Mizuki continued her diary after a sip of stomach-warming tea from Super Creek. The tea was fragrant and refreshing, and she also had some snacks given by Ines Fujin.
She had brought these snacks from her store for Mizuki, all full of sincerity.
'Uma Musume are truly kind. I must have done a lot of good in a past life to deserve this.' Mizuki thought.
But speaking of Ines Fujin, she wondered how her and Agnes Tachyon were doing. Would she really be swayed by Agnes Tachyon's money and eventually tied to a chair for experimental play?
Mizuki thought it shouldn't happen...
...She should still pay attention, though.
[With this race, Equinox became the fourth horse since the JRA grade system change to win the Autumn Tenno Sho in his Classic year. The first three were Bubble Gum Fellow (1996), Symboli Kris S (2002), and Efforia (2021).]
[Bubble Gum Fellow was incredibly strong, in 1996, he defeated the then-powerhouse Mayano Top Gun by half a length. For Mayano Top Gun, it was a humiliating loss and his first time losing to a horse of the Sunday Silence line.]
[When Equinox won, he and Kitasan Black completed the record for the fastest father-son duo to conquer the Autumn Tenno Sho. Notably, the 6-year veteran Cadenas witnessed both Kitasan and Equinox's victories, a true professional backdrop.]
[After Equinox's win, Kitasan Black's breeding fee skyrocketed to 10 million yen. Even at that price, farms were lining up, causing his "little Kitisans" to be drained.]
[Poor Kitasan must have been despairing, thinking of that classic meme: "Don't come any closer!"]
[But at least he was making so much money for only thirty seconds of work. When compared to other stallions, he's in a decent position.]
[Speaking of stallions, I still admire Special Week. He had peak good looks and was quite rough with the mares brought to him. These high-born "young ladies" would try their best to cooperate, but Special Week often found it boring, just going through the motions after a couple of tries.]
[That Special Week probably pretended to finish early so he could leave.]
[The mares must have wondered: "Special Week, can you actually do this? You're so small! Are you actually just good looking but completely useless?!"]
At this moment, having read this far, a group of Uma Musume were completely bewildered.
Inside the Spica dorm:
"Equinox-san is certainly impressive, and Panthalassa-san is too, but now isn't the time to worry about the Tenno Sho race. The more critical thing is Suzuka— did she really suffer such a severe injury?"
Initially, Hokko Tarumae was marveled by Panthalassa's Great Escape. Running 1000m in 57.4 seconds was an incredibly fast pace, she could imagine how electrified the crowd must have been.
Moreover, Panthalassa didn't slow down afterward, charging all the way to the finish. As an Escape horse, not losing speed in the late stage is an extremely rare feat.
But what left her completely slack-jawed was the staggering final leg shown by Equinox in the last 600m. Using only 32.7 seconds for the final 3 furlongs... is that really a result a Uma Musume can achieve in a talent-studded race like the G1 Autumn Tenno Sho?
Hokko Tarumae remembered that Duramente's final 3F in the Satsuki Sho was 34.7 seconds, and the commentator had shouted in shock: "Has he reached such a level of strength, Duramente!"
Yet, Equinox's terrifying 32.7-second 3F was a full 2 seconds faster than even Duramente, who possessed the "Royal Bloodline"!
Of course, the Satsuki Sho and the Autumn Tenno Sho cannot be compared so simply. Duramente didn't have an Escape horse setting the pace, and he had to accelerate while veering sharply at the fourth turn to catch up to Kitasan Black and Real Steel.
Nevertheless, a 32.7-second speed in the final 3F is proof of Equinox's staggering caliber.
Hokko Tarumae was momentarily stunned. She began to wonder: 'If it were Duramente, could she have caught Panthalassa? What about President Rudolf or Deep Impact? Could they have caught up?'
But those thoughts existed only in her imagination. Equinox had actually done it!
"In the end, Equinox is a genius." It was truly terrifying. Hokko Tarumae swallowed hard, her heart trembling with awe.
Equinox seemed like a Uma Musume born with absolute strength, as if she were perfectly designed to meet the order of the world, a true "Titan of the World's Turf."
However, her shock turned to horror when she saw the news of Silence Suzuka's injury. Her pupils dilated, and she froze. She never expected something like that to happen.
She wasn't the only one. Special Week, Tokai Teio, Gold Ship, and the others were all profoundly shaken.
Even Silence Suzuka herself hadn't expected to encounter such a severe injury during the Autumn Tenno Sho, one that, like Rice Shower, would result in her death on the track.
From previous log entries, she knew she might get injured, but she hadn't realized it was fatal.
She finally understood why the final race of her Training Goals was the Autumn Tenno Sho.
'So, that was the finish line for my real-life counterpart?'
That made it all the more important for her to complete that race. She felt that only by finishing it could she salvage the fate of her real-life self. Now that she knew in advance, she could help her "other self."
Special Week was the most heartbroken. The "General's" emotions were written all over her face. Seeing that Suzuka had suffered a severe fracture, she was on the verge of tears.
"How can this be? Why did Suzuka-san's real horse have to go through that? No, Suzuka-san, let's not participate in this race!" Special Week shook her head frantically, believing she absolutely couldn't let Suzuka go out on the day of the Autumn Tenno Sho. It was too scary.
"No no no no no, I can't let you race in that Tenno Sho!"
However, Silence Suzuka gave a grateful smile and said, "It's okay, Spe-chan. Since it's written in the Training Goals, it means as long as I'm careful, I can complete the race."
"Besides, this is a race I cannot give up on. It might be linked to my real-life counterpart, but don't worry— I won't push myself too hard. I'll ask Trainer Mizuki if there's a way to make me stronger, and I'll ask for her advice as the race approaches."
Only then did Special Week feel a bit more at ease. She understood Suzuka's feelings, anyone would want to do their best to help their real-life counterpart.
That horse must have felt so helpless in that moment of pain. Special Week thought of Rice Shower, who tried so hard to stand up and finish her race. Suzuka must have felt the same, but never got the chance.
Thus, Spe-chan vowed to do her absolute best to help Suzuka-san train and finish this Autumn Tenno Sho. Gold Ship, hearing this, felt it sounded reliable. Everyone being safe and sound was what truly mattered.
Silence Suzuka felt a deep sense of gratitude toward her jockey, Yutaka Take, Rice Shower's jockey, Hitoshi Matoba, and all the fans who loved her.
She felt apologetic toward them, they had come to see her run to the finish line, yet she hadn't made it, causing them such grief. It wasn't her intention, but it was okay. She would fight with everything she had to save her real self.
She would give everyone the "Best Sunday" ever.
Suzuka also wondered: what would happen if she completed her Training Goals? She remembered Trainer Mizuki mentioning that once a Uma Musume finishes her goals, a "Special Key" is lit.
'What does that key open? Could it really be a passage connecting the two dimensions?'
To be honest, Suzuka truly wanted to meet her real-life counterpart and say thank you. Ever since the diary appeared, she felt a spiritual resonance, sensing that her real-life self was a gentle soul who encouraged her in its own silent way.
However, she was also nervous. If the key really worked and she met the horse, how should she say hello? What should she say? What did the real Silence Suzuka look like?
Was she identical to her, or slightly different?
Suzuka's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but she didn't dare think too much. After all, the key connecting their worlds was just a hypothesis, and she couldn't predict what the real horse would be like.
She hadn't realized yet that if she actually saw her real-life counterpart, she— and every other Uma Musume— would be completely dumbstruck. The real horses were four-legged beasts, distinct from them in almost every way. The only similarities were the ears and the tails.
One wonders if Silence Suzuka would even recognize which horse was "herself."
If Spe-chan were there, she would surely point one out immediately: "The one in the stable wearing the green hood, spinning in circles to the left over and over, that's definitely Suzuka-san!!"
Similarly, Oguri Cap's counterpart would be easy to spot. The one that does nothing but eat, eat, and eat would undoubtedly be Oguri. She really never stops!
In fact, if Oguri Cap met her horse self, they would probably just eat together... or she might even try to steal its food. "Hey brother, share some with me."
But all of that was still just speculation. Whether they would meet remained an unknown.
For now, Silence Suzuka's immediate concerns were settled.
Special Week, however, was now looking confused. Why was she called "small?" What did good looking but useless mean? What did "pretending to be finished" mean?
Her eyes began to spin as her brain overheated. Special Week collapsed on the floor, steam rising from her forehead, wondering if there was some misunderstanding.
She wouldn't be rough with other horses! She's a nice girl!
The other Spica girls agreed, thinking the "pretending to be finished" part might just be Spe acting. Maybe it's like filming a short video?
What they didn't know was that in the breeding shed, the real Special Week was famously ill-tempered. Most mares had to wear protective gear when he was around, whereas they didn't for other stallions.
"But Spe-chan seems pretty cool! Though of course, Teio-sama's real horse must be cooler!" Tokai Teio giggled, performing her "Teio Step."
But in terms of pure handsome looks, even Teio had to yield a little. The real Special Week's looks were legendary, a true Adonis among horses.
By contrast, Neo Universe was once kicked to death by a mare during breeding, and many other stallions faced resistance, but with Special Week, the mares were completely cooperative.
Of course, Tokai Teio was also puzzled: 'What painful thing was Spe doing that would make her "pretend" to be finished?'
Meanwhile, by a river in Kyoto:
Seiun Sky, the habitual angler, was dying of laughter. As she fished, she called out cutely:
"Nya-haha☆! Small~~ Small~~ Spe-chan is so small~~"
Seiun Sky sounded exactly like a cheeky brat. She just thought it was hilarious. It was a shame Spe wasn't there, if she heard that, she'd probably burst into tears of frustration.
But Seiun Sky also wondered what a "stallion" was. She really wanted to visit the real world— and catch the fish over there while she was at it.
"But looking at this, Equinox is way too strong. What should I do if I run into someone like that while I'm doing a Great Escape? No, I have to keep the rhythm under my control. A person like Seiun-chan will be finished in a place like Tracen if she doesn't think of a way out. "
"After all, my talent can't compare to those monsters."
Seiun Sky smiled. Even though she was fishing, her mind was constantly simulating how to beat Special Week, King Halo, Grass Wonder, and El Condor Pasa. Even someone like her wanted to win.
She wanted to make her grandfather proud just once.
Thinking of her grandfather, she sighed. Really, that silly old man who always laughed and called her a "genius"... did he realize how much pressure that put on his cute Seiun-chan?
But if she's called a genius... she would have to work hard to become one.
"Oh my, a bite! Good luck today, that's two big ones." Seiun Sky smiled and yanked the rod. A large fish was hauled in. She laughed and put it in the bucket.
The fish was dazed, wondering how it ended up in a bucket after such a wild aerial loop.
At this moment, in the Tokyo countryside:
Titleholder, Liberty Island, and Stars on Earth were stunned. Reading the log, they could feel the tension and excitement of the race between Panthalassa and Equinox. Great Escape vs. Great Chase.
The extreme pace of 57.4 seconds meeting a terrifying 32.7-second final leg... it was too exaggerated. How could such insane data appear in a single race?
Either of those stats alone would drive a crowd wild in any other race, but here they were, clashing in one fierce battle.
Damn it... a 32.7-second 3 furlongs. Titleholder clenched her fists. She knew how frightening that speed was, especially since Equinox did it during her Classic year. The caliber of that performance was at the absolute peak, no amount of praise was enough.
But despite this, Titleholder gritted her teeth. She wouldn't give up easily. Through the diary, she knew she would adopt a Great Escape strategy in many future races.
If she ran into Equinox, she would guard her lead with her life at the finish line and never let Equinox pass.
At the same time, Titleholder thought of something even scarier: 'Was 32.7 seconds even Equinox's limit? She did that in her Classic year, she was bound to grow even more in her Senior year.'
'Damn it,' Titleholder thought, 'Is there no limit to her ability? Just how far will her future races go?'
Titleholder's feelings were complex. She was happy for Equinox becoming Horse of the Year, but she herself only had a 124 rating. Her heart couldn't accept it.
But she didn't care too much about the score her counterpart got, there are no absolutes on the track. In the world of Uma Musume, she would win this time.
Liberty Island and Stars on Earth felt the same. They stared at each other, stunned into silence. Their shock was like a surging tide. They couldn't even imagine how Equinox produced such a result.
Liberty Island also noticed the mention of Equinox and Kitasan Black achieving the "Fastest Father-Son" back-to-back victory.
'What does that mean?'
Literally, it sounded like they were father and son. She immediately wondered if Kitasan Black was Equinox's father in the real world, but she quickly dismissed the thought.
'Get serious, Liberty Island, what are you thinking? Kitasan Black debuted in 2015, and Equinox in 2021. That's only a six-year gap— how could she have a child? Plus, Kitasan is a girl!'
"Hahaha! I'm really amazing! Like I said, the Great Escape is invincible! But wait, I was caught by Equinox at the end? You guys are weird... how do you manage to save your strength to accelerate at the very end? No, no, I have to charge even faster! Panthalassa, go go go!"
The silly brat Panthalassa gritted her teeth and started swinging her short legs frantically. Kitasan Black picked her up, but she kept "galloping" even while suspended in the air.
Panthalassa's logic was simple: If she didn't win, it was because she wasn't charging fast enough. No deep analysis needed.
"Stop charging, Panthalassa," Liberty Island said, hands on her hips. If she ran until she fainted, everyone would just worry.
Besides, Liberty Island found Panthalassa, who charged right from the start, to be the strange one. Most people choose to exert their strength at the final moment.
"I was too absorbed in reading. Just how did she run that fast? Equinox-san, I want to know too," Stars on Earth added curiously.
"Hehe, maybe it's because I wanted to be like Kitasan Black-san, so I went through hellish training with her. It looks like I have to work hard, I have to do what the real horse did, and do it even better," Equinox said with a cheeky grin.
She didn't realize that while she was a diligent trainee, her workload didn't even come close to Kitasan Black's level. Equinox was a genuine genius, a "Titan of the World's Turf" in every sense.
She continued, "Kitasan Black-san, we both won the Autumn Tenno Sho! My time was 1:57.5. I wonder if I can be even faster."
Kitasan Black nodded. "My time for the Autumn Tenno Sho was 2:08.3, but Trainer Mizuki said the track was heavy and it was raining that day, so it took longer."
Panthalassa laughed, "I don't know my time, but I'll be faster next time. For the first 1000 meters, I'm going faster than 57.4 seconds!"
Titleholder chimed in, "Stupid, being fast at the finish line is what matters. Anyone can accelerate at the start. You have to consider the whole race! Don't spend all your energy in the first 1000 meters."
"That makes sense," Panthalassa nodded as if having a sudden epiphany. "But my race must have made everyone happy, right? 'The New Twin Turbo'— I like that name. Do you think people will still say my name in the next era?"
"Probably," Liberty Island smiled gently. "Both Twin Turbo and Panthalassa are rare racers. Racers that can bring laughter to everyone regardless of the result aren't seen in every era. I think many people will love you."
At this point, Equinox grew curious and asked, "Also, I'm wondering what Kitasan Black-san does later. Why does she earn so much money in just thirty seconds? Trainer Mizuki, really... why didn't she write more? I can't figure it out."
Kitasan was also lost, scratching her head. "I don't know. But seeing the words 'Kitasan's little Kitisans got drained,' I'm a bit scared. My guess is... that job probably isn't easy."
Equinox giggled, "It's okay, Kitasan Black-san, I'll come help you! Money doesn't matter, as long as you don't get too tired, it's fine."
Equinox had no idea that her words would become a self-fulfilling prophecy: Equinox would indeed end up joining his father in the breeding shed.
They continued reading. Mizuki's log proceeded:
[After Equinox won this race, he became the horse with the fewest career starts— just five— to win the Autumn Tenno Sho in JRA history.]
[At the same time, he broke the "First-Favorite Jinx." A 16-race losing streak for the top-bet horse in JRA G1s that had persisted since the 2022 Hopeful Stakes.]
[Fans who followed Equinox know this race was called the "Curse-Breaker." Before the race, as the first favorite, Equinox faced no shortage of mockery. After his victory, a reporter asked Christophe Lemaire: "What were you thinking when you saw Panthalassa pull off that massive 'Great Escape'? How did you stay so calm?"]
[Lemaire's answer: "To be honest, I didn't see him."]
[He laughed and added seriously that it was Equinox herself who rose up in the final stretch to hunt down Panthalassa. In October, Equinox's team announced he would enter the Arima Kinen on December 25. In the pre-race fan vote, Equinox came in third with 294,688 votes, while Titleholder took first with 368,304 votes.]
[It's clear that Titleholder was incredibly strong in 2022 and recognized by the public. His record that year was stellar, winning both the Tenno Sho Spring and the Takarazuka Kinen. His poor result in the Arc de Triomphe was largely excused due to the heavy rain, it was simply bad luck.]
[When Titleholder announced his return for the Arima Kinen, the hype reached a fever pitch. Would the Kitasan Black line prevail, or would the Duramente line? This was their first head-to-head clash, and neither would yield.]
[However, while Titleholder won the fan vote, Equinox took the top spot in final betting popularity at 2.3 odds.]
[The race was packed with elites: The 2021 Horse of the Year Efforia, the 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Cup winner Geraldina, the 2022 Osaka Hai winner Potager, and the 2022 Japan Cup winner Vela Azul.]
[Under the gaze of the world, the Arima Kinen began. After the start, Equinox chose to ignore Titleholder's lead and stayed in the mid-to-back pack at a slow pace.]
[The commentator for this race was the famous Tatsuya Aoshima. He is responsible for some of the most ridiculous and legendary calls in JRA history.]
[His most absurd performance was the 2013 Japanese Derby. he uttered so many "immortal" lines that his commentary is considered a peak that future generations can never surpass.]
[The memes include: the "Commentator's Late Start", "The First Turn that Decides the Match," "Climbing a Hill on Flat Ground," and "Deep Impact's foal, Yutaka Take."]
[A few lines are enough to show how unhinged he was. It went something like this:]
["Alright, the race has started! The horses surge out! First, let's climb a hill!" (Note: There is no hill at the start of the Derby.)]
["Excellent, they've entered the first turn, which decides the winner!"]
["The two leaders have a 4-5 length gap over third place... and Deep Bond is here! Deep Bond is here!"]
["Deep Impact's foal, Yutaka Take, is in third-to-last place!"]
["Number 8, Mirco Demuro, is on the outside, moving forward from the front of the mid-pack!"]
["Alright, here he comes, the Satsuki Sho winner, Mirco Demuro!"]
[Keep in mind that jockey Demuro wasn't even in this race.]
Mizuki, writing this, was floored. Aoshima was truly too much. Did he really say all that in one race?
But the most ridiculous part was his call on the final straight of the Derby:
["They've entered the final straight! Toward the pinnacle of the generation!"]
["The once-in-a-lifetime stage of the Japanese Derby!"]
["400 meters left!"]
["The hill with a 200-meter height difference!!!"]
["And charging out from the middle... is a DOG!!!!"]
Mizuki couldn't process it. First of all, the Derby start has no hill. Calling the first turn the "decider" made it seem like Aoshima just wanted to clock out early.
As for calling the jockey Yutaka Take a "foal of Deep Impact" or spotting a "dog" on the Fuchu track... it was pure chaos. People wondered if Aoshima had lost it.
However, he remains popular. Though he might "lose power" for a few seconds mid-race or start his commentary late, his passion and professional insight (between the weird screams) make him beloved.
Mizuki continued:
[Back to Equinox. He maintained his rhythm until the third turn, where he began his move, taking a forward position at the fourth turn. Entering the final straight, Equinox once again displayed a terrifying final leg, pulling away from his opponents as if they were in a completely different class.]
[He won by 2 1/2 lengths. Many felt he didn't even use his full power.]
[Equinox took first simply because there was no one left to overtake, otherwise, he might have pushed the limit even further. He became the second horse in a row (after Efforia) to win the Arima Kinen in his Classic year, and the first in JRA history to win it with only six career starts.]
[With this, he and Kitasan Black achieved a father-son Arima Kinen conquest. He had completely crushed Titleholder. When he crossed the line, Aoshima shouted: "The genius boy's strength works at Nakayama too!!!" From that moment on, fans dubbed him The Genius Boy!!]
[Kitasan Black was the hard worker, the "manly" horse whose lifelong regret was never beating Duramente. His descendant, Equinox, was the "Genius Boy" who defeated Duramente's descendant, Titleholder, in their very first year. The drama of this family line was peaking.]
[In this race, Boldog Hos (ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga) took 2nd. The 2021 Horse of the Year, Efforia, finished 5th, matching her popularity. Notably, Win Mighty, ridden by Ryuji Wada, was the 15th favorite but finished 6th under Wada's guidance, nearly making it into the prize money.]
[It proved Uncle Wada had truly grown into a top-tier jockey.]
[As for Titleholder, he performed poorly, finishing 9th. Among Arima Kinen first-favorites, it was a low result, though still better than Vodka and Tokai Teio, who both famously finished 11th. They had their reasons, the racing schedule of those years took a massive toll on their bodies.]
[After this race, the once-glittering Efforia headed toward retirement. Many wondered if his reputation would have stayed higher if he had retired at the end of 2021. Some commented: "As the train of time slowly passes Nakayama Racecourse, the 2022 Efforia stands there, looking at Equinox with a gaze full of his own 2021 shadow."]
[Indeed, everything Efforia gained in 2021, he lost in 2022. He was crushed by Potager in the Osaka Hai, lost to Titleholder in the Takarazuka Kinen, and after a recovery break, failed to make a miracle comeback against the Genius Boy Equinox in the Arima Kinen.]
[In 2023, after a long rest, Efforia attempted a strong comeback in the Kyoto Kinen. The former Horse of the Year seemed to have returned, leading the pack from the start with his old spirit.]
[But mid-race, he suffered atrial fibrillation and was pulled up, a condition that can be fatal for horses. Fortunately, he was okay, but he retired two days later. A horse who reached the JRA pinnacle at age three ended his career abruptly without even a retirement ceremony. It was a heart-wrenching end.]
[Regardless, one can only wish Efforia the best and hope his story lives on. Perhaps he'll even join the Cygames project soon.]
[Speaking of Cygames, during that Arima Kinen at Nakayama, there was a joint event. The voice actresses for Nice Nature, Tokai Teio, and Symboli Rudolf were all present.]
[During the award ceremony, they were right next to Equinox. On the other side of the country, Kitasan Black's owner, Saburo Kitajima, watched on TV. It's said that when Equinox won, he performed a solo rendition of "Matsuri" in his living room.]
[After the 2022 season, Equinox was elected Best Three-Year-Old Colt (285 votes) and Horse of the Year (282 votes). He and Kitasan Black became the fifth father-child pair to both be named Horse of the Year.]
(The previous four:]
[Tosho Boy— Mr. C.B.]
[Symboli Rudolf— Tokai Teio.]
[Deep Impact— Gentildonna.]
[Lord Kanaloa— Almond Eye.)
[On January 17, Equinox was ranked 3rd in the IFHA World's Best Racehorse Rankings with 126 points, tied with Australia's Nature Strip. They trailed the US horse Flightline (1st) and the UK horse Baaeed (2nd).]
[Baaeed was somewhat unlucky, every time he was a step away from being world #1, Flightline would return for a race and put up legendary numbers, being called the second coming of Secretariat.]
[With Flightline and Baaeed retiring at the end of 2022, Equinox entered 2023 as the de facto Horse of the Year. But staying at the top wouldn't be easy. His camp made a bold move, announcing her first goal of 2023: the Dubai Sheema Classic.]
[It was his first overseas expedition. He would officially take on the world's best, with Christophe Lemaire remaining in the saddle.]
The Uma Musume at Tracen were electrified. This Arima Kinen was a total victory for Equinox. But the logs also contained bittersweet news.
In a corner of the school:
"Did I... lose everything in 2022?"
Efforia rubbed her head. She felt like she was winning and winning, only to lose it all in the end. She wondered if she had become too arrogant or stopped working hard after her 2021 victories.
She decided she would never be arrogant again.
"But... what if I lose even if I'm not arrogant?" She lowered her head, looking miserable.
"Then just accept it," Heart's Cry said with a smile, patting Efforia's head. In the real world, she was effectively Efforia's grandfather.
She knelt down gently to teach the young girl. "Is being first really the only important thing?"
To Heart's Cry, a race where you give everything is a dazzling one. She was truly gentle, her philosophy was one many parents fail to grasp: That the effort matters more than the score.
"Uuu..." Efforia couldn't take it anymore and sobbed into Heart's Cry's shoulder. She wasn't willing to give up.
She would protect her legacy and her real-life counterpart. She would keep running. She would take back everything she lost in 2022.
Meanwhile, in Australia:
"Nature Strip, come here! You were the 3rd best Uma Musume in the world in 2022!"
"Look at you! Why didn't you dare to fight Equinox? How did you let her overtake you in 2023?"
Nature Strip's mom dragged her over from where she was sneaking grapes. Nature Strip had her mouth stuffed with grapes and was too afraid of being caught to speak.
Australia is famous for wine, and her mom had special grapes in her room for that purpose. Her mom looked at Nature Strip's bulging cheeks and realized something was wrong.
"Oh no! My grapes!"
She tossed Nature Strip aside and rushed into her room, only to find the grapes inside had already been mostly devoured.
"NATURE STRIP!!!!!!"
"Mom, Mom, listen to me, it was my little sister who ate them!"
"Your sister is only three months old! You're telling me it was your sister?!"
Nature Strip's mom charged out. Terrified, Nature Strip bolted, sprinting away while constantly screaming "Mom!" in an attempt to awaken some maternal mercy.
Looking at this scene, it's clear to see how Nature Strip's explosive acceleration was trained.
However, back then, it was difficult to compare Nature Strip to Equinox, because by 2022, Nature Strip was already an 8-year-old horse. Furthermore, he primarily ran sprints and was the highest-rated sprinter in the world that year.
Meanwhile, in Ireland:
"Hmph. That Flightline... why is she ranked above me?"
Baaeed was extremely unwilling to accept this. She was immensely proud of her strength, but first she had lost to Sea the Stars, and now she saw herself suppressed by Flightline.
Baaeed suddenly wanted to set off immediately, she turned to Sea the Stars and said:
"Teacher Sea the Stars, can you give me some money? I want to go to America to defeat Flightline. How could I possibly lose to her in the Horse of the Year rankings!"
"I'm going to tell those American Uma Musume that not only am I faster, but British pronunciation is the best! If I win, I'll make Flightline speak British English from now on!"
Sea the Stars was stunned: "Isn't that a bit harsh? What if you lose?"
Baaeed: "I lose? I won't lose."
Sea the Stars replied: "That won't do. I can't just give you money. According to our original agreement, you work to earn it. Today, you'll continue demonstrating the starting gate posture for everyone."
"Again?!"
Baaeed cried out in dismay. She hadn't brought much money with her and now couldn't afford to leave, so she had to work at the Irish school to earn her fare back.
Sea the Stars had noticed that Baaeed's running form was exceptionally beautiful, so she had her pose as a model for everyone to study. The pay was quite high, and it included room and board, which was a great deal.
Baaeed decisively went out to pose. She held the starting gate stance on the track, but maintaining it for a long time was exhausting, so her body began to tremble.
Moreover, even someone as thick-skinned as Baaeed felt shy and embarrassed being stared at by a crowd like this.
"Baaeed's form is really good."
"Yeah, and she's actually quite pretty."
"As long as she doesn't open her mouth, she's definitely a beauty."
Hearing this, Baaeed's face turned beet red. She snapped back, asking what they meant by "beauty as long as she doesn't talk," but internally she was delighted.
Hearing herself called pretty made her heart flutter with joy.
"Just endure it a bit longer, Baaeed. Once everyone is done watching, you can rest," Sea the Stars said with a smile. She wasn't doing this to be mean, this was her way of helping Baaeed train.
After all, as her "father," she couldn't truly let her suffer.
Later, Baaeed could clearly feel that her running posture had become more stable. Against average opponents, it might not matter much, but against top-tier rivals, such slight improvements often decide the final result of a race.
Finally, Baaeed finished and collapsed on the ground. For some reason, the poses Sea the Stars made her hold were incredibly taxing, leaving her muscles aching.
But after adapting, she really felt she had much more power. Just like usual, the poses Sea the Stars paid her to do seemed to actually help her.
"Is Teacher Sea the Stars actually helping me..." Baaeed whispered to herself. She felt quite sheepish. She calmed her heart, she felt she understood something now.
She had always been in such a hurry to prove herself and wanting her victory to span across the world.
But now, she realized another point: To walk the world, one must have their own reflections. The scenery along the way, and the meaning of that scenery, are also important.
Two people walking the same thousand miles might feel something completely different. She needed to settle down and quietly experience the changes these days had brought.
"Want to go see the stars tonight?"
Sea the Stars walked over and tossed Baaeed a bottle of water. When she said "see the stars," she meant literally going up into the sky. It was a reward for completing her Training Goals that allowed her to take one person along.
She originally wanted to take Urban Sea, but since she returned early, she decided to take Baaeed. She felt a sense of kinship with Baaeed. The little one was a bit arrogant at first, but she was actually very diligent and cute.
"Sure," Baaeed smiled, not yet realizing she was about to see a sky full of stars.
"By the way, Teacher Sea the Stars, our names are quite a match. My name is Baaeed (Win-Thousand-Miles in Chinese), and I want to spread victory along the path of a thousand miles, to countless places in this world. And above every path, as long as I look up, I can see the stars."
"I think, when I feel lost in the future, I will look up at the stars. Then I'll remember the teachings you gave me."
"These past few days... you were helping me, right?" Baaeed was shy, but she finally said it. However, she still couldn't bring herself to say the word "thanks."
"Haha, the stars in the sky?" Sea the Stars looked up. She didn't answer directly, but just looked at Baaeed and said softly:
"So, someone like you... even if you really meet Flightline in the future, don't lose to her."
"I will definitely win." Baaeed's eyes were bright, shining like the stars.
Meanwhile, in the United States:
"The Second Coming of Secretariat... and the Horse of the Year? I wonder what score I achieved."
Flightline was very excited, but she also kept a close eye on Baaeed's name. She knew Equinox's score was 126, which proved that both she and Baaeed were above 126.
Just how high was she?
As it turned out, Flightline's score was initially set at 139, then later increased by 1 point to reach 140— tying with the Horse of the Year, Frankel. Baaeed, on the other hand, reached 135.
However, compared to Flightline's 140, Frankel's score was still considered more convincing. Flightline had simply run too few races, although the six races he ran in were enough to prove his dominance.
His score of 140 was the highest ever given to a dirt-racing horse.
2022 was truly a "War of the Gods." Baaeed's score would have made him the absolute king in almost any other year, but unfortunately, he ran into the unprecedented genius Flightline, a talent on par with Secretariat.
Flightline won 6 out of 6 races, with a cumulative winning margin of 70 lengths. Compared to him, even El Condor Pasa losing with a 134 to Montjeu's 136 didn't seem so tragic anymore.
Back at Tracen Academy, in the Canopus lounge:
"Hahaha! What on earth is that commentator saying? This is too funny! I can't... my stomach hurts! I'm dying laughing!"
Nice Nature had a very low threshold for humor. She could even laugh at Symboli Rudolf's cold jokes, and now, seeing Aoshima's ridiculous quotes, she was clutching her stomach, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
Her legs were kicking about wildly. She was losing it.
"Nature, calm down! It's funny, but is it that funny?" Twin Turbo was exasperated, worried Nature would actually faint from laughing.
"But it really is! 'A hill with a 200-meter height difference... out comes a dog!' Who was the unlucky guy called a dog?!"
Nice Nature couldn't handle it. If a commentator like that appeared in the URA, she couldn't even imagine it.
Finally, after a long while, Nice Nature caught her breath, fanning herself with her hand. Her cheeks were still flushed, as if she had just finished a race.
Regardless, Nice Nature's mood was Great.
In the Tokyo countryside:
"Genius Boy? Why not Genius Girl? Ah, I know— since Kitasan Black-san is my idol, I wanted to become a 'man of the people' too. I like the nickname 'Genius Boy'."
"Looking at the records, though, The Equinox in Spring struggles a bit, while the Equinox in Autumn is the one who delivers the heavy punches."
Equinox noticed a pattern: She had lost her two races during the Spring season, but once Autumn hit, she won everything. 2023 was the year of total victory.
She also knew that Kitasan Black-san had never went to race overseas. She felt she was fulfilling Kitasan's dream.
The log continued:
[March 25, 2023. The G1 Dubai Sheema Classic officially began. The field was packed with powerhouses, including the previous champion, Shahryar.]
[There was also the previous year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance, the Hong Kong Vase winner Win Marilyn, and Hong Kong's Best Stayer Russian Emperor.]
[However, this year's Equinox had grown exceptionally strong. The ranch staff said his physique was even more exaggerated than Titleholder's— who was once hailed as having the strongest body— and his physical functions were terrifying.]
[I wonder, once Equinox fully matures, will she be a tall, cool "Onee-san" type? Anyways, with such a strong body, Equinox feared no one in that race.]
[When the race arrived, Equinox remained calm. He was smart, stable, and followed instructions perfectly. After the gates opened, he followed orders and, for the first time in his career, adopted Kitasan Black's leading tactics. He seized the lead quickly and stayed there, leading the pack past the 1000m mark at a slow pace of about 62 seconds.]
[When Equinox entered the fourth turn, he began to increase his power and accelerated further on the final straight, widening the gap. At the final 200m, his stride showed no fatigue, maintaining a 5-length lead.]
[Even as the famous horse Westover gave chase to keep him from slowing down too early, he still won by 3 1/2 lengths in a record-breaking 2:25.65, securing his third G1 victory.]
[Faced with the world's elite, Equinox was undaunted, winning the high-caliber Dubai Sheema Classic with absolute dominance. This race was also deeply meaningful for jockey Christophe Lemaire.]
[His last win in this race was in 2006 aboard Heart's Cry. Heart's Cry had passed away just two weeks before this race, and this victory felt like Lemaire's final farewell to him.]
[It was Heart's Cry who had defeated Deep Impact in the Arima Kinen, allowing Lemaire to establish a firm foothold in the JRA. To Lemaire, Heart's Cry was an incredibly important horse.]
[Because Equinox's performance was so overwhelming, the commentator Larry Collmus couldn't contain himself. As Equinox sprinted, he shouted with all his might: "HERE IS THE TITAN OF THE WORLD'S TURF! HE IS EQUINOX!"]
[And thus, Equinox officially earned the title The Titan of the Turf!! He would prove in future races that he truly deserved the name, he was the fastest on the world's grass!! Equinox didn't just divide Spring and Autumn, he divided an entire era!]
[Equinox achieved his greatness in the style of Kitasan Black, moving countless fans! Many who had followed him since he was a foal began to realize: "Wait, is this kid really going to become the Horse of the Year?"]
[Upon returning to Japan to prepare for the June 25 Takarazuka Kinen, Equinox once again broke Titleholder's record for fan votes (216,379) and was the overwhelming first favorite at 1.3 odds. But this time, Equinox surprised everyone.]
[At the start of the Takarazuka Kinen, the horses broke evenly. Panthalassa and Through Seven Seas led the way. Equinox, however, stumbled slightly at the start and failed to take a forward position, finding himself second-to-last. Entering the backstretch, he was still at the rear, but Lemaire began to guide him upward, pulling him to the outside lane past the fourth turn.]
[Lemaire had learned from the Japanese Derby and moved to the outside early. On the final straight, Equinox sprinted from the outside, took the lead mid-stretch, and ultimately won by a neck over the fellow closer Through Seven Seas, securing his fourth G1 victory.]
[The Takarazuka Kinen was full of surprises. The jockey for horse #9, Justin Palace, got so excited on the final straight that he actually dropped his whip! Despite this, Justin Palace finished 3rd. With a whip, he might have challenged Through Seven Seas for 2nd.]
[The commentary by Okayasu was poor, failing to mention Through Seven Seas at all during the race. Fans later made memes of Seven Seas-chan asking jockey Kenichi Ikezoe: "Ikezoe, which one is Okayasu? Next time I see him , I'm gonna kick his ass!"]
[In this race, Ask Victor More ran a disastrous race, even being defeated by a fading escape horse from the classic year. He was essentially the "Shame of the Kikuka Sho."]
[Sadly, this was his last race, as mentioned before, he passed away from heatstroke shortly after. Equinox, meanwhile, won with an End Closer style. Counting his previous races, he had won four consecutive G1s using four different running styles. This was a feat achieved in JRA history only by Mayano Top Gun.]
[As people processed this, they wondered: Where is Equinox's limit? All eyes were on him. After Autumn arrived, Equinox aimed for back-to-back wins in the Autumn Tenno Sho. He was again the overwhelming favorite at 1.3 odds.]
[October 29, 2023. The Autumn Tenno Sho began. After the break, the horses were mostly in sync. Equinox took a forward position, following Jack d'Or and Gaia Force.]
[Entering the final straight, he steadily accelerated from a slightly outside position. At the final 300 meters, he overtook his opponents to seize the lead, continuing his sprint to pull away from the pack and successfully achieving back-to-back G1 Autumn Tenno Sho titles.]
[Furthermore, to everyone's astonishment, Equinox's finishing time of 1:55.2 not only shattered the previous record set by Tosen Jordan in 2011 by 0.9 seconds, but also broke the world record for 2000 meters on grass.]
[This means that looking across the entire globe— Britain, Ireland, Australia, the US, and Japan— in the realm of 2000 meters, Equinox stands at the absolute pinnacle, looking down upon the world.]
[In the JRA, the debate over who is stronger between Equinox and Deep Impact persists. After all, Deep Impact ran on every type of track and proved his universal adaptability. However, if you look only at the 2000m distance, everyone's answer is one and only one: Equinox. There is no second choice.]
[On a side note, there was a tragic victim in the stands that day: Yutaka Take on crutches. Right before the 2023 Autumn Tenno Sho, Yutaka Take was kicked by a startled foal and was unable to ride Do Deuce. This was one of many fractures in his career, leading people to joke that he is the "Tokai Teio of Jockeys."]
[Even more absurdly, the foal that kicked him was reportedly from the Kitasan Black line. Yutaka Take specifically mentioned this in an interview. Oone can only imagine the old man's helplessness.]
At this moment, everyone seeing this was stunned.
In Britain:
"Fastest 2000m in the world... Equinox. Interesting."
"What an incredible creature. Is this truly the strongest horse in JRA history?" Frankel's face was flushed with excitement. She never expected Equinox to hit 1:55.2 for 2000m. She wished she could race her right now.
Enable, seeing Frankel's expression, knew that her friend was dying for a match.
"A time of 1:55.2... that's a speed that's hard to hit even in training, yet Equinox did it in a race. It's staggering," Enable said.
She knew how terrifying Frankel was. Frankel could crush a genius's spirit in a single race. But looking at Equinox's speed, Enable asked herself: 'Could I run that fast?'
She shook her head and changed the subject: "By the way, Frankel, what about Baaeed going to Ireland?"
"Tell her to bring back some Irish souvenirs," Frankel replied.
Enable was speechless. "That's not the point. Baaeed was going over there to race. I knew something was wrong when I heard she snuck out."
"It's fine," Frankel said. "With Baaeed there, she can check on Sea the Stars. Maybe one day, Sea the Stars and I will have a chance to race."
Enable blinked. The tension between the British and Irish Uma Musume was rising because of Baaeed's stunt. While they hadn't officially fallen out, there was a sense of an impending "war."
Enable didn't mind the competition, she would represent the British girls and meet any challenge. As for Frankel, she would likely face off against Sea the Stars.
She turned her attention back to Equinox. If she remembered correctly, Equinox would retire after the next race. But why?
In the Tokyo countryside:
"World... fastest 2000 meters."
Through Seven Seas's mind went blank. To be the best in the world on a single track was an achievement beyond her wildest dreams, yet Equinox had done it.
Most Uma Musume dream of winning the Japanese Derby, the Arima Kinen, or the Spring Tenno Sho. Few dream of becoming the global #1 at a specific distance. It's just too far-fetched.
Yet Equinox had claimed that title.
Through Seven Seas looked at Equinox, knowing she was a massive threat to her future championship hopes. As a member of the Gold lineage, a phrase from Trainer Mizuki suddenly flashed in her mind: "Choke Dia-chan, and I'll be an Eight-Crown King."
By that logic:... 'Defeat Equinox, and I'll be the Autumn Tenno Sho Champion.'
Equinox felt a chill down her spine. She turned around to see Seven Seas-chan staring at her with glowing eyes.
'What... what's going on?'
Kitasan Black, seeing this, turned into a walking emoji of shock. She looked at Equinox, then at the log. This little kid was that strong?
Kitasan grabbed Equinox by the waist, lifted her up, and inspected her legs.
'How did she grow these? Incredible!'
Equinox found it fun and wanted to go higher. "Higher, Kitasan Black-san!"
"You got it!" Kitasan held her high. She was always helpful and doted on everyone. Equinox thought, 'So this is the view of a grown-up? Nice! From up there, Panthalassa, Titleholder, and Seven Seas looked like tiny dots.'
But they got too carried away. They lost their balance, Kitasan fell flat in a "star" shape, and Equinox landed right on top of her. They both sat up at the same time and awkwardly rubbed their heads with identical expressions.
They really were related.
Elsewhere near Tracen:
Duramente saw Equinox's results. She murmured, "Between the Kitasan Black line and the Duramente line... in the end, the winner was Equinox."
"So, Titleholder is of my line? Did she learn from me?"
"Hmm... maybe I should ask Air Groove how to get along with children. At least I want to teach them something."
Seeing Equinox's strength, Duramente wanted to improve herself so she could train Titleholder and the others to be even stronger.
Meanwhile, Air Groove was actually stalking Duramente, worried she would overtrain in secret. Seeing Duramente turn toward her, Air Groove panicked and took the long way back to the academy.
She was secretly happy, though. Her "grandchild" was finally becoming less stubborn.
The log continued:
[After winning this Autumn Tenno Sho, he had a 5-race G1 winning streak. He held the record for the fastest win, while Kitasan Black held the record for the slowest winning time at 2:08.3. A difference of 13.1 seconds. Basically, Kitasan would still be running while Equinox was already getting a drink and relaxing.]
[But since Kitasan ran on a heavy track, it shows how much the rain slows down Japanese horses.]
[Next, he entered the Japan Cup on November 26.]
[Equinox was the overwhelming first favorite. His strongest rivals were the 2023 Triple Tiara winner Liberty Island, the 2022 double-crown mare Stars on Earth, and Titleholder, seeking revenge.]
[It was Equinox versus three horses of the Duramente line. When the gates opened, Equinox accelerated to take an inner position in third, following Titleholder. Panthalassa once again set a blistering pace of 57.6 seconds for the first 1000m, igniting the crowd. But Equinox ignored him, maintaining a steady pace.]
[In the final straight, Equinox finally launched his sprint at the 400m mark. At the 200m mark, he overtook Panthalassa and Titleholder.]
[The commentator shouted: "THIS IS THE UNPARALLELED TALENT, EQUINOX! THIS IS THE WORLD'S STRONGEST!"]
[Liberty Island began her charge, but she simply couldn't catch Equinox's shadow. Equinox won by 4 lengths, securing his 6th consecutive G1 win!]
[With this, Equinox became Japan's all-time "Prize Money King" with total earnings of over 2.21 billion yen. He was the first horse in JRA history to surpass the 2-billion mark.]
[He took back the throne that Kitasan Black had lost. Liberty Island took 2nd, Stars on Earth 3rd, and Titleholder 5th.]
[Though the spotlight belonged to Equinox, Liberty Island didn't really "lose." In her Classic year, she beat every other senior horse except Equinox. They all gave their all.]
[Sadly, on November 30, 2023, Equinox's team announced his retirement. They stated that for his safety, and since he was already the confirmed Horse of the Year, he would retire to become a stallion. It's understandable, he had won every honor imaginable. Retiring early to ease the pressure on his father was a good move.]
[Fans understood, but their hearts were heavy. His early departure brought a legendary curtain down too soon. It was a regret that might last a decade or more for the JRA. People would wonder for years: "If he had kept running, if he had won another Arima Kinen or a Spring Tenno Sho, what miracles could he have performed?"]
[But one cannot ask for too much. Equinox's appearance allowed us to see a King of the Era. We witnessed the birth of a legend.]
[As long as he landed safely and stayed healthy, that was enough.]
[Though given his happy expression now, he probably doesn't realize that after a few "heart-throbbing" breeding sessions, he'll end up with a thousand-yard stare like Kitasan Black.]
[Equinox topped the world rankings with a 135 score. Now, eyes turned to Sol Oriens, another of the Kitasan Black line. Interestingly, Sol Oriens's style is nothing like Kitasan's— he's more like Duramente— while Titleholder is the one who runs more like Kitasan Black.]
[But in the end, Sol Oriens wasn't able to continue the Kitisan lineage's dominance. His career was nowhere near as impressive as his father or half-brother.]
[That concludes Equinox's story for now. I am still filled with shock. Next time, I'll write about the Golden Generation or Enable. I need to prepare for the Welcome Party.]
[I heard Sweep Tosho's father is coming. Am I going to run into Kenichi Ikezoe?]