Chapter 308: Two Consecutive Races
In California Chrome's impression, a trainer capable of guiding someone like Kitasan Black—who had already won three G1 races in her classic year—would either be an experienced old man in his fifties or sixties, or a capable and sharp middle-aged person in their thirties or forties.
Trainers in their early twenties did exist, but they were extremely rare—one might only appear once in a long while.
And yet, the young man standing before her now… looked like he wasn't even twenty.
He had neat short hair, well-defined features, and sharp, lively eyes. Even though she wasn't very familiar with Eastern appearances, California Chrome still found Makoto not only handsome but also increasingly appealing the more she looked at him.
His posture was upright, his physique showed the strength and agility of long-term training, and his every movement carried the spirited energy unique to youth—almost like that of a teenager.
Yet within that youthful vigor, there was also a calmness that didn't quite match his age. His eyes, in particular, were clear and confident, with a hint of thoughtful depth.
Looking at this energetic face and his overall demeanor—so different from the composed and seasoned trainers she was used to—California Chrome found herself instantly intrigued by Makoto.
"Makoto… OK, got it."
She responded briefly to Almond Eye, then, smiling, stepped forward and extended her hand:
"Hello, Mr. Makoto. I'm California Chrome. It's a pleasure to meet such a capable trainer."
Makoto extended his hand as well. Hearing her words, he paused slightly, then naturally shook her hand and replied in fluent English:
"You're too kind, that's just a bit of reputation."
"I've long heard of your name, California Chrome. I didn't expect we'd meet here like this."
"Thank you very much for your suggestion. This is undoubtedly a rare learning opportunity for Kitasan Black."
After the handshake, California Chrome's lips curved slightly.
"Likewise. Being able to run a race with such a strong Umamusume like Miss Black—I'm sure I'll learn a lot as well."
"I've already done some basic warm-up, though it's not quite enough."
"Now that Miss Black has changed, and with you here, how about you take charge of the guidance? After we finish warming up, we can run a casual race?"
As she spoke, she looked toward Kitasan Black and smiled again:
"What do you think, Miss Black?"
Even though Makoto already had the impression that Americans were direct and straightforward, California Chrome's bluntness still surprised him for a moment—especially after getting used to the more reserved nature of Japanese people.
Meanwhile, Kitasan Black, though she couldn't fully understand the English, could tell from Makoto and California Chrome's expressions and gestures that the exchange had gone well.
Sensing the friendly atmosphere, and seeing California Chrome approach, she couldn't help but excitedly swing her arms. Looking back and forth between Makoto and Almond Eye, she urged impatiently:
"Well? Well? Are we all ready? Can we start running now? I feel like California also wants to start already!"
Seeing how eager she was, both Makoto and the approaching Almond Eye couldn't help but smile. Almond Eye quickly translated what had just been said, then looked toward Makoto.
After thinking for a moment and seeing how both Umamusume were brimming with anticipation, Makoto first confirmed the race track and distance with both Kitasan Black and California Chrome in English and Japanese.
Since her debut, all of Kitasan Black's races had been on turf, with distances gradually increasing—and she was particularly well-suited for long-distance races.
California Chrome, on the other hand, was different. American races were primarily held on dirt tracks. The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes—the three classic races—were all run on dirt, and most top-tier G1 races were as well.
In terms of distance, she was more adept at middle-distance races.
Taking these differences into account, Makoto proposed:
"We just arrived today, and aside from resting and adjusting to the time difference, we don't have any other plans."
"This is a good chance to run a bit—get tired, and then go to sleep early."
"So my idea is: we run two consecutive races."
"First race: a dirt track, 3000 meters—long distance."
"Second race: a turf track, 2000 meters—middle distance."
"In the first race, it's Ms. California's preferred surface, and Kita's preferred distance."
"In the second race, it's Kita's preferred surface, and Ms. California's preferred distance."
"Does that sound alright?"
"Oh, right."
After asking, Makoto looked at California Chrome again and added:
"Running two races in a row—even with a break in between, and even if it's just at the level of a practice race—will still consume a lot of stamina."
"Kita may not excel at everything, but her endurance is outstanding, so that won't be an issue for her."
"But what about you, Ms. California? There's no rush—we can do just one race today and leave the other for tomorrow or later."
Hearing this, Kitasan Black looked confused due to her limited English.
Almond Eye, on the other hand, nodded in full agreement.
She had known Kitasan Black for a long time, and over the past month or two they had started training together. She understood very clearly just how terrifying her senpai's endurance truly was.
Especially before the entrance exams, when the training intensity wasn't that high, it hadn't been so obvious.
But recently, as they transitioned into full training, she gradually realized the true extent of Kitasan Black's daily regimen.
In terms of workload, it wasn't just double that of a newcomer like herself—it exceeded that of other trainees of the same generation by nearly 30%.
As for performance, even watching that overwhelming workload made her feel tired, yet her senpai spent most of each day looking relaxed and even enjoying it.
Only near the end would she show real signs of fatigue. Then after a night's sleep, she would be completely refreshed and energetic again the next day.
With such terrifying endurance, let alone two practice races totaling 5000 meters—if one didn't consider the fatigue and injury risks from high-intensity competition, even running two G1 races back-to-back might not be a problem for Kita-senpai.
However, what surprised Almond Eye was that, upon hearing about this level of practice race, California Chrome simply smiled lightly, raised a finger, and shook it at Makoto.
At first, Almond Eye thought this meant she was refusing.
But then the blonde, blue-eyed Umamusume spoke in a half-playful, half-complaining tone:
"I was just starting to have a good impression of you, Mr. Makoto, but saying something like that… let me think, how do you put it in your language? Ah, right."
"That really damages my impression of you—it's quite rude."
"Mr. Makoto, I'm an Umamusume who has run through the American Classic Triple Crown. Don't underestimate me."
As soon as she finished speaking, she gave a confident smile, looked at Kitasan Black, winked—and then took the lead, running toward the track.
Kitasan Black froze for a moment, then quickly clenched her fists in excitement and followed after her.
Watching the backs of the two Umamusume, Almond Eye paused, then instinctively turned to her Trainer. Just as she was about to ask what was going on with California Chrome, she noticed the wry smile on his face.
"…What's wrong, trainer?" she asked, hesitating before changing her question.
"Uh, well… I guess I really did underestimate her," Makoto said awkwardly, scratching his head as he pointed toward California Chrome, who had begun jogging to warm up.
"Her endurance… honestly isn't inferior to Kitasan Black."
"Dirt racing itself requires greater strength and stamina. Any Umamusume who specializes in it naturally won't lack endurance."
"More importantly, the American Triple Crown—2000 meters, 1900 meters, and 2400 meters—three G1 races, all scheduled within five weeks."
"They have to complete all three within just over a month."