After making arrangements for Super Creek, Kitahara rushed straight back to the Kasamatsu training ground, where Oguri Cap and Belno Light were still waiting for him.
The tactic he'd just inspired Super Creek with was, in fact, something she came up with herself in the original storyline.
In the 100th Autumn Tenno Sho, Super Creek, Oguri Cap, and Inari One all competed together.
At that time, both Oguri Cap and Inari One had already mastered "Domains." Inari One's Domain was unstable, but Oguri Cap had already found a way to enter hers voluntarily.
And yet, under those circumstances, Super Creek won, claiming her second G1 victory.
She didn't use her Domain.
She gave it up entirely.
What she did use was exactly what Kitahara just described — seizing the lead from the start, accelerating in the early phase, launching her final sprint more than 600 meters earlier than usual — subtly speeding up the entire race, tricking all her opponents into burning through their stamina too soon.
The result: when the final 200 meters arrived — the moment when they should have accelerated — none of her opponents had any strength left. They were all completely exhausted.
Including Oguri Cap and Inari One.
Super Creek still had stamina.
Not just a little — plenty.
She had won the 3,000-meter Kikuka Sho by a full five lengths; the Autumn Tenno Sho was a full 1,000 meters shorter, so forcing everyone to waste their stamina early was never going to be a problem for the queen of long-distance races.
Hmm… who knows what kind of monster Super Creek will become now that this trick has been revealed to her ahead of time?
A "Triple Crown Uma Musume"…
Go for it, Super Creek. I believe in you.
Sigh. Too bad Oguri Cap is going to compete in the Tokai Derby, while Tamamo Cross and Inari One both officially debuted last year, and their two-year foundational period has already passed. According to URA regulations, they can no longer register for the Classic Triple Crown. Otherwise, they could all compete.
Tamamo Cross and Inari One are definitely out, but if Oguri Cap were to run in the Classic Triple Crown…
Hmm… the Kikuka Sho might not go well.
Against Super Creek, Oguri Cap would have better odds in races between 1,600 and 2,000 meters, but the 3,000-meter Kikuka Sho was the exact opposite — her chances weren't good.
According to the data Kyoko provided, Oguri Cap's current upper distance limit was around 2,500 meters — unless they did special training.
That extra 500 meters wasn't just a matter of "more distance." Running posture, race strategy, pacing — all would require specialized training, and her own physiology would need to adapt to long-distance racing. That's not something that can be done overnight.
The Satsuki Sho? That should be winnable. At 2,000 meters — even 2,500 — Oguri Cap could handle it.
Huh? Maybe I should have Oguri Cap run the Satsuki Sho? That actually sounds possible…
But then she'd run straight into Super Creek. Now that would be a headache…
Anyway, we'll leave it at that for now and see how things develop.
Lost in thought the whole way, Kitahara returned to Kasamatsu and walked straight onto the training ground.
But soon, he froze. On the track, besides Oguri Cap and Belno Light, there was another very familiar horse girl — Fujimasa March.
Oguri Cap was running side-by-side with Fujimasa March, while Brand-New Radiance stood off to the side like a proper trainer, laptop in hand, apparently logging data.
March? What is she…?
Just as he was puzzling over it, someone approached from the edge of the training ground, greeting him with a sigh of emotion.
"Yo, Kitahara." It was March's trainer — Kitahara's colleague — Shibasaki Koichi.
"You here to use the grounds too?"
Meeting halfway, the two men clapped each other on the shoulder. Kitahara smiled. "Care to train together, then?"
"Of course," Shibasaki smiled back, jerking his chin toward the track. "Aren't they already running side-by-side?"
Following his gaze, Kitahara looked back toward the track.
His own training standards were on a completely different level from the past now. With just a casual glance, he could tell Fujimasa March's current level was still a bit behind Oguri Cap's.
The exact gap would require data analysis, but from the arm-swing rhythm, stride length, breathing patterns, and other details, it was clear her movements weren't quite as fluid.
Especially in the sprint section — the difference in initial acceleration was obvious to the naked eye, revealing the gap in explosive power.
"…If I remember right, you also entered March into the Golden Youth Cup? The same one Oguri Cap will be racing in on January 10 next year."
Turning his head, Kitahara mused, "It's been a while since those two raced against each other, hasn't it?"
"Mm, not since that Youth Crown race Oguri Cap ran in. About two months now."
Shibasaki let out a sigh. "No matter how unwilling I am, I can only admit it: whether it's me or March, there's a clear gap between us and you and Oguri Cap."
"That's why, all this time, not racing against Oguri Cap wasn't by choice, but by necessity."
His expression turned wry. "I can understand March's desire to challenge Oguri Cap. She's worked really hard. For her to take second place in front of someone like Oguri Cap — as her trainer, I honestly couldn't ask for more."
"But if she wants to move on to the Central circuit and keep competing against Oguri Cap, then she can't afford to lose too much. Otherwise, she won't have enough fans to even qualify for Central."
"So this time spent avoiding a direct confrontation was also to build up her fanbase — and it worked."
A look of relief crossed his face.
Only then did Kitahara understand: Shibasaki and March had also chosen a "strategic avoidance" period regarding Oguri Cap. But it surprised him, too.
"You're planning to go Central as well?"
"Didn't see that coming, huh? I'm already studying for the Central licensing exams, and March's fan count is just about there."
A hint of pride — and admiration — appeared in Shibasaki's eyes. "Maybe you don't even realize it, Kitahara, but you and Oguri Cap's brilliance has inspired all of Kasamatsu."
"Never mind everything else — plenty of trainers and Uma Msuume in our academy see the two of you as role models, and they're all quietly or openly aiming for Central now."
"In Central, wait for us. March and I will definitely come to challenge you."
Taken aback by the realization of his own influence, Kitahara stood stunned for a moment, then smiled.
"Good. I… no, we will be waiting."
He reached out his hand. Shibasaki smiled and shook it.
As their hands clasped, a thought flashed across Kitahara's mind.
"By the way, I've got a suggestion."
Looking at Fujimasa March on the track, he thought for a moment and voiced what he had noticed earlier.
"Try steering March toward long-distance turf racing, Shibasaki. I think that's where she'll shine the brightest."
Shibasaki blinked, then gave a wry smile.
"As expected of you, Kitahara. I thought I could keep that hidden…"
Kitahara blinked. "Hidden?"
"Yeah, I only found out myself a little while ago."
Shibasaki cast a complicated glance toward March. "March has a senior — Higashikun Breath — the first gray horse girl to ever win the Kikuka Sho since the start of the Twinkle Series."
[Who? The first gray horse to win is Goldship]
"Not only that, she's also taken titles like the Turf Open, the Mainichi Okan, the NHK Cup, and even went head-to-head with the legendary Uma Musume Maruzensky in the Sprinters Stakes… though in that race, Higashikun Breath lost by seven lengths. Still, she came in second."
"So, yeah. I failed her before — my whole training approach with March was completely wrong."
Seeing the guilt on Shibasaki's face, Kitahara paused, then offered some reassurance:
"Discovering that now isn't too late. March still has a long way to go before her peak. Focus on turf, focus on longer distances — she'll be fine."
"Ah… so you know about Higashikun Breath too. Otherwise, you wouldn't have made that suggestion just now. Thank you, Kitahara."
Nodding in gratitude, Shibasaki's expression suddenly turned serious.
"But, you know this, right?"
"In your next race — the Golden Youth Cup — the other 17 horse girls, March included, have all lost to Oguri Cap before."
"You understand what kind of pressure that puts on Oguri Cap in this race, don't you?"
(End of Chapter)