"Barbatos! Let's congratulate Barbatos on clinching victory in the first half's decisive battle!"
"Claiming the crown of the Takarazuka Kinen!"
Akasaka Misato's voice reached the ears of everyone present.
After a brief moment of silence, the entire Hanshin Racecourse erupted.
On every related live-streaming platform, subtitles announcing the champion scrolled across screens, and gifts were showered one after another.
For viewers unable to witness this fierce battle in person, this was the only way to vent the emotions churning in their hearts at that moment!
"Second place, defeated by a nose—the Otherworldly Front-Runner, Silence Suzuka!"
"Third place, four lengths back—the lady general of the Mejiro family, Mejiro Dober!"
One by one, the Uma Musume crossed the finish line.
Air Groove, the legendary Empress and the absolute favorite to win before the race, could only manage a fourth-place finish.
"Defeating Silence Suzuka, beating El Condor Pasa and King Halo, and triumphing over a lineup including Mejiro Dober and the Empress Air Groove herself at the Takarazuka Kinen!"
"Who among them can now stop Barbatos's march toward victory?!"
Akasaka Misato passionately recounted Barbatos's achievements, then turned to look at Take Yutaka beside her.
"Take Yutaka-sensei, just how strong do you think Barbatos is right now?"
Take Yutaka was silent for a long moment.
Even he, who had witnessed countless legends, couldn't help but feel a chill of awe and astonishment.
In his eyes, with such a massive lead established, Suzuka's victory had seemed almost inevitable.
Before the Takarazuka Kinen, after his special training and guidance, Silence Suzuka could be considered practically at her peak form!
She had even sublimated her Zone during the final stage of the race, making her initial Zone more complete.
And yet, even so, Silence Suzuka still lost.
His perspective on Barbatos had inevitably shifted, from initial appreciation to genuine recognition—she was a Uma Musume capable of creating miracles, a bona fide monster in the truest sense!
"Barbatos..."
"I believe that having now won the Takarazuka Kinen, she can be called the strongest active Uma Musume!"
Akasaka Misato's mouth fell slightly open. She hadn't expected Take Yutaka-sensei to bestow such an evaluation upon Barbatos.
Not just the strongest of her generation, but the strongest among all currently active!
Among the active Uma Musume were still powerhouses like Seiun Sky, Special Week, and Taiki Shuttle.
Barbatos hadn't yet competed directly against them in the same race.
Yet even so, Akasaka Misato found herself utterly unable to find grounds to refute him.
King Halo, who had once lost to Barbatos, went on to win the Japanese Derby. If that were the case, then even if Seiun Sky and Special Week faced Barbatos, their chances of winning wouldn't be high either.
Taiki Shuttle was close to the throne of the 'Active Miler King,' but compared to Barbatos, whose distance aptitude seemed almost maxed out, she still fell short.
The title of strongest active Uma Musume—Barbatos truly deserved it!
Leaving aside the exhibition Dream Cups, Barbatos had been undefeated in every single race since her debut.
In just ten months since her debut, she already held the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Oka Sho, Spring Tenno Sho, Japanese Oaks, and the Takarazuka Kinen—five G1 titles.
She was rapidly closing in on the record set by the Emperor.
If she could just win the final leg of the Triple Tiara, the Shuka Sho, and secure two more G1 victories, and if by that time Barbatos remained undefeated...
Then she might even become another Undefeated Triple Crown winner with seven G1 crowns, following in the footsteps of the Emperor—Symboli Rudolf!
Even if the prestige of the Triple Tiara wasn't quite on par with the Classic Triple Crown, the name 'Barbatos' would undoubtedly be etched into the annals of history, making the entire world remember that name!
"I agree with Take Yutaka-sensei's assessment. The title of strongest active Uma Musume—Barbatos has truly earned it!"
"Strongest active, number one in Japan!"
With Akasaka Misato and Take Yutaka's words, many people at that moment realized that Barbatos could now indeed be considered the strongest among all active Uma Musume.
She could beat Air Groove, she could go toe-to-toe with some legendary Uma Musume!
Amidst the clamorous cheers of the racecourse, the various shouts gradually began to merge and unify.
The cry of 'Japan's Number One' echoed throughout the entire Hanshin Racecourse!
The crowd doesn't remember the losers. At the Takarazuka Kinen, they acknowledged the level displayed by Silence Suzuka, but at this very moment, every single cheer belonged to Barbatos alone!
Even though Silence Suzuka had lost by just a single, agonizing nose.
Even in the exclusive Rigil spectator section, led by Symboli Rudolf and Maruzensky, every team member present, including Toujou Hana herself, offered their applause to Barbatos for winning the Takarazuka Kinen.
This was the current number one Uma Musume in Japan!
The Overlord of the Century's End, T.M Opera O, clapped along, grinning wryly. "Never thought that old man would actually admit another Uma Musume is stronger."
She still held a grudge against Take Yutaka after that particular incident. Despite the man's immense reputation, seeing him still rubbed T.M Opera O the wrong way.
"But man, I'm really looking forward to the Dream Cup, running alongside Barbatos again."
Hishi Amazon bounced eagerly. "Hehe, when the Dream Cup comes, don't any of you steal my spotlight. I'm going one-on-one with Barbatos."
Fuji Kiseki couldn't help but glance sideways at her.
"Just make sure you don't end up challenging Brian again instead."
"Ahem, that's instinct!"
Pretty much every time the Dream Cup was held, Hishi Amazon ended up glued to Narita Brian's side, given they were from the same generation and had traded wins.
Well, Brian did win more often, admittedly.
--+--
Over at Spica's spot.
Their dejected figures stood in stark contrast to the cheering crowds around them. Okino's lollipop had long since fallen to the ground during that final stretch showdown between Barbatos and Silence Suzuka.
Special Week's eyes were already welling up with tears, as if she, not Suzuka, were the one who had lost the race.
Vodka and Daiwa Scarlet kept glancing at each other. Usually, even a single look might spark an argument, but now their faces held only shock and silence.
Shock, because Suzuka had become this strong. Silence, because Suzuka had lost—even at this level of strength, she still couldn't beat Barbatos, and by just that tiny margin.
"Hey!"
"What's with all the long faces?"
Gold Ship asked, seemingly unconcerned, only to have her ponytail yanked by Mejiro McQueen next to her.
Although Mejiro McQueen hadn't been with Spica long, she still felt sad for Suzuka's loss, and also for Dober-nee and Bright-nee.
Feeling the pain from her ponytail, Gold Ship immediately reached out and grabbed McQueen's ponytail in return.
"Seriously, no need to be sad."
"Suzuka's speed at the end was clearly even faster. This time, she just lost by a nose."
"If Suzuka leads with that kind of speed next time, Barbatos might not necessarily win, you know."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.