Daiwa Scarlet's pupils dilated. Her thirst for being number one was legendary, and she had been proud of being called one of the "Twin Empresses" alongside Vodka.
But compared to Equinox's 135-point world-dominating score, the "Empress" felt small. Her competitive blood boiled. She refused to lose, but she also felt a profound respect for such a monster.
Everyone immediately kept reading, desperate to see the race records of the horse that had forced the entire racing world to bow. Japan, Ireland, the UK... the world's top commentators had unanimously crowned her the king.
This was unprecedented.
"Equinox... I have to give her a proper congratulations next time I see her. But how on earth did she pull off a score like that?"
Daiwa Scarlet stared intently at the diary, unable to wait a second longer for the following content.
"I can't even imagine it. Equinox-chan? She's just too cool. I'm already looking forward to seeing the way she runs."
Vodka felt tempted to go find Equinox now and have a race with her, but then she remembered that Equinox still hadn't even gone through her maturation.
Special Week was equally stunned as everyone else. The highest JRA score she previously knew of was Orfevre's 129 in 2013. Of course, she also knew about Deep Impact, who had achieved a high score of 127 in her time.
But now, Equinox had reached a staggering 135. What did that even mean? It was completely beyond her comprehension.
Beyond the shock, Spe-chan was genuinely happy. Japanese horse racing had finally reached the pinnacle of the world in 2023. She noticed that Mizuki made no mention of Equinox winning the Arc.
'Did Equinox-chan not go to Longchamp to run the Arc that year?' she wondered. But she didn't dwell on it, her gaze grew firmer as she clenched her fists.
She had to get stronger too. Her goal was to be the number one Uma Musume in Japan, and then take on the strongest in the world.
"She looks so cute, but her strength... she really is a monster among monsters."
Tokai Teio was surprised for a moment, but her first reaction wasn't fear— it was pure excitement. She wanted to race Equinox and see how they compared. Having endured so much pain and injury, she no longer feared any opponent.
This fearless, unyielding spirit was the Tokai Teio everyone knew and loved. Her talent and ability gave her the right to be that confident.
While her records might have been surpassed by later horses thanks to advancements in technology and training systems, in 1991, her talent was the absolute peak of her generation. If she were placed in today's era, her record might be even more terrifying.
However, if Teio and Equinox were to clash, the one standing at the end would likely still be Equinox. The cheeky brat who was always pestering Kitasan Black had a limitless future.
Meanwhile, in the Student Council Office at Tracen:
"Has she arrived? The JRA's Horse of the Year, Equinox. The bloodline of Kitasan Black and King Halo... that family is truly formidable."
Symboli Rudolf was so moved that she stood up abruptly. This sudden movement startled Air Groove beside her, but the Empress understood Rudolf's feelings.
As the Student Council President, Rudolf had been waiting for this moment. She had been waiting for the Uma Musume who would completely surpass her.
Her own era was being eclipsed? Rudolf was perhaps the happiest person of all. Her expression was one of pure exhilaration, reminiscent of when she secured her 7th G1 victory.
She cared for every student at Tracen with unimaginable dedication, only those who witnessed her nightly toil could understand the genuine joy she felt now. Her hard work had finally paid off.
"Rudolf, do you really have to smile that wide?" Air Groove teased, though she too wore a broad grin. She was so happy she almost wanted to tell a pun herself, but she immediately shot down that ridiculous idea.
She wanted to learn from Rudolf, but she knew deep down that the puns were the one thing she must never adopt. She didn't want to be the kind of person who made young students cringe in awkwardness.
"That's right, Air Groove. I believe that as long as we work hard enough and pour in even more heart, we can cultivate even more and even stronger Uma Musume."
"Don't you agree? As long as we sprint toward the finish line with everything we have, we have no limits."
Rudolf's face was resolute. Usually so composed, her heart was now racing. Her eyes flashed with the same sharp edge from her days as the Emperor.
She believed this was far from the end, they had to remain humble and continue to learn from the world's best, like Sea the Stars and Frankel. She knew that points didn't always tell the whole story, but for now, she allowed herself this moment of triumph.
"135 points... that's an unimaginable level. Though Equinox doesn't seem to have fulfilled our long-held dream of winning the Arc, we can't ask for much more. But she retired after only ten races. Was it for the same reason as Sea the Stars? Because she couldn't find any more rivals?"
Narita Brian felt a sense of suffocation looking at that incredible score. Like Rudolf, she was thrilled, but she wondered if Equinox could have won the Arc.
In reality, a clash between Ace Impact, the winner of the 2023 Arc, and Equinox would be hard to call. 2023's Ace Impact possessed a supreme, unique dominance. After winning the Arc with a time of 2:25.50 and maintaining a perfect 6-for-6 record, many believed he was the rightful Horse of the Year.
But would Equinox have had no chance? The Arc is a race full of variables. Just look at Orfevre, he had the talent and the momentum, but he hit the "invisible wall" at Longchamp and was overtaken by Solemia. That moment broke the hearts of Japanese fans.
If Equinox had participated, the hype would have been off the charts. In 2022, after Flightline and Baaeed retired, Equinox (rated 128) moved to the top of the world. On the other side was Ace Impact with his terrifying undefeated streak.
A clash between Equinox's reigning dominance and Ace Impact's undefeated momentum would have drawn eyes from Ireland, France, the UK, Japan, and Hong Kong alike.
Ultimately, the choice not to go to the Arc was likely the right one for Equinox's camp. Going meant giving up the 2023 Tenno Sho Autumn and the Japan Cup. The Arc is notoriously unpredictable, just look at 2022, when Titleholder, Do Deuce, and Deep Bond all went to France.
On a day of relentless rain and a muddy heavy track, Titleholder tried to lead but was easily caught by Alpinista, who cruised past without even needing the whip.
The Japanese horses finished near the back of the pack, leading to a sense of resignation back home. This loss caused fans to feel that the Arc was no longer a dream, but a guaranteed annual heartbreak.
However, data-wise, Equinox certainly had the strength to compete. Ace Impact ran an incredible final three furlongs (600m) in 33.06 seconds at Longchamp, breaking Dancing Brave's record!
To put that in perspective, T.M. Opera O's fastest closing speed was 33.30 seconds. While tracks differ, it highlights Ace Impact's terrifying speed.
But Equinox was no slouch either, his famous 2022 Tenno Sho Autumn closing speed of 32.7 seconds proved that his last spurt was legendary.
Back at Tracen, in the swimming pool, an intimidating aura was spreading.
"Horse of the Year? Interesting."
Deep Impact's expression was sharp. Usually steady and composed during training, she showed her fangs whenever an interesting rival appeared. Her smile was slightly fierce, her eyes filled with a destructive intensity.
It was said that when Deep Impact raced, she didn't run— she flew. She wanted to race Equinox, she relished the idea of a showdown with the Horse of the Year and did not believe she would lose.
In the real world, after the Japan Cup, fans debated whether Equinox had surpassed Deep Impact's status in the JRA. Deep Impact had a more complete career, conquering distances from 2000m to 3200m, and a peerless stallion record.
Equinox retired early without a 3200m G1 win to prove his stamina. However, Equinox was arguably more stable, he never lost a race by more than a single horse length, a feat even Deep Impact couldn't claim.
Near Tokyo Racecourse, King Halo was accompanying Haru Urara for her dirt debut. King Halo thought Trainer Mizuki was a true genius for discovering Urara's talent as a dirt sprinter. With the right training and a bit of luck, Urara might actually win.
They were reading the diary together while waiting for the race.
"Equinox... Horse of the Year!"
"And look, Urara-san! She belongs to the line of Kitasan Black and me, King Halo! I wonder how that works? Did Equinox receive my guidance too?"
"Ohohoho! We truly are peerless and first-class!"
The "First-Rate Dummy" King Halo suddenly burst into her signature laugh, startling the people around her. She looked at the diary with pure excitement.
She and Equinox played together often, especially since Equinox loved imitating King's elegant and first-class laugh. Equinox was a quick study, and by now she had the laugh down perfectly.
"That's amazing! I wish I were even one-tenth as strong as Equinox-chan," Urara said enviously.
"You will be, Urara! I'll share some of my first-class power with you. Seeing this news is a sign of good luck for us today." King Halo took Urara's hand, her expression firm. She was truly kind at heart.
"Really? King-chan, that's great! I've received your power! I'll do my best!" Urara was naive enough to believe it, but thanks to King's words, she gained the confidence she needed. She wanted to win to repay everyone who believed in her.
"Urara-san, King Halo-san, I bought the cheering fans!"
A cute little Uma Musume ran over. She looked somewhat like King Halo and was none other than Equinox's mother, Chateau Blanche, who in real life had only won a G2.
Equinox's name was actually a poetic blend of her parents: The "Black" of his father, Kitasan Black, and the "White" of his mother, Chateau Blanche, leading to the concept of equal day and night, the Equinox.
Born on March 23, 2019, on the Spring Equinox, his birth seemed predestined to divide an entire era.
(T/N: Blanche is a French name that means "White.")
Meanwhile, in France:
"I... only have 128 points? A full 7-point gap from Equinox's 135?"
Ace Impact was currently a young Uma Musume, not yet in her maturation. Her goal was to be the strongest in France. She looked adorable with a baby face and thick bangs, but her aura was intense. She was a top-tier racer hidden behind a cute exterior, much like Treve.
Her clothing was luxurious, befitting the daughter of a business tycoon. She had been training hard and was considered the ceiling of her generation, but she hadn't expected to lose to Equinox in the world rankings.
'What does this girl look like? Why did she win?'
Ace Impact suddenly felt the urge to go to Tracen Academy in Japan to meet Equinox. She was unwilling to accept this. If she met Equinox, she would show her what real strength looked like.
However, if she actually met that cheeky brat, Equinox, she would likely be teased and fooled. Their meeting would certainly be something to look forward to.
However, at this moment, those most shocked were naturally Kitasan Black, Equinox, and their circle.
"Wait... the Kitasan Black line... Equinox, crowning herself Horse of the Year with a high score of 135."
"Eh?!!!!!!!!"
When Kitasan first saw the text, she thought she had misread it. After rubbing her eyes and burying her head so deep into the diary that her nose nearly touched the page, she finished the entry.
In an instant, she let out a weird horse-like shriek, her entire tail standing bolt upright.
She looked at herself, then at Equinox, completely speechless for a time. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Finally, she snapped out of it and shouted with intense excitement:
"Did you see that, Equinox?! It's terrifying, the future you climbed to the top of the world!!"
Kitasan felt it sounded like an exaggeration, yet she couldn't contain her joy. This was the Horse of the Year! Furthermore, Kitasan was dying to know: Why was Equinox considered part of the Kitasan Black line and the King Halo line? What was the relationship?
Her thoughts mirrored King Halo's:
'Did I provide a lot of guidance during Equinox's races?'
Little did Kitasan and the others know, the truth was much simpler: Equinox was effectively Kitasan's favorite child.
"Kitasan Black-san, it's because I was born for this!!" Equinox responded to Kitasan's excitement with a firm tone and a confident smile. Although she hadn't reached her maturation yet, Equinox knew the feeling of being unsatisfied.
The Uma Musume she admired most was Kitasan Black. In her mind, she often simulated races where she gritted her teeth, desperately chasing Kitasan's receding back. She never caught her.
She simulated every style, including a Great Escape, but in those mental races, she never won. After all, with her current short legs, there was no way she could outrun Kitasan Black.
Whenever she felt down from losing, she would simulate races against Panthalassa, Stars on Earth, or Through Seven Seas just to vent. In those mental simulations, she always won.
She wanted to surpass Kitasan precisely because she admired her so much. If she didn't even dare to dream that, she would never grow. She wanted to be an inspirational figure like Kitasan Black, create an even bigger festival, and charge toward the world stage.
As Equinox read the diary, she also realized the massive gap between the JRA and the world. Even Kitasan Black, with her 7 G1 wins, didn't quite have enough achievments compared to the global peaks.
Equinox felt a surge of competitive fire, she wanted to prove that the JRA wasn't that far from the world's summit. She planned to run more races in the Uma Musume world. She wanted to run in the Arima Kinen, the Tenno Sho Spring, and many more to close that gap.
Equinox did indeed perform brilliantly, but back in the real world of horse breeding, Kitasan Black's counterpart certainly suffered. There was a little episode involving the second son of the Yoshida family, Katsumi Yoshida.
After Kitasan won the 2017 Arima Kinen, Saburo Kitajima originally wanted the horse to keep racing in 2018. It was only after much persuasion from Katsumi Yoshida that he agreed to retire Kitasan to stud in '17, which led to the birth of Equinox.
In his first year, Kitasan Black covered 130 mares, a massive workload concentrated into just a few months. Equinox, currently in his first year at stud, is likely just happily eating hay, unaware that his workload will probably exceed that 130 count.
"What? Equinox is the Horse of the Year?! And I only have 121 points? That's 3 points lower than Do Deuce and Titleholder, and 14 points lower than Equinox. But wait, where is Panthalassa? Does she not have a ranking?"
Liberty Island was stunned. She stared at Equinox, her competitive spirit locking onto her.
"Stars on Earth is 119? I'm 2 points lower than Liberty Island. I need to work harder. But we're all from the Duramente line, right? I've never met Duramente, what kind of person is she?"
Stars on Earth asked. Kitasan and Dia-chan had come to pick her up so they could all attend the Newcomer Celebration at Tracen tomorrow.
"How do I put this... I feel a bit offended." Panthalassa scratched her head. She had been congratulating Equinox, only to realize she hadn't been mentioned in the rankings yet.
In reality, Panthalassa was 37th in the world in 2023 with 120 points, Mizuki just hadn't written it yet.
"Dammit, how could I, lose to Equinox? There must have been an accident. Maybe I was injured? That must be why my score is low. I was definitely injured!" Titleholder refused to accept defeat.
"Don't go wishing for injuries just to explain a loss! Don't jinx yourself, Titleholder!" Panthalassa said, worried.
"Hmph, I wish I could reach my prime right now and race Equinox. I hope I wake up tomorrow and I'm ready," Titleholder declared.
Satono Diamond smiled. "Don't rush things. Take it slow."
Kitasan Black teased, "Dia-chan, coming from you, that has zero persuasion. Sometimes you're the most impatient one of all."
Kitasan remembered how Dia would sprint toward anything curious, especially regarding jinxes or magic, leaving everyone in the dust only to be found later doing something dangerous.
"Regardless, Kitasan-san, Dia-chan, and everyone, let's work hard together. I will lead our generation to the top of the world," Equinox said with a smile, looking out at the mountains.
Mizuki's diary continued with new content:
[On March 23, Equinox was born at Northern Farm. He belongs to the Kitasan Black line. At the time, the stable manager, Kuwata, hoped he would dominate the Kikuka Sho, just like Kitasan Black.]
[In 2021, Equinox grew and arrived at the Miho Training Center to prepare for his debut. His debut race was set for August 28, 2021.]
[However, during his training, a scandal hit the stable. Trainer Tetsuya Kimura was being investigated by the police. A 20-year-old jockey, Kaito Otsuka, had filed a lawsuit against Kimura.]
[Back in December 2019, Kimura had allegedly physically assaulted the then 18-year-old Otsuka because his handwriting on a gift bag was poor.]
[After enduring it for two years, Otsuka finally reported him. On July 28, 2021, the JRA suspended Kimura from training all horses from July 29 until October 31. All 67 horses in Kimura's stable, including Equinox, were transferred to Yoshiki Iwato's stable. This is why Equinox's trainer records show a transfer (Kimura → Iwato → Kimura).]
[An assistant trainer named Ota noted that while Equinox was thin, he was tall, well-proportioned, and seemed very talented. Finally, on August 28, 2021, with Christophe Lemaire in the saddle, he wore the number 2 and won his 1800m turf debut by a massive 6 lengths.]
[Three months later, on November 20, Equinox— now back with Kimura— made his G2 debut in the Tokyo Sport Hai Nisai Stakes. Lemaire chose a "Wait and See" strategy from the back. In the final straight at Tokyo Racecourse, Equinox burst through a gap between horses, showing the powerful physique of the Kitasan line.]
[He clocked a staggering 32.9s final 3-furlong sprint, flying past the rest of the field to win by 2.5 lengths with ease.]
[Actually, Equinox won that race without Lemaire even using the whip. The second-place horse was being whipped frantically but couldn't gain an inch. The horse probably wanted to say: "Stop hitting me! If you're so tough, get down and run against him yourself!"]
[This victory gave the Kitasan Black line its first graded stakes winner. But it was only the beginning. Lemaire was amazed, noting that Equinox was so intelligent he knew exactly when to sprint without being told. His temperament was stable, a thousand times better than a certain other 6-G1-winning horse.]
[Fans later joked: "Equinox's IQ was actually higher than Lemaire's during the Japanese Derby era."]
Inside the Tracen gym, people couldn't keep a straight face.
"Hahaha! 'A certain 6-G1 horse'? That's definitely Orfevre!" Gold Ship mocked, standing right next to Orfevre.
"Hmph, I don't know how you have the nerve to talk, Gold Ship. Have you forgotten your 12-billion-yen incident already?" Orfevre countered. They were tearing at each other's old wounds.
"How do those two fight every day and still hang out?" Gentildonna asked lazily. "Who knows? Maybe their brain waves just match in a weird way," Durandal sighed.
"Don't talk about 'brain waves,' Gentildonna! My academic scores were actually quite good!" Orfevre tried to defend herself.
"Oh? 'Good'? You mean a perfect score in Running and failing grades in everything else?" Gentildonna gave no quarter.
"In summary, she has simple mind and overdeveloped limbs," Durandal added the finishing blow.
Orfevre was fuming, threatening to "bury them all in three minutes," but since she was smaller than them, she couldn't actually win a physical fight.
In another part of Tokyo, Through Seven Seas was stunned by Kitasan's strength. Seeing Lemaire's name felt familiar.
In reality, he was her jockey during the 2023 Arc de Triomphe. Although Equinox didn't go, Lemaire did.
In that race, Lemaire rode Through Seven Seas, keeping a close eye on Ace Impact. Many thought that with a bit more luck or a better start, she could have placed in the top three.
She finished a very respectable fourth. Fans joked that she had prayed to the entire Gold Family for help, but only her Uncle Gold Ship answered, which explains why she didn't win.
She planned to ask Gold Ship later: "How did you manage to finish 14th? Did you really just go to Longchamp for a vacation?"
The diary continued. While Equinox's first two races were impressive, it was the next eight that would shock the world. She won 6 G1 wins using four different running styles.
But which two races did even the mighty Equinox lose?
[In December 2021, one of Equinox's great rivals appeared: Do Deuce, a descendant of Heart's Cry, ridden by Yutaka Take.]
[Speaking of Heart's Cry, his classic race was the 2005 Arima Kinen, where he pulled off a massive upset against Deep Impact. No one thought Deep Impact could lose, but Heart's Cry shattered the invincible legend.]
[The commentary from that day— "Deep Impact is losing! The winner is Heart's Cry!!"— is burned into the memory of every fan.]
Mizuki noted that Deep Impact only lost twice: Once in the Arc and once in the 2005 Arima Kinen.
In the game Uma Musume, Cheval Grand's story mentions a race that inspired her to run. That was Heart's Cry's 2005 victory.
Yutaka Take was devastated after that loss, famously saying: "Today, Deep Impact was just running, he wasn't flying."
Years later, Yutaka Take would ride Heart's Cry's son, Do Deuce, and win the Arima Kinen title that had been taken by the father.
[At the end of 2021, Equinox was highly regarded, but the favorite was Killer Ability (the G1 Hopeful Stakes winner), followed by Do Deuce and Equinox.]
[2022 was Equinox's crucial Classic Year. But then, something happened that caught everyone in the JRA off-guard. While other stables were sharpening their spears for the trial races, Equinox's camp announced he would skip all prep races and head straight for the Satsuki Sho.]
[They directly said "We're already researching my opponents for the Satsuki Sho."]
[One can only say that Equinox's camp chose an unprecedented path. Perhaps they were overly confident in Equinox, or perhaps they had their own tactical considerations. Regardless, Equinox didn't know yet that he wouldn't have to run any races for a short while.]
[Never mind the results for a second. The entertainment value of this move was off the charts.]
At that moment, in Tokyo:
"Is Equinox's camp actually reliable? Deciding to skip prep races just like that..."
Contrail was somewhat surprised and intensely curious, wondering if they were about to pull off something legendary. She read on eagerly. At the same time, she wondered who her own jockey would be and hoped her camp wouldn't be as hardcore as Equinox's.
Honestly, she kind of wanted to try it. Skipping the trials and just researching the G1 rivals. If you could win like that, it would be even cooler than Deep Impact.
Indeed, Contrail still harbored the desire to surpass Deep Impact. After all, she was Deep's "favorite child."
However, what Contrail didn't know was that her own real-life team would be far more notorious than Equinox's, frequently dodging battles and leading to a series of insulting memes on the internet back home.
There were even dedicated threads created just to "kindly remind everyone to insult Contrail today."
Mizuki's diary continued:
[The Satsuki Sho has two main prep races. The Kyodo Tsushin Hai on February 13 was won by the newly debuted Danon Beluga, while the first-favorite Geoglyph, ridden by Lemaire, took second.]
[The Yayoi Sho on March 6 was won by the third-favorite Ask Victor More, while the first-favorite, Do Deuce, only managed second.]
[After this race, some voices claimed Do Deuce didn't have enough power for the Nakayama track, but Yutaka Take believed Do Deuce had completed his task well and remained full of confidence for the upcoming Satsuki Sho.]
[As for Equinox, he spent the first three months of 2022 peacefully, then stepped directly onto the stage of the Satsuki Sho.]
[Lemaire returned to ride Equinox. Actually, Lemaire could have chosen to ride Geoglyph (also from the Kimura stable), and he originally intended to, but since Equinox wasn't racing in the trials, he rode the other.]
[Once Equinox entered the Satsuki Sho, he decisively chose Equinox.]
[Geoglyph was instead ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga.]
[April 17, 2022, the Satsuki Sho. Do Deuce was the first favorite, Danon Beluga the second, and Equinox the third.]
[Interestingly, of the top six favorites, three were drawn in the far outside gates: First-favorite Do Deuce, third-favorite Equinox, and fifth-favorite Geoglyph. The other three were in the inner gates. It was a clear-cut case of who was lucky and who wasn't.]
[However, in terms of results, it was a total victory for the Outside Gate Group, and this race created many classics.]
[Once the Satsuki Sho began, Lemaire's strategy was to fight for position from the outside and maintain a Pace Chaser position in 4th or 5th. He executed his tactics steadily.]
[On the other hand, Takeshi Yokoyama had a miserable time. Riding Killer Ability, he suffered a poor start from the inner gate, a situation so dire even a god couldn't save him.]
[There's an old saying: "Some horses are finished the moment the gate opens, it just takes two minutes to announce the defeat."]
[Takeshi Yokoyama earned several classic memes from this race. He had a brilliant 2021, taking 2nd in the Derby and 1st in the Kikuka Sho. But 2022 started with a string of failures— 10th in the Oka Sho, and then missing the break here.]
[Thus, he earned the nickname "Early-blooming Jockey."]
[During the race, Equinox moved steadily. Entering the final straight, Danon Beluga was the first to break from the lead group, but Equinox immediately accelerated and surged into first place without any obstacles.]
[But in the final 50 meters, Equinox and Geoglyph engaged in a fierce duel. Ultimately, Geoglyph overtook him to take second. Geoglyph won the 2022 Satsuki Sho as the fifth favorite. The last horse to win the Satsuki Sho as the fifth favorite was the legendary T.M. Opera O.]
[One wonders if Yuichi Fukunaga had a moment of hope. After so many years of riding, was his own "Opera O" finally here?]
[Of course, that's just a joke, a horse like Opera O is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. As for Killer Ability, she finished 13th— the worst among the top favorites. Takeshi Yokoyama was frustrated but had no excuses.]
[Jockey Fukunaga, because his performance was the polar opposite of Yokoyama's, was dubbed the "Late-blooming Jockey" by fans. Fukunaga truly is a wildcard, just when you think he's done, he pulls off something huge.]
[Looking at the Satsuki Sho as a whole, Lemaire's performance was actually very good. However, Equinox's performance— especially considering his later achievements— can only be described as disappointing. After nearly five months of rest and a perfect position, he only delivered a 34.9s final sprint.]
[Equinox's camp was likely stunned. They immediately started bowing and apologizing, stating they would take full responsibility. And so, Equinox met the first defeat of his career.]
[But Yokoyama wasn't the only jockey that got screwed in this race. There was another: Yutaka Take.]
[Old man Take is often called "Weak at Nakayama," and while that's mostly a stereotype, in this race he held Do Deuce back too far. Even though Do Deuce roared home with the fastest final sprint of 33.8s, it was too late.]
[It was the exact same mistake he made with Special Week and Deep Impact during their defeats. If Heart's Cry was watching, he'd probably wonder if Take was settling a personal grudge.]
[But in this race, Geoglyph was truly strong. His 'once-in-a-lifetime' burst of speed seemed to burn him out completely for future races.]
[After the Satsuki Sho, many fans were excited. Some thought it would be the era of Do Deuce and Equinox, others bet on Danon Beluga. Many favored Equinox, thinking he just had bad luck and might win the Derby if he didn't draw Gate 18 again.]
[Back then, everyone's evaluations were still conservative. Give it a little more time, and everyone will know: It's only with hindsight that we can say that this was to be an era of absolute dominance by Equinox.]
[The focus soon shifted to the Japanese Derby. But to everyone's disbelief, in the gate draw for the Derby, the top three favorites from the previous race drew almost identical positions. Do Deuce drew Gate 13, Geoglyph Gate 15, and most ridiculously, Equinox drew Gate 18... again.]
Seeing this, everyone was at a loss for words.
In the Tokyo countryside:
"How do I put this... Do Deuce and Geoglyph have some luck, but not much," Liberty Island said solemnly.
"What about me?" Equinox asked, her tone sounding a bit like Grass Wonder.
"If you draw Gate 18 twice in a row, you have no luck at all," Titleholder blurted out.
"That hurts," Equinox muttered. She really felt like the unlucky star of the Classic races.
One Gate 18 was bad enough, but two?
"This is getting interesting! How about this, Equinox? Let me draw for you next time. We need to nip this jinx in the bud!"
Satono Diamond's tail was wagging. She considered herself a professional when it came to jinxes and felt she had to crush this one before it took root. Otherwise, how could anyone run if they kept getting the outermost gate?
As Kitasan predicted: mention a jinx, and Dia-chan is instantly triggered.
"Hehe, thanks Diamond-san! But it's okay. As long as I'm strong enough, I'll win even from the outside gate," the cheeky Equinox chirped.
But secretly, she thought her luck was garbage compared to Kitasan Black. She remembered that in Kitasan's diary entry, she drew Gate 1 in four out of five races.
Equinox was 100% Gate 18. A reverse number one.
If Kitasan was a "Talented Hard Worker," Equinox was a "Pure Genius." Kitasan had better luck, but the hardship he endured was dozens of times greater than Equinox's.
"Wait, I noticed something in Trainer Mizuki's diary," Stars on Earth pointed out. "Equinox's jockey is Mr. Lemaire, right? But the Trainer said 'During the Derby, everyone said Equinox's IQ was higher than Lemaire's.' Does that mean Lemaire's performance in this race was terrible?"
Stars on Earth wondered if the Derby was the second of the two losses Equinox would suffer before her 6-G1 winning streak began.
"I thought about that too," Equinox admitted. "But maybe it's just that I performed really well?" She realized that if she won the Derby, she'd have won nine in a row before losing the last one.
If she lost the Derby, her 6-G1 streak would carry her to retirement.
'Why can't I just win 7 G1s in a row like Kitasan-san?' she wondered, pouting.
In reality, she was just a bit short on luck, and Lemaire's handling wasn't perfect. However, Lemaire learned his lesson, choosing a more perfect path in the later Takarazuka Kinen.
If Equinox had a bit more luck, he would have been the first Derby winner in the Kitasan Black line.
Everyone, including Titleholder, Liberty Island, Stars on Earth, and Panthalassa, watched tensely, waiting to see their own names appear. But they didn't have to wait long, the stars of this era were coming.
Elsewhere in Tracen:
"Hahaha! Geoglyph, did you win the Satsuki Sho as the 5th favorite too? But don't follow my script too closely— I lost both the Derby and the Kikuka Sho after that!" T.M. Opera O laughed.
"The diary says you 'burned out,' but don't mind that. On the stage of the opera, you perform for yourself. Even if there are no spectators, believe you are the brightest!"
"No spectators? You say that, but remember how depressed you were when no one showed up for your play?" Meisho Doto blurted out ruthlessly.
In reality, the real T.M. Opera O was hated by fans at the time. On top of screwing over gamblers on multiple occassions, he was famously thought as an "ugly" horse, and never received a single fan letter during his career.
After retirement, some "fans" even broke into his stable, threw rocks at him, and cut off part of his mane.
It can only be said that gamblers are trash.
Mizuki's diary continued:
[After the Derby started, all the horses surged out at once. To everyone's surprise, the race was led by Desierto, whose training data was also excellent. He took a high-speed lead, bringing the first 1000m to a blistering 58.9 seconds.]
[Equinox started from the far outside. Lemaire, using his experience, suppressed his pace and brought her into the third group. Given the fast pace, this strategy of holding back was a wise choice.]
[But a Late Surger faces one major problem: Traffic. Equinox encountered exactly that while coming out of the curve.
In racing, the rail is the 1st tier, the next horse out is the 2nd, and so on. Equinox was on the rail, with Killer Ability in the 2nd and Do Deuce in the 3rd.]
[To save distance, Lemaire didn't pull Equinox outside. He decided to stick to the rail. The result? Equinox was flying, but he couldn't reach top speed because the path was completely blocked by the other horses.]
[He had to wait for Do Deuce on the outside to move up, then accelerate through the tiny gap created by the difference in their speeds. Equinox didn't expect the other horses to be so slow, he practically slammed into a wall of horses, which cost him some momentum, though he still pushed through.]
[On the long, wide final straight of Fuchu, Equinox and Do Deuce entered a 1-on-1 duel. Equinox clocked the fastest final sprint of the field at 33.6s, but he couldn't catch Do Deuce. Ultimately, Do Deuce won the Japanese Derby by a neck.]
[After this race, Yutaka Take received unanimous praise. Many who wanted him replaced after the Satsuki Sho were now eating their words. What they didn't know was that Do Deuce's owner was a massive fan of Take, he was never going to be replaced.]
[Do Deuce showed incredible strength, delivering a terrifying 33.7s final sprint of his own. nearly matching Equinox. It was a high-quality duel. Many fans felt that while Do Deuce won beautifully, if Equinox had a tiny bit more luck, the result might have been different.]
[But as they say at Tracen: "The luckiest horse wins the Derby."]
[Given his luck in these two races, it's amazing Equinox even placed that high.]
Mizuki thought of a joke:
During the Derby, Equinox cried out in his heart: "Dad! I can't catch them! Give me a push!" Kitasan Black shouted back:
"Have you forgotten what rank I got in the Derby? How am I supposed to push you?!"
Indeed, Equinox prayed to the Hall of Fame horse of the JRA— and the answer came from Kitasan Black, who finished 14th in the Derby.
Even more coincidentally, Equinox's grandfather, King Halo, also finished 14th in the Derby.
Like father, like son, like grandfather, like grandson.
Mizuki found it amusing and put pen to paper immediately.
[Speaking of which, in the Kitasan Black line, not a single ancestor managed to win the Japanese Derby.]
[If Equinox ever wanted to ask a senior for advice on racing the Derby, she'd go to Kitasan, only for Kitasan to say awkwardly: "I finished 14th... why are you asking me?"]
[One can only hope Equinox and Almond Eye work hard together to try and produce a proper Japanese Derby winner.]
At this moment, within Tracen Academy, many people were deeply moved by this scene and couldn't help but start gossiping.
Over at the Tracen swimming pool:
Almond Eye was holding a kickboard, practicing her swimming diligently under the guidance of Lord Kanaloa. She was exceptionally beautiful, possessing an elegant aura and fair skin.
Lord Kanaloa had a vibe similar to Symboli Rudolf, but appeared even more heroic and bold.
However, Lord Kanaloa wasn't born that way. What was she actually like in reality?
His strength was indeed unprecedented, but as a youngster, he was unusually timid. There are several examples of this:
Before his debut, he was so scared by other horses acting up that he literally jumped straight up into the air.
Until he was 4 years old, he would get lonely if left by herself and required the company of Curren Chan.
It wasn't until he was 5 that he finally reached a point where changes in his environment wouldn't shake him.
Thus, Lord Kanaloa grew step by step.
"Honestly, Almond Eye, you need to be a bit bolder," Lord Kanaloa said with a laugh.
As Almond Eye's father, he was incredibly powerful, with a career record of 19 starts: 13 wins, 5 seconds, and 1 third (including overseas). He was hailed as the "Japanese Sprint King who broke through Hong Kong."
In 2012, the Hong Kong Sprint was considered as difficult for Japan as the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. At that time, Hong Kong and Australian sprinters were exceptionally formidable, standing like a high wall that Japanese horses simply couldn't scale.
However, Lord Kanaloa's appearance successfully broke through this barrier, securing the first victory for a Japanese representative in that race.
By the time Kanaloa was 5, he displayed the true demeanor of a monarch. Not only did he win the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, but he also stepped up in distance to win the 1600m Yasuda Kinen in June.
In October, he successfully defended his Sprinters Stakes title before returning to the Hong Kong Sprint to win by a massive 5 lengths.
At the end of 2013, he beat out Orfevre, who had taken second in the Arc and won the Arima Kinen, to become the JRA Horse of the Year. The fact that he secured the title over Orfevre speaks volumes about his incredible merit.
There was also a very interesting episode regarding his trip to Hong Kong, which is the source of the bond between Lord Kanaloa and Curren Chan.
Usually, a stallion and a mare aren't transported together because if the stallion gets "excited," it can be dangerous for the mare . However, the staff trusted Kanaloa completely.
Moreover, he hated being alone, and usually, he would only calm down once Curren Chan appeared.
When they first arrived in Hong Kong, Kanaloa suffered heatstroke because the December weather was a sweltering 20.8°C. He had to be saved with emergency IV fluids and water cooling.
When he woke up and realized he was alone, he began to wail, tears streaming down his face. However, as soon as the staff opened the door and he saw Curren Chan waiting outside for everyone, his crying stopped instantly.
Curren Chan really is so gentle. And since they were from the same farm, they eventually had their own foal, Curren Moe.
"Okay, I understand," Almond Eye nodded obediently. She began swimming forward with perfect form. Her stroke direction and the rhythm of her kick were flawless.
"Keep it up! Don't be afraid of being lonely, I'll be right here waiting for you. I won't leave," Lord Kanaloa smiled.
She was projecting herself onto Almond Eye, assuming that if Almond Eye finished her swim and didn't see her, she would secretly cry out of loneliness just like her father did.
In truth, Almond Eye wouldn't, she just thought the pool was noisy. Almond Eye was working this hard because she had seen the news about Equinox.
'Horse of the Year? That's a great title.'
She was determined to put all her effort into reaching that peak.
However, she was confused by the last line of the diary: One can only hope Equinox and Almond Eye work hard together to try and produce a proper Japanese Derby winner.
"Um... what does that have to do with me?" Almond Eye thought until her CPU started smoking. She pouted her lips, genuinely wanting to figure out this puzzle.
In reality, Equinox's first breeding partner was indeed the "Queen of Japan," Almond Eye. Their foal is highly anticipated by everyone, though everyone mostly hopes they and their child stay safe, especially during the breeding process.
Elsewhere in Kyoto:
"Yes! I won the Japanese Derby? That's fantastic! But if Trainer Mizuki's diary is correct, Equinox won't lose a single race after that, right? 6 G1 wins in a row... Dammit, does that mean I won't win a single one?!"
"I get it. I must have chosen a different path. Equinox must be winning in places where I'm not. But why am I only rated 124 in 2023? I should be higher than her!"
"Curse it... what happened? And it's only 2022 in the diary right now. Next is the Kikuka Sho— will Equinox win that?" Do Deuce was happy, but desperate to see the rest.
She was terrified that from here on out, she would just be crushed by Equinox. She had no idea she was about to see even more shocking news.
In Hong Kong:
"Golden Sixty... it seems the future is in your hands. You and Lucky Sweynesse must hold the line for Hong Kong. Don't let racersfrom other countries take it away," River Verdon laughed.
Hong Kong racing had worthy successors, and with the mainland about to build its first racecourse, the stage was getting even bigger.
"Of course. But I didn't expect to see a Japanese Racer get a score that high. Will I have a chance to race against Equinox?" Golden Sixty truly wanted to battle world-class powerhouses. She missed her chance with Sea the Stars, but now she saw Equinox.
Invincible also looked on with surprise, clenching her fists. She was thrilled about the Chinese racecourse project but anxious about what might happen in the first Chinese Internation G1.
'What if a foreign racer won the inaugural race?'
She shook her head, she needed to focus on getting stronger. She believed that with the new racecourse, a Chinese Horse of the Year would surely arrive.
Meanwhile, in the Tokyo countryside:
"Honestly, Trainer Mizuki! Don't mention my 14th place anymore!" Kitasan Black wailed, wiping away bitter tears. Her image was being ruined!
That 14th place was her eternal trauma. She declared that if she ever became depressed, Mizuki would be the primary culprit.
Satono Diamond comforted her: "It's okay. We can win it back now."
Equinox stood with her hands on her hips, secretly thinking:
'I saw Diamond-san laughing just now too. She just didn't let Kitisan see!'
She was a bit sad to see she lost the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but the good news was that she won everything else afterward. She wouldn't get arrogant, though, she had to be even stronger than her real-life counterpart.
Mizuki's diary continued:
[After the Japanese Derby, on June 2, Equinox was found to have swelling in his left front leg, but it was a minor issue that healed quickly.]
[Surprisingly, on July 11, the Equinox camp chose to skip the Kikuka Sho and head for the Tenno Sho Autumn instead.]
[This decision sparked widespread controversy in Japan and around the world. Many felt Equinox had no reason to skip the Kikuka Sho because he had the stamina genes for long distances. Furthermore, his main rivals, Do Deuce, Titleholder, and Deep Bond, had all chosen to skip the Kikuka Sho to go to the Arc.]
[Do Deuce went to France, as did Deep Bond and Titleholder (ridden by Kazuo Yokoyama).]
[Kazuo Yokoyama is different from "Little" Takeshi Yokoyama. He is the eldest son of the elder Yokoyama, so people like to call him "Middle" Yokoyama.]
[However, the 2022 Arc was hit by heavy rain. The track was incredibly muddy, and the Japanese horses couldn't adapt. Their results plummeted.]
[The winner was the British Alpinista. Christophe Soumillon, who once rode Orfevre, was on the French horse Vadeni and took second again.]
[In the mud of Longchamp, Titleholder gave his all in a Great Escape but finished 11th out of 20. Deep Bond was 18th, and Do Deuce was 19th.]
[After the race, JRA interviewed the three. Middle Yokoyama sighed: "I gave it my all, but that rain was just too much. It was impossible." Yutaka Take gave a bitter smile: "Regrettable. Just regrettable. We'll try again next time, but Do Deuce was in good shape, it was likely the rain." Kawada wore a mask of pain: "We tried, but the rain... if not for the rain, the result would have been better."]
[When I first saw that, I felt bad for them. But seeing their "pain masks" and the old man's bitter smile... my heart couldn't help but feel a bit of amusement. Sometimes you just have to laugh.]
[In reality, since horses like Geoglyph, Danon Beluga, and Killer Ability couldn't run the 3000m distance, they also skipped the Kikuka Sho for the 2000m Tenno Sho Autumn. The anticipation for the Autumn Tenno Sho was at an absolute maximum with such a strong field of three-year-olds.]
[However, at that time, no one could have predicted that on October 30, 2022, at Tokyo Racecourse, one horse would stand out from all these elite veterans and deliver a performance of absolute madness from the very start.]
[Horse fans will remember this moment forever. But first, back to 2022: Even without Equinox, the Kikuka Sho still took place. Ask Victor More, despite being only the 2nd favorite, won the G1 title with a perfect performance.]
[Sadly, it must be mentioned that on August 9, 2023, Ask Victor More passed away unexpectedly from multi-organ failure due to heatstroke while out at pasture. It shows how dangerous heatstroke is for horses.]
[His career ended at 12 starts and 4 wins. It's a tragic way to go. Fortunately, in Tracen Academy, she can make up for her regrets.]