel she had no rivals left?"
"Perhaps," Ines Fujin said, but she burned the name Sea the Stars into her memory. Such praise was insane.
If used for any other horse, it would seem like arrogant hyperbole, but for Sea the Stars, it felt perfectly natural— you could even go crazier with the praise and it would still fit.
"Strength and wisdom... she must be outstanding in daily life too. I'd really like to meet her," Ines said.
"But she's not as good as Onee-chan! In our hearts, you're the best. Onee-chan, sleep with me tonight, I'm scared," one little sister chirped.
"Hmph, dummy! Don't try to steal her, Onee-chan is mine!" another little sister hugged Ines's arm.
Indeed, in their eyes, their sister was the best.
"Alright, alright, I'll sleep with you both. One on the left, one on the right," Ines Fujin smiled, adoring her sisters.
In Hong Kong:
'So such terrifying beings really do exist,' River Verdon thought as she read. She usually ran in Hong Kong but had been to the Melbourne Cup and seen the outside world.
She had achieved the Triple Crown in Hong Kong, but she knew the world was still a vast place. Such praise was truly wild.
In Ireland:
"My real-life record was that terrifying? But it seems a bit of a shame... reaching the finish line so soon. Was the horse too proud? I don't have any injuries, so why stop running?" Sea the Stars couldn't quite wrap her head around it.
"Sea the Stars, a horse seen once in a lifetime! That is so cool!" Solemia was practically crying with envy. If she had such a reputation, she could die happy.
"Sea the Stars, don't worry, just keep reading," Urban Sea said, patting her head gently. To be honest, seeing Sea the Stars achieve such greatness while remaining safe and sound made her incredibly happy.
"Actually, I'm not worried about that. Urban Sea, I'm concerned about something mentioned earlier— that you had some 'accident.' What was that about?" Sea the Stars was dazed for a moment and told Urban Sea to be careful.
Urban Sea said she would.
In reality, Urban Sea died during a difficult birth. She and Sea the Stars were deeply connected.
Mizuki hadn't found much detailed info on Urban Sea's real-life end at the time, only learning the result later. In the racing world, the risks of breeding are generally higher for mares than stallions. Stallions just do their business and leave, while mares have to carry the foal, and as mammals, they occasionally face the danger of dystocia.
For stallions, the danger is usually minimal— aside from those like Kitasan Black who breed frantically, or Neo Universe who was accidentally kicked to death by a spooked mare.
Sea the Stars wanted to see why she retired. Could she not still run?
Mizuki's log continued:
[After finishing this race, Sea the Stars became the 2009 World Horse of the Year with a rating of 136. What's terrifying is that he had only just reached his peak that year, he could have become even stronger. His lineage also carries stamina genes, suggesting he had great potential for longer distances. Many of his descendants who excel at long distances are outstanding.]
[Therefore, many believe that if Sea the Stars had continued to run, he likely would have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Frankel.]
[In fact, his jockey felt he still had plenty of fire and could have kept racing. He was at his absolute peak, but they retired him anyway because he had already achieved everything he set out to do.]
[His trainer said he needed another race— that he craved another race— but they didn't dare gamble. If anything happened to Sea the Stars, he would never have forgiven himself.]
[So, they ultimately retired him to the world-famous Gilltown Stud in Ireland, owned by the Aga Khan.]
[His brilliant racing career came to an end. In just one year of racing, he lit up the entire world of horse racing. Truly a top-tier horse seen once in a lifetime, a warrior with a perfect balance of mind and body.]
[That's it for today's log.]
[As for tomorrow, maybe I'll write about a "Triple Crown Killer" or Haru Urara. Of course, writing about the new generation of Japanese Horse Kings is an option too— the highest rating for a Japanese Horse even reached 135.]
[We'll see tomorrow, haha.]
[I wonder what kind of reward I'll get today...?]
As Mizuki finished writing, a voice rang out in her mind.
[Log uploaded successfully.]
[Congratulations! You have received the reward— Rainy/Heavy Track Experience!]
Suddenly, a wealth of knowledge about heavy tracks flooded Mizuki's mind.
'Did I just steal Urban Sea's skills?'
Her mind fully analyzed Urban Sea's running style on heavy tracks, it was largely related to her natural hoof size and power points. After reviewing it, Mizuki gained many insights that would be helpful for her own Uma Musume.
A very solid skill.
She prepared for bed. Tomorrow she needed to help Spe-chan prepare for the Kisaragi Sho and the Yayoi Sho. Also, the Newcomer Cultural Performance was coming up, and she was hoping for some good acts.
While Mizuki went to wash up, a group of Uma Musume couldn't sleep.
Haru Urara, for instance, was both excited and nervous, but she vowed to work hard to win. Many others were wondering who the 135-rated Japanese Horse King was— the future looked promising.
Though, compared to 140, there was still quite a gap.
In Ireland:
"So that was the reason for your retirement. Your owner just let you retire. But that's normal, you achieved all your goals and could rest easy," Urban Sea said.
"Hmph, Urban Sea, but that's not what I want. I won't just play the role of my real-life counterpart, I will surpass her."
"Whether it's 8, 9, or 10 G1s, I can get them all."
Sea the Stars was filled with fighting spirit again. Tomorrow, she would definitely work hard.
(T/N: Check out the Author's Note please! I'm looking for a new fic to translate and I go into detail in the author's note!)