Happy Meek, under Trainer Kiryuuin's guidance, secured a flawless victory in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. Even if it was "just" a Junior-grade race, she was now officially a G1 champion.
Meanwhile, Rice—the girl who arguably catalyzed Meek's victory—had officially secured her spot in the Arima Kinen, held at Nakayama Racecourse at the end of the year.
I say "secured" because the Arima Kinen is different from other races. You don't just enter because you want to. It isn't about prize money or total wins, nor is it a simple lottery. The field is decided by the fans. Out of all the Umamusume who register, the public votes for the sixteen girls they most want to see run.
The Arima Kinen is a long-distance turf race, spanning 2,500 meters. Usually, this would exclude milers or dirt specialists—but not always.
The Arima Kinen is a year-end festival. Selection is driven by popularity. In theory, if Urara registered and the fans voted for her in droves, she could stand on that prestigious starting line. It's a "Dream Trophy" system shared only by the Takarazuka Kinen in the spring; twice a year, the fans get to curate their own miracle.
However, the Arima Kinen is still a brutal G1. The winner's purse is a staggering 300 million yen, the highest in the sport. Being chosen by popular vote means the girls are fan favorites, but in this world, popularity is usually synonymous with terrifying ability.
When the "Special Registration" period closed two weeks before the race, Rice's name was on the list. She had earned her ticket. It was definitive proof that, despite her own low self-esteem, the public adored her. Take that, world.
"No fair! Rice-chan is so lucky!"
As usual, we were at the practice track after school. Urara, having heard the news, was practically swinging from my arm. "Hey, Trainer! I want to run in the 'Arima-Kinen' too! I want to run with Rice-chan!"
"Sorry, Urara, but you're a bit short on 'fan votes' and experience right now," I said, ruffling her hair. She puffed out her cheeks in a pout, but as I kept petting her, she melted into a happy, goofy grin. "Besides, next year is your time to shine. You'll have plenty of races then, okay?"
While Rice prepared for the year-end finale, Urara's next target was set for late February: the Hyacinth Stakes. It was a 1,600-meter Open dirt race at Tokyo Racecourse.
A mile race. During our mock race, Urara had shown surprising "snap" on the turf at that distance. If she could pull that off on grass, I was certain she'd be a force to be reckoned with on her home turf—the dirt. We had plenty of time to sharpen her edge.
Plus, I liked the idea of returning to Tokyo Racecourse, the site of her first win. A little bit of superstition never hurt. Though, truthfully, the Hyacinth Stakes was simply the only dirt race available for a newly minted Classic-grade girl like her...
I'd wanted to get her into a pre-Open race before the end of the year, but between managing Rice's schedule and the mountain of data analysis I had to sift through, I just didn't have the bandwidth.
I'd barely made the Arima Kinen deadline for Rice. But looking at the confirmed entry list...
(Is the turf world always this much of a madhouse? Or is it just the Arima?)
It was the final Thursday of the year. The race was this Sunday. And the lineup was a nightmare. Almost every "High-Alert" Umamusume I'd flagged weeks ago was there.
Daitaku Helios.
Mejiro Palmer.
Nice Nature.
Ikuno Dictus.
And... Tokai Teio.
Any one of them could ruin our day, but Teio was the real problem. Her closing speed on the final straight was legendary—a freak of nature. Even if Rice marked her, I wasn't sure she could out-kick her. Teio had stumbled to 7th in the Tenno Sho (Autumn), but she'd roared back to take the Japan Cup, just as I'd feared.
The other four were dangerous in their own right, but based on recent form, Teio was the clear apex predator.
I suppose I should have been grateful that Mejiro McQueen and Mihono Bourbon weren't in the mix, but I couldn't bring myself to feel that way. Bourbon's leg issues had worsened, and while McQueen was recovering, she wasn't fit for a 2,500m gauntlet yet. I'd have to remember to bring them some get-well gifts soon.
Umamusume run at such incredible speeds that injuries are a constant shadow. I realized my mindset had shifted; I no longer cared about my rivals' weaknesses. I just wanted to see them all healthy. If something happened to Rice or Urara, I'd probably lose my mind. I certainly wouldn't be able to work.
(But Rice's condition is the priority now...)