It has been about a month and a half since Uma Trial Stakes. A lot happened during this time, and as of today, the TJC Academy went on its summer break.
Grand Ekinoks's victory was so dramatic that it made her famous. Right after the race, two weeks later, before the S.A Race and yesterday, she had answered journalists' questions a total of four times. Given Grand Ekinoks's grumpy and introverted personality, this popularity was quite a lot.
So my top priority was to maintain the environment needed to keep her focused. Since other umamusume wanted to talk to her too, I wanted to prevent her training from being divided haphazardly.
The school's opinion of Grand Ekinoks had also changed. Some umamusume wanted to be friends with her and tried to talk to her, and Grand Ekinoks didn't know how she would respond to these umamusume. At school, they spoke of her as mysterious, cool, or odd.
Because Grand Ekinoks had become a popular umamusume, I noticed she was trying to stand taller. Yet she didn't seem to be pleased with this popularity, though she seemed happy that people talked about her.
Grand Ekinoks did not race in any other event besides the S.A Race. She was keeping her strength for her greatest dream, the Gazi Derby and she had initially planned not to race until the Gazi Derby but she didn't want to miss another chance to race against Koşturan.
The S.A Race was a fantastic race. Most of the competitors, who mostly raced in a group, began their moves after coming onto the straight, and in the last 200 meters, Koşturan and Grand Ekinoks started to go past their rivals and then to pass each other.
In the last 50 meters, after a head-to-head duel, Grand Ekinoks once again passed Koşturan and won this time by a neck.
1. Grand Equinox (5)
2. Koşturan(FR) (6)
3. Cannon (3)
4. Shining Wolf (7)
5. Angelos Draw(GB) (2)
I couldn't help but smile while looking at the board.
This was the longest race Grand Ekinoks had run. In that moment I was sure of one thing: Grand Ekinoks, who was dancing on stage and singing, was more than ready for the Gazi Derby with this race.
Ever since Grand Ekinoks expressed her desire to win, it felt like a wolf had come out of her inside. She seemed completely healthy and already excited for the Gazi Derby.
My life had also changed. As a rookie trainer, I was becoming popular among other trainers, but I wouldn't say Grand Ekinoks liked this popularity very much. Grand Ekinoks could be introverted but I was more introverted.
So, apart from Melisa, there really wasn't a close friend. Melisa, on the other hand, was in a bad mood lately. Tolikopa and Koşturan had been injured during training, so her morale was quite low.
Apart from all this, I had said "Grand" to Grand Ekinoks about two more times unintentionally during this period. When I said it that way, there seemed to be strange clouds between us. After that, we hadn't spoken to each other for a while.
I kept recalling Cannon's words to me after Uma Trial Stakes. When I thought of those words, I felt something I couldn't name.
What if Cannon was right? What if I felt the same things?
Was I afraid to give any answer to these questions? Or was I afraid that the answer would be negative?
Questions like this always lingered in a corner of my mind.
Now the TJC Academy had gone on summer break and Gazi Race would begin in 15 days.
I couldn't give an answer to these strange questions in the corner of my mind. At least I couldn't give one now. I wouldn't be able to answer anything until I saw Grand Ekinoks win the Gazi Derby.