We settled back and listened to the commentators' predictions for what kind of Gazi Derby it could be. As in every Gazi Derby, 22 Umamusume would compete this time as well. One person's dreams would come true but in exchange, the dreams of 21 umamusume would be shattered.
"Alright! Since we've talked enough about the race, let's talk about the umamusume who will take part in this meaningful event."
After the host woman said this, a list appeared on the screen. It included familiar names. Shining Wolf, Redneck and Cannon were among them. There were also names like Sun Breeze, who, despite being of foreign origin, participated in the race. Umamusume who were not transfer students to the TJC Academy could still participate in the Gazi Derby, even if they came from different origins.
The best example would be Ribella. Although she was born in Ireland, she grew up in Turkey and was not a transfer student. If she wanted, she could have joined the Gazi Derby but she had chosen to pursue Queen Cup in her career.
Of course, Grand Ekinoks was also on this list.
After the list was shown, I witnessed the long-haired commentator say:
"If there is a favorite in this race, I think it's Grand Ekinoks."
"I agree. Grand Ekinoks is definitely in great form and has beaten Koşturan twice. If there is a umamusume who will win this race, we can say that the one is Grand Ekinoks."
The commentators continued to share their views on Grand Ekinoks. They talked at length about how well she did despite her slight hunch and about her performance in the last 400 meters of Uma Trial Stakes.
Meanwhile, I was looking at Grand Ekinoks with a worried glance instead of watching the TV.
"What happened? If I didn't know you, I'd think you don't want to be in this race."
"Well… Being called a 'favorite' in a race for the first time feels strange to me. In Uma Trial Stakes, Košturan was the favorite in the S.A Race."
"Why does being a favorite feel strange to you?"
"How can I say it… I've always tried to catch up to others. I'm a small umamusume and my mother is still alive… I would always tell her that I wanted to run for her. So I kept chasing after her."
"You really love your mother, don't you?"
"Of course, trainer! Maybe she wasn't well enough to see the TJC Academy and… she didn't live long enough to see me as Gazi Derby's favorite but… if she were alive now, I know she'd be proud of me. That's part of why I'm anxious too."
"Like how?"
"I haven't been a favorite until now. So I've always run after someone. Maybe in the Gazi Derby I'll be running after someone again, but… now I also have to look after my own back. People will try to pass me and to be honest… I don't even know how to stay calm when someone tries to pass me."
Looking at Grand Ekinoks, listening to her anxieties, and admiring the glow in her eyes, I felt that I understood her better than ever.
Up until now, I had been trying to make sense of Grand Ekinoks's running style. Some turn fear into power when they run, others turn their ambition into power. For Grand Ekinoks, this power was desire. She was, quite literally, a hunter. Hunters always stay on their prey's tail.
So the idea that someone might want to hunt her made Grand Ekinoks uneasy. I may be an inexperienced trainer, but I know very well that one of the things that makes umamusume performance fluctuate is their emotions.
So I decided to show her things from my own perspective.
"To ease your worries, would you come with me to the hippodrome?"
I told her this so she could watch the races and also see Ankara's hippodrome for the first time. The reaction I expected was different from what I imagined.
Her face turned as red as a tomato. Then she turned her face and said:
"Is this… some kind of date proposal?"
When I heard that, I couldn't help coughing.