Chapter 21: Front-Running in Full Bloom!
The previous evening, in the training ground cafeteria.
"How should I run during tomorrow's race? I shouldn't be worried to this extent, right?"
Old Man Musaka looked strangely at Stardust Mirage, who had asked him the question.
Seeing the horse girl's somewhat awkward expression, he suddenly understood and laughed heartily in response:
"Ah, you're starting to get scared that your second debut might fail too? Hahahahaha!"
"Hey, old man! What's so funny about that? Isn't it normal for a horse girl to ask her trainer for strategy?!"
Stardust Mirage also felt she might be worrying over nothing, but she was equally concerned about potential problems. If she failed a second time, it could very well hinder her path to the Triple Crown stage.
After all, participating in these G1 races required accumulating prize money and fulfilling prerequisite race placements. The first race of the Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho, required entry in its prerequisite G2 races, like the G2 Yayoi Sho, which needed registration starting in February.
This meant that if she waited until next January to debut, it would be difficult to accumulate enough prize money to meet the entry requirements for the Satsuki Sho's qualifying races in time. If that happened, everything would be over.
"Hahaha, I was just remembering something happy." Old Man Musaka waved his hand and then looked at Stardust Mirage sitting beside him.
"Stardust Mirage, what do you think is the most important thing in a race? Physical advantages? Running style? Or some other hard condition?"
"Overall physical fitness."
Stardust Mirage answered based on her experience from playing the mobile game in her previous life.
After all, no matter what training style or horse girl, they all needed foundational stats as support, and this was the fundamental element constituting the conditions for victory.
"You already understand the importance of basic fitness?" Musaka nodded with some satisfaction. "Correct. Unless it's two runners who are evenly matched, otherwise—"
"In the sport of racing, superior basic fitness is the absolute advantage!"
"Don't worry too much, Stardust Mirage. Just choose the running style that feels most comfortable for you when the time comes."
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"Choose... the running style that's most comfortable for me?"
Stardust Mirage, bursting forward, brought her focus back to the current race. The enormous figure slightly behind and beside her closed the distance between them with every long stride.
Just as Daitai Tendo had said, the advantage brought by long legs was immense. It was like passively activating that move [Shukuchi], allowing her to gain an absolute advantage through stride length with each step.
But that was only true under one condition...
"Different, completely different!"
Feeling the pressure emanating from the horse girl chasing behind her, Stellar Mirage's face unconsciously broke into an expression of excitement.
It felt like she could sense that scorching heat again, the one that almost burned her when chased by Tokai Teio, but... the one pursuing her now wasn't Tokai Teio. It was Daitai Tendo, roaring wildly as she tried to close the gap and catch up—
"You and Tokai Teio are simply... runners from two different worlds!!!"
[Skill: Shukuchi], activated!
[The chase is over! Number 7, Stardust Mirage, is using that peculiar running style! She's directly shaking off the giant behind her and taking the lead position!]
The commentator's voice rang out at the perfect time. Stardust Mirage felt the strong wind blowing against her face. Each powerful step she took provided a continuous source of momentum for her acceleration.
It wasn't just about leading the pack. The moment she stepped out of the gate, Stardust Mirage had already decided what style she would use to announce her entrance as a challenger.
[...The various groups of horse girls are beginning to form. Leading the pack by a length is number 7, Stardust Mirage, followed by...
Wait, Stardust Mirage is still accelerating! Having already taken the lead, the gap between Stardust Mirage and the horse girls behind is still growing!]
[Two lengths, three lengths... five lengths!]
[Stellar Mirage's goal isn't just to lead; it's a Great Escape! Stellar Mirage has chosen a Great Escape strategy right from the start of this race!!!]
Along with the commentator's suddenly hoarse shouts, the live audience also erupted in excited clamor.
Immediately after, thunderous applause and cheers resounded throughout the racecourse.
[Great Escape], along with [End Closer], were the two most beloved winning styles among horse girl enthusiasts. Now, one was unfolding before the eyes of all the spectators.
The commentator who had also called Stellar Mirage's debut race was equally excited, grabbing the microphone and shouting:
[Full of vigor, she takes the lead alone! Number 7 Stellar Mirage, employing the Great Escape strategy, has now left all other horse girls behind by over 8 lengths!]
[Fast, too fast! Without Tokai Teio to compete with, she's like a gust of wind!]
On the track, Stardust Mirage knew clearly that this was the fastest she had ever run since starting training.
Her racing career wasn't very long. Before this race, she had always been competing against powerhouses of the caliber of Tokai Teio and Oguri Cap. This had led Stardust Mirage to misjudge her own strength.
Lost her debut race, defeated by Tokai Teio's will to win?
Had a record of 871 losses and 0 wins against Oguri Cap?
So what? Stardust Mirage's opponents now weren't those powerful runners; they were the other 15 horse girls in this race.
Now, she was completely immersed in the run. No obstacles were visible around her, no pursuer's presence felt behind her. It was just like the countless runs she had done over the past 17 days.
Every step Stardust Mirage took exploded with all her strength to accelerate. She felt the seemingly endless stamina welling up inside her.
This was the biggest reason she could choose the Great Escape strategy—her basic fitness far surpassed that of the other participants.
The spiked running shoes continuously impacted the turf, a series of thump, thump, thump, thump footsteps enveloping all the horse girls behind her.
It sounded like... the beating of a death drum.
"This race is already over."
In the stands, a petite figure, most of her face hidden by a cap and sunglasses, made this judgment.
"Huh? Didn't the race just enter the second half?"
A regular uncle standing not far away, watching the race, heard this declaration and felt very confused.
"No, when I say the outcome is decided, I don't mean that. Look at the horse girls behind Stardust Mirage?"
The uncle looked and saw that the horse girls trailing behind the escapee had already started to relax to varying degrees.
Even the giant horse girl who had been gritting her teeth and chasing Stellar Mirage with all her might moments ago was now only running mechanically...
"They're..."
"In a race, once your opponents develop a sense of fear towards you, victory is practically assured."
The commenting petite figure looked up, smiling broadly as she watched Stardust Mirage leading the race alone, and continued muttering to herself:
"Stardust Mirage, you really are an opponent worth taking seriously... However, you want to stop me in the Classic Triple Crown? But I will, like the President, sweep away all opponents including you, and achieve the undefeated Triple Crown!"
"Ah!!! You're Tokai Teio—"
Seeing the girl reveal the lower half of her face, the uncle suddenly remembered who she was and almost cried out in surprise.
"Please, please, mister, don't expose me."
Hearing this, he quickly covered his mouth.
Looking at the cute Teio who smiled apologetically at him, this horse-loving uncle consciously helped cover for her, clearly unwilling to reveal her identity.
And now, on the racetrack, the race was reaching its conclusion:
[...Number 7 Stardust Mirage, First Place!]
[On this Nakayama Racecourse track, she returns sweeping like a vengeful gale. Stardust Mirage, with a massive 10-length lead, carried her front-running strategy to the very end and won this race!]
[All spectators present, if your blood has been set ablaze by this front-running display, then please offer your cheers and applause to our champion today. Her name is—
—Star! dust! Mir! age!]
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Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
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