Twin Turbo led relentlessly, her blistering pace embodying her desire to run freely from start to finish.
(It's coming!) Turbo felt her power nearing its limit. The 2500m distance, longer than the Oaks, was grueling, but her drive surpassed even her Triple Tiara Autumn Stakes spirit. Her True Dokkan Turbo's second stage was primed early.
"Approaching the third corner, Twin Turbo holds the lead! Can she escape to victory?"
Doubts crept in—third corner was early for Dokkan Turbo. Nakayama's final steep hill loomed, and seasoned rivals like Palmer, Helios, and Rampage trailed closely. Should she save her burst?
"No, that's not Turbo!" she scolded herself. Rampage would laugh, pat her head, and say, Be yourself. Run your way. Planning wasn't her—she'd run wild and let fate decide. Her boost gauge glowed; her legs felt stronger than expected. I can do this. A vision of chibi Rampage on her gauge taunted, Show me, Turbo. Do it your way.
"DARYAAAA!" Turbo roared, unleashing True Dokkan Turbo's second stage. Palmer and Helios gaped as she surged at the third corner's entrance.
"Turbo makes her move! Her signature two-stage boost! She's pulling away—three, four lengths!"
"She's locked in," Rampage muttered.
"Too early," Ikuno noted.
Only they understood: True Dokkan Turbo needed perfect timing, or its effect waned—the exact flaw Rampage feared in the Oaks. Turbo's gamble was risky.
"Hey, Palmer, Heli-chan, don't just stare!" Rampage called.
"Crap, I won't let her!" Palmer snapped.
"That's wild! I wanna try!" Helios laughed.
The two refocused, Turbo's acceleration mesmerizing yet double-edged—a developing star with vast potential. Rampage watched, thinking, Turbo, you'll be unstoppable. You inspire even us.
"Turbo charges toward the fourth corner! Teio, McQueen, Ryan, and Nature surge behind! Turbo's run sparks the climax!"
Rampage stayed steady, her pace calculated, unsettling Ikuno and Flora trailing her. No phantom escapes or overspeed tactics—just pure control.
"I've got you, Ran!" Teio shouted, surging past Ryan, her studied full-body sync mimicking Rampage's style, chasing her idol.
"I won't let you go!" Flora declared.
"I'm faster!" Ikuno countered.
As Rampage finally shifted gears, Flora and Ikuno matched her, unwilling to let Teio claim her alone. Their resolve rivaled Teio's.
"The queen moves! As Turbo hits the fourth corner, Rampage surges, followed by Ikuno, Flora, Teio, Palmer, and Helios! McQueen, Ryan, and Nature close in!"
Rampage, usually a ruinous escaper, used her conserved energy to storm forward, overtaking a slowing Turbo. "I won't lose!" Turbo panted.
"That's my line!" Rampage roared.
"Rampage overtakes Turbo! Turbo's boost falters! Teio closes in, challenging the undefeated queen!"
Teio's refined run matched Rampage's, Ikuno acknowledging its prowess. "Is Teio the challenger? No, Turbo holds on! Ryan, McQueen, Flora, and Ikuno surge!"
The field hit Nakayama's steepest hill. Rampage powered up it, accelerating. "I can do it too!" Teio screamed, her stronger run climbing effortlessly, yet unable to shake Ryan, McQueen, Flora, Ikuno—or even a fading Turbo.
"I won't let Ran go!" Ryan bellowed, surging ahead.
"I beat the world for this!" Flora shouted.
"Now or never!" Ikuno roared.
"I won't lose!" McQueen cried.
They overtook Teio, who fixated on Rampage's back, now pulling away. "Why, Rampage?!" Teio wailed.
A cry beside her—Twin Turbo. "Teio's rival… is ME!" Turbo squeezed out her last strength, edging past Teio by a nose, claiming her as her rival.
Nature's shout alerted Teio—she'd neglected her footing. This moment sparked her true growth.
"100m left! Rampage leads—will she escape? Or will Ryan overtake? McQueen? Ikuno? Flora? The stands are on their feet!"
No one predicted this intensity. The fear of missing this chance—Rampage's last domestic race—fueled them. The strongest will would win.
"RAMPAGE!" Flora screamed, closing in, believing she knew Rampage best. But another shadow surged ahead.
"It's Ryan! Mejiro Ryan levels with Rampage! Triple Crown and Triple Tiara titans!"
"Bring it!" they roared, their mutual understanding amplifying their drive, outpacing Flora, Ikuno, and McQueen. The race narrowed to them.
"Rampage holds! Ryan fights back! What power! Will Ryan win? No, Rampage stretches! Who'll take it? They hit the line! Who won? Flora third, Ikuno fourth, McQueen fifth!"
Exhausted, Rampage and Ryan collapsed, barely stopping. A dead heat seemed possible. Panting, they exchanged weary, admiring glances.
"It's confirmed! The 36th Arima Kinen goes to Mejiro… Rampage! The undefeated queen claims Japan's crown by 2 centimeters!"
"Haha… you're too strong, Ran," Ryan gasped.
"You were incredible, Ryan," Rampage replied.
They helped each other up as the announcer roared, "Time: 2:28.7! Rampage sets a world record at Nakayama, surpassing Look Twice's 2:28.2 from 2019's Meguro Kinen! Another global milestone as she heads abroad!"
"You're amazing, Ran," Ryan said.
"Thanks to you," Rampage replied.
"No, your strength. I know it best. Shine overseas," Ryan urged.
"You bet!" Rampage grinned.
This Arima became legend.
Note: 2500m races are rare globally, mainly in Australia and France.
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