Oguri Cap was a legendary Uma Musume, but she wasn't undefeated.
From local races to central and even international competitions, she faced numerous strong rivals.
Fujimasa March, Tamamo Cross, Obey My Master, Super Creek, Inari One, Yaeno Muteki… facing these powerful opponents, she had been defeated—more than once in some cases.
Even in this world, with all her advantages, Kitahara couldn't guarantee that Oguri Cap would always win.
But there was one thing he was willing to do everything to ensure:
From 1401 meters to 1800 meters—that's the mile race distance, where Oguri Cap absolutely dominates.
She was the "Mile King."
He would not let her lose at this distance.
For example, the upcoming 1600-meter Shiwasu Special Cup.
Kitahara had complete confidence in this race.
He had already registered Oguri Cap for it and had been monitoring the other participants. So far, there wasn't a single competitor who could challenge her.
This wasn't an exaggeration. Looking at past race results, any girl capable of threatening Oguri Cap had chosen not to participate.
It made sense—if they could threaten Oguri Cap, it also meant she posed an even greater threat to them.
Competition among girls wasn't only on the track; it extended off the track as well.
To participate in higher-level races, one needed enough fan support. The fastest way to gain fans was to enter as many races as possible and win championships.
But losing a race risked losing fans and could even result in suspensions of varying degrees.
According to URA regulations, there were several situations that could lead to suspensions:
Violations on the track, such as drifting, deliberately colliding with others, or making insulting remarks.
Failing to place in the top five in multiple consecutive races ("not placing").
Losing by a large margin, defined as more than ten horse lengths behind the previous finisher.
Not participating without valid reason, or failing to notify the association in time.
Other rules varied slightly depending on the race. For example, the Japan Cup often included foreign horse girls, where collisions were more common, so the rules differed slightly.
Penalties varied as well. Track violations might lead to a few race suspensions, while a large-margin defeat would result in a temporary suspension.
Overall, the standards were roughly consistent.
Given this, it was understandable that trainers might choose to have their horse girls avoid competing against someone as formidable as Oguri Cap, considering both fans and suspension risks.
In fact, the number of participants this time wasn't small. Including Oguri Cap, assigned number 9, there were eight other competitors. There was still some competition pressure—but Kitahara felt it wasn't enough.
The Shiwasu Special Cup was Oguri Cap's last race of the year. Her next race would be the Golden Youth Cup on January 10 next year.
After the Golden Youth Cup, Kitahara would bring Oguri Cap to the central races. There, no matter what she competed in, the competition pressure would far exceed any local race.
Every year, 6,000 to 8,000 talented horse girls entered the Twinkle, but the elite at the central academy remained below 2,000. Each year, they recruited only a few hundred students at most.
Strong competitors were everywhere—only words like "elite gathering" could describe central races.
To prepare for such competition, Kitahara didn't want to wait until Oguri Cap entered the central races. He wanted to start giving her higher goals now.
The best time to plant a tree is ten years ago. For reaching the central academy, that "ten years ago" was now—the perfect time to plant a "seed" called "climb to the peak" in Oguri Cap's heart.
So, how could he provide Oguri Cap with greater challenges?
The Shiwasu Special Cup's competitors were sufficient for some contest, but not enough pressure.
The Golden Youth Cup would likely be similar.
Perhaps he could consider races in Chukyo or Nagoya? But the difference wasn't significant. Chukyo held G-class races, but Oguri Cap couldn't participate yet.
Watching from the sidelines wasn't the same as competing.
What to do…
"Kitahara?"
A questioning voice brought him back to reality. Looking up, he realized he had unconsciously arrived at the training ground.
The one calling him was Oguri Cap, waiting there.
She wore a clean, plain athletic outfit, form-fitting and tailored, accentuating her naturally tall, athletic build with a vibrant energy.
Her pure, natural aura gave off a serene, almost ethereal presence.
Kitahara's expression relaxed.
"I was just thinking… didn't realize I'd walked all the way here," he said with a smile, waving. "Warmed up yet?"
"Not yet," she shook her head, not rushing to start training.
"Are you worried about me again, Kitahara?" she asked quietly.
"Sometimes you don't need to be so perceptive. I can't tell if you're naturally ditzy or just cleverly hidden," he said, accustomed to her unique insight.
"I was thinking about how to give you more motivation to move forward."
"Motivation… to move forward?" Oguri Cap touched her chin, showing rare thoughtfulness.
Seeing her thoughtful expression, Kitahara was about to explain. She nodded and spoke again:
"Do you think my upcoming opponents won't be a threat to me?"
Kitahara was genuinely surprised. He realized again that while Oguri Cap might seem naïve in everyday matters, when it came to racing, her perception and insight were exceptional.
"Yes, that's my concern," he admitted, laughing at himself. "It sounds arrogant—others worry about opponents being too strong, I worry about them not being strong enough. It's… unusual."
Oguri Cap pinched her chin again, speaking seriously.
"I don't know if it's arrogant or not, but…"
She relaxed her chin and clenched her fists bit by bit in front of her. "I also want a greater threat."
Hmm? Kitahara's heart stirred.
"Tamamo, Super Creek, and Ho…Ho…whatever those two kids are called, and Miss Hayakawa," she said, naming the ones she remembered, fists tightening further.
"Kitahara wants me to see how strong the central academy really is. I've seen it."
"Though I haven't actually competed, I can feel they're all strong. If I stood on the track, I wouldn't be guaranteed a win."
"Even Miss Hayakawa gave me that feeling… though she isn't even a horse girl…"
Her expression, previously determined, now showed doubt as she scratched her head.
"But anyway," she quickly regained seriousness, "I understand what you mean, Kitahara. I think the same way you do."
"I may not be able to think as much as you, but I want to help you think too."
"I want to become stronger, even stronger, as strong as possible."
"The threat is the purpose, right?"
"So if Kitahara wants to give me greater threats to make me stronger…"
"Then any method is fine, as long as I can become stronger. That's how I think."
"Train me harder! I will also work harder! I will definitely become stronger!"
(End of chapter)