Ikuno Dictus remained calm, but even she felt the tension.
After all, Verxina truly viewed Gentildonna as her "Bane" and had challenged her many times, their relationship was public knowledge.
Now that Mizuki had exposed it, everyone instinctively felt that something big was coming.
However, Ikuno Dictus stayed steady. Don't forget, the blood flowing through her veins belonged to the hot-tempered Dictus.
When Vivlos saw this, her "cat mouth" curled up in excitement.
She loved drama and said happily: "Yeah! I love Verxina-onee-san's explosive temper! Go for it, go for it, Verxina-onee-san~~~"
Vivlos started pointing and cheering next to Verxina.
Cheval Grand was thinking about another question.
'Me, Verxina, and Cheval Grand are sisters... could our father be Deep Impact too?'
In fact, she wasn't.
Verxina's father was Deep Impact and her mother was Halwa Sweet.
People might not know Halwa Sweet, but if you mention she was the only mare in the JRA with almost no tail, they'd understand.
Halwa Sweet's tail was very, very short, but that was okay— small is also cute.
As for Cheval Grand, he was born in 2012, three years younger than Verxina. His father was Heart's Cry— the only horse in Japan to finish ahead of Deep Impact.
His mother was also Halwa Sweet, so he and Verxina were half-sisters.
Vivlos, like Verxina and Cheval, was born at Northern Farm.
She was more closely related to Verxina, being a daughter of Deep Impact and Halwa Sweet. She is Verxina's biological younger sister by four years, and Cheval's half-sister.
When Cygames designed the three sisters, Verxina and Vivlos appeared together more often and had similar, cheerful personalities.
Cheval Grand, however, was a bit more socially anxious, likely taking after her father, Heart's Cry.
In Cheval's story, the race that ignited her desire to run and gave her all her courage was that 2005 Arima Kinen where Heart's Cry went berserk and defeated Deep Impact.
Cheval Grand could technically say to Verxina and Vivlos: "My dad beat your dad, you know."
So, the three of them— like Gentildonna— were all born at Northern Farm.
There was a grudge between Northern Farm and Shiraoi Farm, centered on the 2012 Japan Cup where Gentildonna collided with Orfevre three times.
Orfevre's team believed Gentildonna should have been disqualified. The jockeys, Yasunari Iwata and Kenichi Ikezoe, were at each other's throats.
Iwata claimed it was normal racing contact, while Ikezoe was furious after the race, shouting that Orfevre had been hit three times and was almost sent flying.
In the end, Gentildonna kept the G1 Japan Cup victory, while her jockey Iwata was suspended for two days— a slap on the wrist.
At this moment, Gentildonna said quietly, "What is it, Verxina? Do you have something to say? No matter what you say, you will only ever be the second-place finisher behind me. That fact will not change."
Verxina replied, "Second place... yes, you're right. Maybe for now, that's how it is."
"Gentildonna, you are indeed noble and powerful, and I always see only your back. But the one who can defeat you— other than me, there is no one else!"
"I am the Uma Musume who should stand at the peak! Just keep focusing on Trainer Mizuki's diary. By the time you realize what's happening, the winner will have already changed."
"Can you maintain that composure then? I'm looking forward to it."
Vivlos was thrilled, holding her face and screaming, "Kya~~ As expected of my sister, so cool! Sister, I'm waiting to celebrate the moment you become the Triple Tiara winner with you!"
Gentildonna smiled. "Are you bringing your sister to cheer for you because you're afraid to approach me alone? Sorry, I'm focused on breaking more records, not playing 'chase the leader' with second-place finishers."
Holy crap, the entire spectating group was dazed. This level of aggression... it was out of this world!
And just then, Mizuki's log continued.
[Of course, let's talk about Gentildonna in more detail first. She is an existence with absolute capital in the fight for the title of JRA Queen of Mares.]
[Gentildonna fought 19 races in her career, with 10 wins, 4 seconds, and 1 third, earning a total of 7 G1s.]
[When Gentildonna was first born at Northern Farm, everyone initially thought she was a very ordinary horse in every aspect. It wasn't until training began that they noticed the difference.]
[In her debut race, the sky rained. Although the track wasn't heavy, Gentildonna only took second place despite being the top favorite.]
[Afterward, her results in the rain were never good. Thus, Gentildonna, nicknamed "Donna," earned a new description: "Melts when wet."]
[Actually, people have a fixed impression of Deep Impact's offspring: They are victims of heavy tracks. Once it rains or gets windy, the win rate of his children drops significantly, and their performance fluctuates wildly.]
[Deep Impact himself had a dependency on firm tracks and was considered a bit delicate. He performed beautifully on firm ground but struggled on heavy tracks.]
[When Deep Impact ran the Arc, because the weather was clear and Longchamp was in good condition, so the Japanese side was very confident.]
[Unfortunately, Deep Impact only finished third, which no one expected. Afterward, his team was full of regret, thinking they should have let him run at a French track earlier to get used to the terrain.]
[Later, Deep Impact's result was disqualified due to the use of a prohibited bronchial medication. If there's anyone to blame, it's his team.]
[However, the idea that Deep Impact's foals are "heavy track victims" is a bit of a stereotype. Looking at the data now, his foals are affected, but the win rate is still there, their adaptability is just average.]
[But if we take a look at Deep Impact's big brother, Black Tide, we can see that his colts are experts at heavy tracks.]
[Whether it's Kitasan Black or Equinox, it's almost absurd. Kitasan Black looks like he has a dirt-track bloodline, yet he flies on grass.]
[That is the prestige of Old Man Black.]
[Soon, Gentildonna won her second race. Then she entered the G3 Shinzan Kinen on January 8, 2012. Ridden by Christophe Lemaire, she became the first filly to win that race in 13 years.]
[Afterward, Gentildonna's jockey was changed to Yasunari Iwata. She took fourth in the G3 Tulip Sho, but the ranch wasn't worried, saying it was just a physical issue and lack of familiarity with the track.]
[When the first leg of the Triple Tiara, the G1 Oka Sho, arrived, Gentildonna met Verxina, who already had 3 wins in 4 starts.]
[But clearly, Gentildonna had received enough rest and took first place, with Verxina second.]
[Gentildonna and Verxina faced off again later. Verxina took second three more times, totaling four. Verxina then set her sights on the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.]
[On race day, it was drizzling and the track was muddy. Since Gentildonna wasn't participating, Verxina was the top favorite.]
[But Verxina failed to seize the chance, losing in an upset to Rainbow Dahlia, a daughter of Manhattan Cafe, and taking second yet again.]
[In that year, Verxina had 1 win and 5 seconds in 6 races, losing to Gentildonna in 4 of them.]
[As for Gentildonna, she planned to enter the 2012 G1 Japan Cup. Her opponent was another Triple Crown winner, Orfevre.]
[This was the second time in Japanese history that two Triple Crown winners faced off (after Symboli Rudolf vs. Mr. C.B.).]
[But the result is well-known: Orfevre was hit three times by Gentildonna, and in the end, Gentildonna narrowly defeated Orfevre to take the G1 title.]
[After the race, Ikezoe was extremely angry and was at odds with Gentildonna's jockey, Yasunari Iwata. They had a heated argument, but ultimately Gentildonna's result stood.]
[This 2012 Japan Cup was also the origin of Gentildonna's nickname: "Gorilla."]
[However, the reason Ikezoe is Ikezoe is that he descends with Divine Punishment. Yasunari Iwata, who "sinned" against him in 2012, might have walked away with the Japan Cup, but after the rise of Christophe Lemaire, he quickly fell out of favor.]
[In 2015 he had the most Graded stakes wins, and in 2016 he had zero. His hair turned white from stress in one year, and then he went bald.]
[His results never recovered.]
[Ikezoe's expression: "Surprised, Iwataro? This is my revenge route!"]
[Actually, there's a bit of mysticism involved. Many jockeys who committed "sins" against Ikezoe suffered in various ways: Falling from horses, fouls, fractures— the list goes on.]
[Of course, Ikezoe himself hasn't had the easiest life either.]
[Ikezoe: "Damn it, I'm taking you all down with me!"]
[And of course, Deep Impact has a curse: Almost all G1 runners-up who lost to Deep Impact met tragic ends.]
[For example, Deep Impact defeated 7 runners-up in G1s, 6 of them had accidents within a year.]
[The only horse to defeat Deep Impact, Heart's Cry, retired the following year due to asthma.]
[Deep Impact's curse also extended to Rail Link, who defeated him in the Arc de Triomphe, he suffered a fracture the following year and was forced to retire due to a tendon injury.]
[The media even labeled it "The Curse of Deep Impact."]
[Only Pop Rock, who took second in Deep Impact's final Arima Kinen, managed to finish his career properly after heading to Ireland. He only passed away in June of 2025.]
[However, all this is just coincidence. The real Deep Impact was actually very gentle. In the stables, he was incredibly clingy, proactively rubbing his head against people in a cute way and even following the staff on walks.]
[Many Japanese fans even commented: "Deep is probably the kind of guy who would get lost on the road and be lured away by another jockey with a single carrot."]
[After all, Mirco Demuro once admitted on a show that when Deep Impact was out grazing and no one was looking, he "kidnapped" him once for a secret walk.]
[Yutaka Take was stunned when he heard it.]
Back at Tracen Academy, another intense discussion broke out.
Verxina said, "Useless as soon as it rains. Gentildonna, can't you be a bit more resilient? You got completely shut down by the heavy track."
Gentildonna smiled. "And here I thought you were the one who shut me down. Besides, you didn't get shut down by the rain— your results were quite stable. Stable second-place finishes, that is."
Nice Nature watched the exchange, losing her track of thought.
'These two are at it again. Just how deep does their grudge go?'
Katsuragi Ace, on the other hand, found it quite interesting. These two had a long-standing history, pushing each other to improve like this wasn't such a bad thing.
Verxina was fuming. She really couldn't win a verbal spat against Gentildonna.
But she was even more angry at herself.
'Am I really that pathetic? Can I never escape the fate of second place? Damn it, damn it, damn it!'
She desperately wanted to go back to her room.
Having spent a small fortune, she had bought a 1:1 life-size support doll of Gentildonna.
She wanted to go back immediately and throw a few punches at the doll to vent her anger.
Although it had emptied her wallet, the satisfaction of punching "Gentildonna" was worth it.
Meisho Doto chimed in, "Five times as runner-up... oh... it seems the title of 'Vice-Overlord of the Century's End' might be changing hands...."
T.M. Opera O said, "Doto, that nickname belongs only to you. After all, Verxina isn't from the end of the century."
Verxina felt a literal sting in her heart.
She immediately snapped, "Ahem! That nickname... I'm better off without it!"
As for Rainbow Dahlia, she was stunned to learn her father was Manhattan Cafe. She was a hardcore fishing enthusiast— even more fanatical than Seiun Sky.
What Rainbow Dahlia loved most was drinking milk tea and catching small fish. Her ideal was a blissful life.
Manhattan Cafe likes coffee, Tachyon is part of the Black Tea party, and so it's only natural a youngster like her belongs to the Milk Tea party.
"My dad is actually Manhattan Cafe? She won't force me to drink coffee, will she? No! Anything but that!"
Rainbow Dahlia remembered the first time she had coffee at Manhattan Cafe's shop.
The bitterness of those beans felt like a terrifying force crushing her taste buds.
That night, she had a nightmare where Manhattan Cafe tied her to a chair and continuously fed her coffee.
Honestly, she preferred Agnes Tachyon's black tea over Cafe's coffee.
Still, she was happy Manhattan Cafe was her father.
Cafe-senpai was very gentle, and since fishing could be boring, Cafe would tell her stories about her "shadow friend."
She loved listening to them.
Rainbow Dahlia quickly found Manhattan Cafe. While Cafe was more of an introvert, Dahlia was very cheerful.
She said with a giggle, "Cafe-san, try my milk tea! Hurry, hurry!"
Faced with her daughter's coaxing, Manhattan Cafe made an exception and took a sip.
Looking into Dahlia's sparkling eyes, she said, "The taste is quite... addictive. Though I still prefer coffee."
Rainbow Dahlia giggled. "Right? Right? You can switch up the flavors and drink more!"
Agnes Tachyon circled her hands and laughed. "Let Auntie Tachyon have a sip too."
Dahlia nodded. After Tachyon drank it, she analyzed: "Hmm. So-called milk tea is the combination of milk and tea leaves— the fusion and reorganization of elements always creates new miracles."
"It seems I should try things beyond black tea in the future. Hahahahaha!"
Rainbow Dahlia rubbed her head. "Auntie Tachyon really is a strange person... wait, Auntie Tachyon, give me back my milk tea!"
On the other side:
Orfevre was also very displeased.
"Gentildonna, hitting me three times... do you have no taboos on the track? You just do whatever you want."
Win Variation was busy taking notes.
"Hmm. So Orfevre-san's weakness is actually having a relatively petite body?"
Orfevre complained, "Variation, what kind of weird things are you learning? You're not thinking of hitting me too, are you?"
"Seriously, one after another... whatever. This time, I won't even give you a chance to get near me."
Gold Ship said with a grin, "Variation, it's fine. I have races with Orfevre too. I'll catch up to her."
"Do you want me to do the hitting for you? Forget Orfevre— I can take her and Gentildonna at the same time."
Win Variation was speechless. "Eh? That won't be necessary! That's not right, is it?"
"I was just thinking that since Orfevre-san is petite, I should try to win by choosing better lanes..."
As expected, Win Variation was a truly honest soul.
Gold Ship put on a villainous expression.
"What does that matter? As long as you win the race. It's all strategy. I can help you."
"It's just that Orfevre and Gentildonna are like my own flesh and blood... my dearest friends and family."
"So, to knock them flying... you'll have to pay extra."
Gentildonna, Orfevre, and Win Variation were all floored.
Gold Ship, do you even hear yourself?
"If the price is right, even brothers get trashed," is that it?
But everyone knew Gold Ship was just playing around. She didn't care about money, she'd probably pay out of her own pocket just to cause a scene.
She was an alien horse, after all.
As for the "Ikezoe and Deep Impact curses," everyone was at a loss for words.
Gentildonna hadn't expected Yasunari Iwata to go through a whole year without a win in 2016.
Looking at her jockey, she felt like giving him some encouragement. After all, she knew he was the one who stood up for her back then.
Actually, the real Gentildonna had a very, very good personality, much like Deep Impact.
After winning a race and returning to the stables, she would often hold her head high with an expression that said: "See? Aren't I incredible?"
While circling the track after the Arima Kinen, she was so happy to hear the cheers that she kept tossing her head up and down— a clear sign of a horse's joy.
Rice Shower said with a hint of worry in her voice, "I feel like Deep Impact's curse is a lot like mine... always bringing bad luck to everyone."
Agnes Tachyon countered, "Perhaps many horses lost their fighting spirit after witnessing Deep Impact's power. But more likely, it's just a series of coincidences."
As for Deep Impact being lured away by a carrot, Sunday Silence couldn't believe it either.
The real Deep Impact seemed to be quite a "himbo" type, much like Special Week.
At that moment, Mizuki's log continued:
[That year, Gentildonna earned 122 points— the highest score for a filly in the world at the time— along with honors like Japan's Horse of the Year and Best Three-Year-Old Filly.]
[In 2013, Gentildonna went overseas for the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. Ridden by Yasunari Iwata, she could only manage second.]
[Afterward, she took third in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen. Preparing for the Tenno Sho Autumn in October, she was narrowly defeated again by Just a Way, taking second.]
[After three consecutive losses, she changed jockeys. With British jockey Ryan Moore aboard for the November 2013 Japan Cup, Gentildonna won again, becoming the first horse in history to achieve back-to-back victories in the G1 Japan Cup.]
[In fact, Special Week's daughter, Buena Vista, actually helped Gentildonna to some extent.]
[In the 2010 Japan Cup, Buena Vista had finished well ahead of the second-place horse, but due to JRA rules at the time, she bumped Rose Kingdom, causing her to lose her crucial G1 title.]
[In the 2011 Japan Cup, Buena Vista won, completing a father-daughter Japan Cup dominance with Special Week.]
[But if the JRA rules had been refined by 2010, Buena Vista would have been the first to win back-to-back Japan Cups.]
[If that had happened, the "Junior General" would have entered the Hall of Fame with 7 G1s, and her achievements might have even earned her a bronze statue from the JRA.]
[Poor Buena-chan.]
[Under the 2010 Japan Cup rules, Gentildonna might have been disqualified. At the time, Buena Vista's jockey lashed out at the JRA, shouting— "Let the world see how terrible the JRA rules are!"]
[Because Buena Vista had paved the way, Gentildonna benefited from the rule changes to an extent. But Gentildonna did legitimately outrun Orfevre, so this G1 Japan Cup was well-deserved.]
[Regardless, the "General" Special Week and the "Junior General" Buena Vista— this father and daughter were both just one step away from the Hall of Fame.]
[Perhaps that is the fate of father and daughter, a community of shared destiny.]
Back at Tracen Academy:
"They're bullying my Spe-chan and Buena Vista-san again!"
Daitaku Helios realized after reading that Buena Vista's bad luck was on par with Special Week's.
She recalled Buena Vista's failures in the Arima Kinen. Every time she was just a tiny bit short, and that tiny bit cost them so much glory.
Special Week lost to Grass Wonder in the Arima Kinen, and Buena Vista did the same.
Was this really the fate of the father and daughter?
She wondered if a horse truly capable of entering the Hall of Fame would ever appear in Spe's bloodline.
Daitaku Helios also began to fantasize about her own offspring, she wanted a "Gyaru" daughter who would be the first Gyaru to enter the Hall of Fame.
That sounded great.
But she shook her head— no, no, she should set a good example for her child and enter the Hall of Fame herself first.
She had to work hard this time.
Gentildonna acknowledged the point about the rules.
Changes in JRA regulations can have a massive impact. She could only say she was a lucky horse. If the rules hadn't changed, Buena Vista might indeed have been the first to repeat wins in the Japan Cup.
Gentildonna expressed her gratitude, willing to take Buena Vista out for a meal. She also asked if Verxina wanted to come.
It turned out she knew Verxina's wallet had been empty lately and wanted to treat her.
However, Gentildonna didn't know that the reason Verxina had no money was that she had spent it all on a life-size figure of her.
Verxina wasn't about to be polite— she was definitely going for the food.
Spe-chan was also invited and was overjoyed.
Spe's appetite was top-tier in Tracen, second only to Oguri Cap.
Gentildonna was going to have to spend a lot on this meal, but she didn't mind. If she ran out, she could just ask her dad, Deep Impact, for some money.
Soon, Mizuki's log continued:
[In 2015, Gentildonna went overseas again to challenge the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic. British jockey Ryan Moore successfully secured his first overseas G1 title.]
[However, when Gentildonna returned for the 2015 G1 Takarazuka Kinen, she lost once more to Gold Ship, finishing 9th— the worst result of her life. This time, Verxina finally defeated Gentildonna, taking 3rd.]
[After failing again in the Tenno Sho Autumn, the stable decided Gentildonna would retire after the G1 Japan Cup]
[She finished 4th, but her jockey Moore felt she was recovering well and that the loss was due to the muddy track.]
[He suggested she keep running.]
[Ultimately, Gentildonna's team changed her retirement race to the 2015 Arima Kinen.]
[In this race, Gentildonna performed brilliantly. Near the finish line, she unleashed a "Deep Impact-style" late-stage kick, getting revenge on Gold Ship and winning the 2015 G1 Arima Kinen, achieving a perfect end.]
[The 2015 Arima Kinen victory was also the first time a filly had won the race in six years, since Daiwa Scarlet's win.]
[With this victory, Gentildonna didn't just earn the honor of being a 7-time G1 champion, she became the first filly since the JRA implemented the grading system to win key G1 races at all four major tracks.]
[It's easy to guess what she'd be like in the game. Her dirt aptitude would be weak, and she won't handle heavy tracks well, but her aptitude for different turf courses will be maxed out.]
[I wish I got to see her in game...]
[Meanwhile, in that same 2015 Arima Kinen, Gentildonna's old rival Verxina also retired.]
[But she only finished 14th, once again watching Gentildonna charge for the championship.]
[Perhaps in the final race of their careers, when she realized she couldn't catch the other horses no matter what, she was cheering for Gentildonna in her heart.]
[Still, Verxina did win 2 G1s in her career. In 2013 and 2014, she won the G1 Victoria Mile back-to-back.]
[If Verxina hadn't encountered Gentildonna, she might have been a legend herself.]
[Of course, in the world of racing, there are no "ifs." If it weren't for T.M. Opera O, Meisho Doto would have almost become the Overlord of the Century's End.]
[After the Arima Kinen, Gentildonna held her retirement ceremony in front of the crowd, wearing a cute pink hood.]
[That year, Gentildonna won both JRA Horse of the Year and Best Older Filly. In 2016, she was inducted into the JRA Hall of Fame.]
[Her prize money totaled 1,726,030,400 yen. At the time, it was second only to T.M. Opera O in Japan.]
[For reference, when Deep Impact retired, he had 12 wins in 14 starts and 1,451,551,000 yen in prize money, also ranking second only to T.M. Opera O.]
[It wasn't until Kitasan Black appeared with 1,876,843,000 yen that T.M. Opera O's record was broken, which shows just how valuable Opera O's achievement was.]
[However if we take inflation into account, Opera O still holds the record.]
[Gentildonna's bravery in constantly challenging the colts as a filly earned her countless male fans, but her female fanbase was also immense.]
[ Many jockeys' wives were fans of her, just like they were of Haru Urara back in the day.]
[Moreover, unlike the "Twin Empresses" Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka— who often weighed over 490kg— Gentildonna was quite slim, weighing at most 478kg.]
[It was only because of the incident where she collided with Orfevre under Iwata's operation that she was dubbed "Gorilla."]
[In fact, Gentildonna could easily defend herself: "Please, it's not that I'm super strong— it's just that Orfevre-chan is too weak."]
[At the retirement ceremony, amidst the cheers, she wore a warm pink hood and bobbed her head up and down like someone pounding mochi. It was very cute, a sign of her happiness.]
[In life, Gentildonna was just like she was at the Arima Kinen: Powerful, smart, cute, and very tsundere.]
[In the real-horse world, despite having 7 GIs, discussions about her are still relatively few.]
[This is normal, since Masahiro Kaneko didn't give Cygames the rights initially, she missed out on a lot of visibility.]
[And compared to Deep Impact, her 7 GIs are seen slightly differently, as the Triple Tiara isn't discussed as much as the Classic Triple Crown.]
[But the G1s Gentildonna won afterward are high-quality. She didn't just beat Orfevre, she snatched G1s from the likes of Gold Ship.]
[I believe she will slowly enter the spotlight of discussion in the future.]
[Even if the Triple Tiara isn't as hyped as the Classics, I think Air Groove put it well: "The stage for the Oka Sho, Oaks, and Shuka Sho is indeed smaller, but it is on this stage— and only this stage— where unique glory, inherited determination, and passed-down will can be created."]
[I believe more fillies will walk the path of the Triple Tiara in the future, creating even more heart-pounding races.]
Back at Tracen Academy:
"Gentildonna wearing a pink hood? This woman who can turn an iron ball into an iron block... wearing a pink hood? You're kidding, right?"
Verxina was truly shocked this time, but she really wanted to see it.
Gentildonna in a pink dress or a pure student uniform would probably have an explosive impact.
But Verxina wondered why Trainer Mizuki specified a "hood."
Was it a mask like El Condor Pasa's?
She couldn't tell. At the very least, it was pink.
Deep Impact was also curious, out of concern for her daughter.
But she felt Gentildonna would look good in anything. After all, she was her child— beauty is in the genes.
She also acknowledged Verxina's hard work.
Gentildonna rubbed her head.
Unlike Mejiro Ryan, who was embarrassed to wear dresses, she didn't mind and thought it was worth a try.
That was her personality: Tsundere with a mix of cuteness and airheadedness.
As for Orfevre, she was irritated by the later parts of the log.
She had been insulted again.
'What does she mean by "weak"? I'm clearly strong!'
'I just... didn't want to fight with a girl.'
"Trainer Mizuki, don't think I'm some nice guy. The next time I see you, I'll make you regret what you've written!"
Orfevre was angry. She was being persecuted every day and decided she'd have to drag Mizuki to a basement for a lesson sooner or later.
Verxina was happy to see she had 2 G1s, but she tried to maintain her cool, high-class aura.
She had to keep her composure, though the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her feelings.
But she still felt unsatisfied. In her retirement race, she once again had to watch Gentildonna cross the finish line first.
'Next time, next time I will make sure your eyes are filled only with my shadow.'
Verxina, seeing her two G1 titles, understood the gap between herself and Gentildonna. The two G1s she won were restricted to fillies, she had essentially avoided the colts.
Gentildonna was different, she chose to brawl with the strongest colts of her era.
The reason Verxina hadn't participated in the 2012 Japan Cup was simply that she felt she couldn't win.
She took a deep breath and said, "Fortunately, I know all this now. This time, I will challenge higher dimensions. 'Unwinnable'? I don't know the meaning of the word."
Meanwhile, Win Variation was being her usual timid self.
"Ahem... after learning so much, if I train hard, maybe... maybe I can actually beat Orfevre."
Orfevre's gaze sharpened as she looked at Win Variation.
"What did you say, Win Variation?"
Win Variation panicked instantly, but she gathered her courage. "Orfevre-san, this time, I will destroy your reign. I will definitely win."
"Hmph, interesting." Orfevre smiled, saying quietly, "If you have the guts, then try to keep up."
"Since you dared to say that to the horse who rules this generation, I assume you're prepared for the cost? If I crush you on the track again, it's going to be very embarrassing for you."
"I... won't lose." Win Variation stood her ground. If she couldn't even say the words, she couldn't continue the fight.
Orfevre walked away laughing, seemingly satisfied with the response.
If no one even had the courage to challenge her, their generation would be quite boring indeed.
However, despite her firm exterior, Win Variation was crying inside.
'I really want to say "Orfevre, there were just a lot of people outside earlier, I didn't mean it! My bad bro."'
Still, she clenched her fists and encouraged herself. She didn't want to be a challenger anymore, she wanted to be the victor.
'Yes, Orfevre. This time, you'll be the challenger.'
As for Gold Ship, she was busy pondering a single question: What did Gentildonna's head-bobbing mean?
She tried it herself, but accidentally poked her eye on Tamamo Cross's hair.
She clutched her eye in pain and started rolling on the floor.
The crowd watched her with expressions of utter speechlessness.
Rhein Kraft said: "My goal is the Triple Tiara. Air Groove-senpai was right— even if our stage isn't as high-profile as the Classics, that's in the past. Things will change now."
"The stage may be smaller, but only on this stage can we create unique brilliance and pass down our will. I will definitely become stronger than Gentildonna."
Cesario nodded cutely. Her voice was soft and sweet as she said, "I'm wondering, is Gentildonna the strongest mare in Japan? Also, which era do I belong to?"
Buena Vista replied, "Cesario-san, you're a junior to Manhattan Cafe and Agnes Tachyon-san, so you're likely from the post-2000s era."
Buena Vista knew Manhattan Cafe's era because Trainer Mizuki mentioned Cafe won the Kikka Sho in 2001.
In reality, she was spot on. Cesario was born in 2002. Under the lead of Yuichi Fukunaga, she won the G1 Japanese Oaks before venturing to the US to compete in the G1 American Oaks.
There, she showed an absolutely terrifying form, winning by 4 lengths and breaking the track record.
She was the first Japanese-bred horse to win an overseas G1 with both parents also being domestic Japanese-bred horses.
Hollywood Park Racetrack even established the "Cesario Stakes" the following year.
In the Uma Musume project, Cesario has a dream of becoming a teacher in the breeding industry after retirement, similar to Mejiro Dober or Mejiro Ramonu.
This is a nod to her massive contribution to Japanese breeding, her offspring include the great Epiphaneia, and her granddaughter is Daring Tact.
"I see," Cesario said, "I'll look forward to seeing what kind of results I can achieve."
The group continued watching the log, curious about who would follow the stories of Stay Gold, Deep Impact, and Special Week.
[Of course, Gentildonna's achievements could arguably make her the #1 JRA mare... if a certain daughter of the Lord Kanaloa hadn't appeared.]
[We'll talk about the "Dragon King's daughter" later.]
[First, let's talk about another child of Deep Impact. Born on April Fools' Day, April 1, 2017, at Northern Farm.]
[Because of his gentle and cute personality, the staff gave him nicknames like "Little Fly" and "Moshi-Moshi-kun."]
[No one expected this petite bay horse would grow up to become a legend that brought hope to countless people during the 2020 pandemic.]
[He is one of the most outstanding horses Japan has ever produced, and he completed the same legendary feat as his father, Contrail.]
[From birth, people noticed his rich bone structure, flexible body, and gentle temperament— exactly like Deep Impact.]
[Many wondered if he could become as strong as his father. Contrail grew up with these expectations.]
[In 2018, he was sent for training, but due to epiphysitis, he couldn't run excessively. From age 1 to age 2.5, his training was limited to walking machines— essentially Speed Training Lv.1 in the game.]
[After recovering, he arrived at the Ritto Training Center. On September 15, 2019, two months after Deep Impact passed away, he debuted in an 1800m Newcomers race at Hanshin.]
[Ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga, he was the top favorite. He unleashed a super late-kick, winning by 2.5 lengths. People saw the shadow of Deep Impact in his movement.]
[Next was the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes. Due to a traffic accident, Fukunaga was replaced by the world-class Ryan Moore.]
[If Contrail were in the game, she'd probably have to visit Fukunaga in the hospital during the URA scenario.]
[In that race, Moore showed incredible technique. Contrail opened a 5-length lead and finished in 1:44.5, shattering the record by 1.1 seconds.]
[Moore said he was excited to ride such a top-tier horse. The owner, Mr. Maeda, declared: "Contrail is amazing. He can definitely run longer distances. I'm taking him to the Japanese Derby!"]
[On December 28, 2019, he entered the G1 Hopeful Stakes. Fukunaga returned as jockey. Contrail was the #1 favorite. His biggest rival was the undefeated Weltreisende.]
[Despite being caught in a fast pace set by a breakaway horse, Contrail accelerated in the final 200m to win by 1.5 lengths, securing his first G1 while remaining undefeated.]
[This was the first G1 won by a Deep Impact foal from the 'Northern Hills' line.]
[With 3 wins in 3 starts, he was named JRA Best Two-Year-Old Colt with 197 votes, surpassing the also-undefeated Salios.]
[But Contrail's legend was only just beginning. Rivals like Weltreisende and Salios were about to shed many bitter tears facing this "bane" of theirs.]
At Tracen Academy:
"Wait, Contrail? That kid with the phone pattern on her head?"
Gentildonna's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected to have a younger brother like this.
But what shocked her more was Mizuki's description: Contrail completed a legendary feat just like Deep Impact!
She fell silent. She knew exactly how terrifying Deep Impact's record was: 7 G1s, an Undefeated Triple Crown, and never finishing outside the top three in her life (if we exclude the disqualification in the Ar.)
For Deep Impact, taking second was considered a massive upset.
Could Contrail really match that?
'Was it 7 G1s?'
Gentildonna had 7 G1s herself, but the Trainer didn't use the word "Legendary Feat" to describe hers in the same breath as Deep Impact's.
'Could it be... an Undefeated Triple Crown?'
Gentildonna froze. She noticed the log mentioned Contrail won the Hopeful Stakes while undefeated.
The word "Undefeated" was very deliberate.
"A feat like Deep Impact... is it really an Undefeated Triple Crown? And what happened in 2020? Was it a disaster like the earthquake in Orfevre's year?"
Tokai Teio was deep in thought. She immediately linked "Undefeated Triple Crown" to the 2020 disaster context.
She felt a surge of emotion because her own dream of an undefeated Triple Crown had been cut short by just one step.
She realized that if Contrail did it, she and Deep Impact would be the first Father-Son Undefeated Triple Crown pair in JRA history.
If she had done it, she and Symboli Rudolf would have held that title.
She felt a pang of regret, but that only made her want to see Contrail's trajectory more.
'Could she truly reach the end of that path? That... supreme glory I yearned for?'
Black Tide remarked, "Impressive, Deep Impact. First a Father-Daughter Triple Crown, now a Father-Son Undefeated one? My 'brother' is quite something."
The most shocked person, however, was Contrail herself.
"I'm actually Deep Impact's son? The son of the Deep Impact I want to surpass!"
Her heart hammered against her ribs.
She looked at the description. Could she really reach that level?
She stopped overthinking and kept reading.
She wasn't proud, she was focused. She knew how scary Deep Impact was. She had to absorb every bit of info Mizuki provided.
Regardless, she was excited. It was Deep Impact!
If she really did what the Trainer said, she must have been the brightest star of 2020. The protagonist of that era.
However, Contrail— and everyone at Tracen— could not have guessed the twist.
Contrail did achieve the miracle of the Undefeated Triple Crown in 2020. In any other year, she would be the undisputed brightest star.
But in 2020, another filly made history: Cesario's granddaughter, Daring Tact, the first Undefeated Triple Tiara winner.
And even then, the ultimate glory of 2020 belonged to yet another: The daughter of the Lord Kanaloa who shattered Symboli Rudolf's 7-G1 ceiling— the 9-G1 legend, Almond Eye.