The grandstands at Hanshin Racecourse were buzzing with unprecedented excitement, as attendance shattered the racetrack's all-time record. Long before the race even began, countless people had been hyping it up online, dubbing it the most anticipated race of the new generation.
No rookie showdown had ever garnered such intense attention; even the legendary T.M. rivalry paled slightly in comparison. Kousei made her way to the front row alone. Though the spectators beside her seemed faintly annoyed by her presence, the sheer scale of the event meant no one paid her much mind.
How could Rudolf miss such a rare spectacle? The Emperor's personal attendance solidified the Osaka Cup's special status—after all, Rudolf had never missed a major Central event.
Renowned competitors like Narita Brian and Mr. CB were also present, a clear sign of the Central Committee's immense focus on this race. Umamusume from every major family had gathered—not just the Mejiro and Sakura Families, but even the rarely seen Splendid Clan had sent a representative.
Daiichi Ruby, a Umamusume who had enrolled at Tracen Academy this year.
Ruby's presence sent a clear message: the Splendid Clan was entering the Umamusume World. With more and more families joining the fray, the future landscape of racing was becoming increasingly unpredictable.
A cannon blast shattered the air, followed by a tidal wave of cheers.
A group of Umamusume strode into the arena, with Contrail and Almond Eye drawing the most attention. Contrail held her head high, chest puffed out, radiating an air of magnificent confidence.
She openly accepted the cheers and gazes, her posture screaming: Who else but me could conquer the world? A youthful spirit and a pride that radiated from her very bones.
Contrail's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for someone. The moment she spotted Kousei, her expression lit up with a special brilliance. Kousei raised her fan to her face and gave Contrail two gentle waves.
YES!!! Contrail struggled to contain her elation. Having her idol present was a massive boost to her morale.
This isn't just a race; it's a trial! After the Classic Triple Crown comes the Spring Triple Crown—I'll win them all! I'll earn Kousei-senpai's approval and inherit the mantle of the "King of the Arc de Triomphe."
And then... I'll soar onto the world stage!
Her resolve hardened, the blueprint for her future already drawn. The first step toward greatness began here.
I will become a legend!
With that thought, Contrail walked straight toward the starting gate, unable to wait any longer. Almond Eye had intended to greet her before the race but was completely ignored. She didn't dwell on it, simply assuming Contrail was fired up with fighting spirit. A satisfied smile touched her lips as she headed to her own gate.
The sound of the trumpet frayed the nerves of the Umamusume in the gates. Who would claim the throne as the number one racer of the new era?
This was supposed to be the most exciting race of the year, but reality proved to be completely different from expectations.
Contrail chose a completely different strategy than before, holding back in the middle of the pack. Almond Eye, on the other hand, took a forward position. After avoiding the initial clash at the front, Contrail's situation rapidly deteriorated.
The competition in the mid-pack was fierce. The other racers marked her relentlessly, and Contrail, overly excited, gradually lost her judgment in the struggle for position. Trapped in the chaotic field, she couldn't break free. The approaching finish line only fueled her anxiety, and she became lost in the turmoil, unable to escape.
In stark contrast, Almond Eye maintained a safe position throughout. With 200 meters to go, the track ahead of her was wide open. Accelerating without any pressure, Almond Eye fully demonstrated what it meant to be a genius.
A devastating final leg, a display of breathtaking talent.
Forging a bond with the turf through her strides, Almond Eye left all her rivals behind in the final straight. Contrail finally broke free through a gap in the scattered field and chased with all her might, but it was futile.
Against the Triple Crown Winner, Almond Eye achieved an overwhelming victory by an astonishing nine lengths. The entire stadium fell silent, the boisterous atmosphere from just minutes before completely gone.
Contrail had lost. She was utterly exhausted, the race having been a painful ordeal. Even more shocking was that she had lost to Almond Eye, a Tiara winner—a result the world found utterly incomprehensible.
Kousei's expression was grim, but she showed no surprise. Almond Eye is simply better, she had known this all along. The other Legends knew it too. But Contrail's performance had been a complete disaster—brutal, reckless, like a wild beast charging blindly. She hadn't looked like a Triple Crown Winner in the slightest.
Almond Eye, the victor, showed no joy on her face. She looked at Contrail with a mixture of confusion and concern. This wasn't the race she had wanted. There was no glory, no real competition—just a one-sided slaughter.
"I lost? My first step toward becoming a Legend? In front of Kousei-senpai?"
Contrail knelt on the ground, her head bowed so low that no one could see her expression. The jarring sensation of waking from a dream left her feeling hollow, as if her soul had been torn away.
Then, a shadow fell over her. Contrail looked up to see Almond Eye looking down at her.
They stared at each other in silence. Almond Eye's expression was complex. After a brief hesitation, she extended her hand. Contrail, unable to hide her despair, averted her gaze and took Almond Eye's hand.
Once on her feet, Contrail didn't exchange a single word. She fled toward the loser's tunnel, walking this path for the very first time. What emotions were swirling within her at that moment, no one could say.
Almond Eye remained behind to face the reporters. She answered their questions perfunctorily, the victory failing to soothe the longing in her heart.
A battle that should have been epic ended as a victory no one celebrated. Nothing unexpected had happened, yet it left a lump in everyone's throat.
News about the Osaka Cup was everywhere, with many media outlets sensationalizing the story. The public outcry flared up quickly and died down just as fast.
One loss didn't shake the public's faith in Contrail. People believed she had simply made a tactical error and would perform better next time.
In the rookie rankings, Contrail remained firmly at the top. The ripple caused by a single stone quickly subsided, and the lake's surface returned to calm.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
But while the public moved on, Contrail could not. She had been undefeated since her debut. The Osaka Cup loss had been humiliating, and worse, Kousei had been there to witness it.
The disconnect was so jarring that Contrail still couldn't believe it. Losing to Almond Eye's final leg had shown her the true extent of Almond Eye's strength. More than her shattered undefeated streak, Contrail now feared she might never be a match for her.
The more Excellent she became, the more keenly Contrail felt the gap between herself and Almond Eye. She didn't know how she could possibly win. This clear, crushing sense of powerlessness was the true source of her defeat.
"Where did it all go wrong? I followed Kousei-senpai's method exactly. I shouldn't have made a mistake..."
The chaotic chirping of cicadas mirrored the young girl's tangled heart...
The Osaka Cup didn't hold the public's attention for long. The Senior Grade races followed immediately, and while the rookies were eye-catching, they couldn't compete with the long-established stars.
The Academy's struggle against Kashimoto Riko was the main event. The Sakura Family remained undefeated, having not lost a single G1 race so far.
However, as the primary representatives of the resistance, Leo Durban and her allies couldn't sit out every race. It was unrealistic to expect the Sakura Legion to run every G1 throughout the year.
In the upcoming Takarazuka Memorial, Mejiro Palmer would finally have her chance to shine.