Chapter 51. 1993 Yasuda Kinen
Standing in the media area, Shuta An swept his gaze across the reporters gathered before him and found himself feeling somewhat underwhelmed.
Although this Yasuda Kinen had unfolded in an unexpected manner, the overall pace had still remained within his predictions.
Aside from Mejiro Dober's victory, every major contender—including Daitaku Helios and Daiichi Ruby—had failed to finish within the top five.
It could be said that, apart from the surprising stretch in which Daitaku Helios chose not to take the lead, there had been very little in the race that truly unsettled him.
"No wonder I'm not particularly excited."
Shuta An quietly reflected to himself.
"The strongest rivals never really had the opportunity to demonstrate their full abilities."
"The rating for this Yasuda Kinen probably won't be especially high. Dober's performance might warrant a rating of around 116. After all, excluding Dober herself, the horses filling the top positions were all outsiders."
After gathering his thoughts, he turned his attention to the first reporter who stepped forward.
"Shuta Trainer, how do you feel after winning the Yasuda Kinen?"
Although Shuta An did not feel particularly emotional about the result, he naturally had no intention of saying so outright.
"I'm very happy. Although I've won many G1 races, this is my first Yasuda Kinen victory. Team Sadalsuud has won every race we targeted during the first half of the year. Personally, I'm satisfied with the results of my work so far."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"That also means I can enjoy a more relaxed summer break."
The second reporter quickly followed up with the question everyone wanted answered.
"Now that Miss Mejiro Dober has won the Yasuda Kinen, are you considering challenging the Mile Championship later this year and pursuing a spring-autumn Mile double similar to Taiki Shuttle's achievement?"
"I have no such plans."
Shuta An rejected the idea without hesitation.
"Mejiro Dober already has an overseas campaign scheduled for November, which conflicts with the Mile Championship. I'm not willing to ask her to tackle multiple high-intensity races within such a short period."
"Shuta Trainer, which overseas race are you targeting in November?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't disclose that information yet."
The young man had no intention of revealing those plans publicly.
After concluding the post-race interview, Shuta An left the media area.
In the underground passage, Mejiro Dober had also just finished her own interview and was waiting for him.
The moment he spotted her, he quickened his pace and wrapped her in an embrace.
"You worked hard today."
His voice was soft as he spoke near her ear. Mejiro Dober's ears folded downward.
"I won." She paused briefly. "What race comes next?"
"I haven't decided yet."
Shuta An did not conceal the truth.
"We'll discuss it later. For now, Dober can enjoy a proper rest."
Before he released her, Mejiro Dober looked up.
Gathering her courage, she gently kissed his cheek before whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear,
"I'm sorry."
"Hm?"
Shuta An blinked in confusion. Before he could ask what she meant, Mejiro Dober had already turned away and headed toward the lounge to change into her winning outfit.
Still bewildered, Shuta An eventually made his way to the grandstand.
Just as he arrived, several reporters were interviewing Daiichi Ruby. He paid little attention to the interview itself.
Given Daiichi Ruby's personality, he doubted the reporters would get much out of her.
Instead, his attention drifted toward Daitaku Helios and her Trainer.
Her Trainer looked completely helpless as he listened to Daitaku Helios speak.
Shuta An had become genuinely curious about what had happened before the race.
So he simply walked over.
"Trainer! Ruby-chan actually talked to me before the race! She said she wanted to have an exciting race together! She wanted to run somewhere she could always see me!"
"And she even nodded!"
"Tsk."
As Shuta An passed behind them, he clicked his tongue. For some reason, a line from a Hong Kong film he had watched with Silence Suzuka at a local theater several days earlier surfaced in his mind.
"That person looks pitiful."
Shaking away the inappropriate thought, Shuta An glanced at the back of Daitaku Helios's Trainer.
"Your Uma Musume has become this fixated. Shouldn't you be doing something about it?"
While he could not definitively say whether Daiichi Ruby's distant attitude toward Daitaku Helios was right or wrong, Shuta An sincerely believed that Daitaku Helios's current state required proper guidance from her Trainer.
"At the very least, she shouldn't be centering her entire world around Daiichi Ruby."
After roughly piecing together the reason Daitaku Helios had unexpectedly abandoned the lead, the final lingering doubts in Shuta An's mind faded away.
"So that's what it was." The young man shook his head. "There really are reasons you'd never expect."
—
After returning to Kurofune and the others, he turned toward the documentary director.
"Today is the final day. I hope we'll have another opportunity to work together in the future."
"Shuta Trainer, everyone, thank you for your hard work over the past six months."
The director bowed slightly.
"Once we finish filming the Winning Live, our work here will be complete."
"I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing the finished documentary."
This time, Shuta An meant every word. He truly hoped the documentary would show viewers how much effort popular Uma Musume—and their Trainers—invested behind the scenes, while also portraying their daily lives with sincerity.
As expected, the NHK documentary crew did not follow Shuta An to the celebration gathering afterward.
This time, the celebration was held at his own home rather than at a restaurant.
Since there had been little time to prepare, Shuta simply cooked several dishes using ingredients already stored in his refrigerator.
Even so, the Uma Musume were thoroughly satisfied.
"Trainer is surprisingly good at cooking."
Rice Shower spoke with genuine surprise.
Kurofune nodded in agreement.
"Why are you two acting surprised?" Shuta An pouted. "It's not as though you've never eaten here before."
"But wasn't Berno-senpai usually the one cooking back then?" Kurofune immediately shot back.
"Never mind."
Realizing he had no winning argument, Shuta An decisively changed the subject.
"Let's talk about the summer training camp instead."
First, he turned toward Rice Shower.
"The day after tomorrow, you and Dober will go to the hospital for a checkup. We'll confirm whether your full-scale development has officially begun. If it has, then this summer will be your opportunity to make your debut in the Twinkle Series."
"So I'll be debuting in Hokkaido, right?"
Rice Shower immediately understood.
"That's right. Compared to debuting in the heat of Honshu, the cooler climate of Hokkaido should suit you better."
"Okay!"
Rice Shower nodded firmly.
"I'll be ready!"
She understood perfectly well that this summer would not be a simple vacation. Yet deep down, she welcomed it wholeheartedly.
After all, every Uma Musume who entered Central Tracen Academy carried the dream of shining on the stage of the Twinkle Series.
And Rice Shower was no exception.
Taking advantage of the celebration gathering, Shuta An and the Uma Musume finalized the accommodations for their summer training camp.
The destination was Hoshino Tomamu Resort.
Located in Yufutsu District, Hokkaido, the resort sat roughly 150 kilometers from Sapporo. However, thanks to its convenient access to nearby rail transportation, traveling there would not be difficult.
"Team Rigil stayed there for their winter training camp before."
Tokai Teio's eyes immediately brightened.
"They said that if you visit during the summer, you can tour farms and even participate in honey-harvesting activities!"
"Regardless, Teio, you can't spend the entire holiday playing around."
Shuta An shook his head.
"The Kikuka Sho takes place in autumn. You need to start preparing well in advance."
"Of course I'm not going to ignore the Kikuka Sho!"
Tokai Teio puffed out her cheeks in protest.
"Don't treat me like a child. The Undefeated Triple Crown is a dream I've held onto for years, and now I'm only one step away."
She tightened her grip on her chopsticks.
"No one is going to stop me from reaching it. Not even my own doubts."
"The Undefeated Triple Crown, huh..."
Seated beside Shuta An, Mejiro Dober gently swung her legs while recalling the emotions she had experienced during the lead-up to the Shuka Sho.
"There's no way not to feel nervous. But once you win—"
She paused briefly.
"That feeling of happiness is something I didn't experience again until now."
Kurofune and Rice Shower remained silent. Neither had much to contribute to a discussion like this. Even so, the thoughts passing through their minds were completely different.
Rice Shower, who planned to challenge the Classic Triple Crown in the future, could not help wondering whether she would feel the same excitement as Tokai Teio if she one day achieved such a feat.
Kurofune's thoughts moved in another direction entirely.
She had long known that Shuta Trainer's expectations for her lay on the dirt circuit. As a result, while she certainly admired the prestige of the Classic Triple Crown, she rarely imagined herself pursuing it.
"My battlefield is on the dirt."
Watching the senior members of Team Sadalsuud shine on the stage of the Twinkle Series only strengthened her belief in Shuta An's judgment.
"Perhaps, Kurofune, you could become the Uma Musume who changes this country's perception of dirt racing."
—
In the Dream World, it was also Yasuda Kinen day.
Naturally, Shuta An had received a riding offer.
This time, however, the invitation came from outside Japan.
Two overseas horses were entered in this year's Yasuda Kinen.
One of them was Kitwood, owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and trained by the renowned French horseman André Fabre.
Shuta An had interacted with André Fabre in the real world before and held a favorable impression of him.
As a result, he accepted the riding request without much hesitation.
"I never expected Mr. Shuta to accept Kitwood's mount so readily."
André Fabre spoke with visible emotion.
"Originally, I intended to bring Charnie, one of the apprentices from my stable. Unfortunately, we recently had other horses requiring his services. So I had no choice but to look for a local jockey in Japan."
He smiled.
"I honestly didn't think I would be able to secure one of the top riders. Being able to invite Mr. Shuta is a pleasant surprise."
"The opportunity to work with a trainer of Mr. Fabre's caliber is a dream for any jockey."
Shuta An's reply came naturally.
At the same time, he genuinely regarded André Fabre as one of the world's elite trainers.
Even without considering his accomplishments in the Dream World, Fabre had already won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe twice and accumulated a remarkable number of G1 victories.
For any jockey, such achievements commanded respect.
"For this Yasuda Kinen, I'm entrusting all tactical decisions to Mr. Shuta."
Before the race, André Fabre made a promise.
"If Kitwood can finish in the top five, I have a gift prepared that I think you'll appreciate."
To be honest, Shuta An became quite curious.
With only three rides at Tokyo Racecourse that day, he easily won two races in the morning, finished lunch, and then spent much of the afternoon speculating about the mysterious gift.
Unfortunately, no matter how much he thought about it, he could not reach a conclusion.
"Forget it. If I get Kitwood into the top five, I'll find out soon enough."
The young man muttered to himself.
"Kitwood did win the Prix d'Ispahan before, even if that was last year. There should still be enough ability left there. Finishing in the top five is a realistic target."
Shuta An never seriously expected Kitwood to challenge for victory.
European horses often struggled to adapt to Japanese turf conditions, and Kitwood was already showing signs of decline.
Even if he rode perfectly, he doubted he could defeat the likes of Yamanin Zephyr, the second favorite, or Shinko Lovely, the third favorite.
As for Nishino Flower, the race favorite, Shuta An still considered her extremely talented based on her previous performances.
However, because of the unpleasant history involving her Horse Owner, he was determined to finish ahead of her if possible.
Kitwood drew gate three.
After seeing the barrier assignment, Shuta An decided to push forward early, secure a prominent position, and execute a front-running strategy.
Once the race began, however, Shibata Yoshitomi immediately accelerated aboard Yamanin Zephyr to follow Meiner JooB, who once again assumed the lead.
"Seriously?"
Shuta An cursed inwardly.
"Why is Meiner JooB always the one setting the pace?"
With no reason to hesitate, he urged Kitwood forward and tucked in behind Yamanin Zephyr.
"If I have to ride aggressively for the entire sixteen hundred meters, then so be it. With gate three, getting boxed in would be fatal."
After weighing the risks, Shuta An preferred doing the hard work himself.
"For André Fabre's gift, I'm giving this everything I've got."
Pushing strongly, he guided Kitwood into position directly behind Yamanin Zephyr.
In front of him were Kitwood's ears and neck, and beyond them, Yamanin Zephyr's hindquarters.
The sight unexpectedly reminded him of the real-world Yasuda Kinen earlier that day.
Realizing where his thoughts were drifting, he immediately shook his head.
"I shouldn't be thinking about that right now."
After entering the bend, he could feel that Kitwood's response remained excellent. As a result, he gradually shifted outward, preparing for the decisive run once they entered the final straight.
—
"What exactly is Shuta trying to do?"
Watching from the stands, André Fabre looked puzzled. In his view, Kitwood had no reason to prepare for a move this early.
"I'm not sure."
Standing beside him, Yoshida Katsumi also shook his head.
"But he must have a plan. I have complete faith in Shuta-kun's riding ability."
"So do I."
In André Fabre's eyes, Shuta An possessed riding talent that far exceeded anything Japan should reasonably have been able to produce. The only explanation he could find was natural genius.
"If you can't trust a talent like that, who can you trust?"
Yoshida Katsumi could only laugh awkwardly.
—
After turning into the final straight, Shibata Yoshitomi launched his attack.
As the defending champion, Yamanin Zephyr responded immediately.
His speed increased sharply, and he soon swept past the fading MeinerJooB.
Two lengths behind, Shuta An and Kitwood surged forward from Yamanin Zephyr's outside shoulder.
Although Kitwood had not yet entered a full sprint, Meiner JooB's deceleration was so severe that second place came naturally.
"COULD THIS BECOME A DIRECT SHOWDOWN?!"
The commentator's voice rose.
"COULD SHUTA AN AND KITWOOD CREATE HISTORY TOGETHER AS OVERSEAS CHALLENGER?!"
In reality, Kitwood still trailed Yamanin Zephyr by roughly one length. Yet Shuta An had no intention of accelerating prematurely.
The reason was simple.
Even if he overtook Yamanin Zephyr here, there were still four hundred meters remaining. After disrupting Kitwood's rhythm, could she withstand the pressure from the charging horses behind?
The answer was obvious.
No.
If Kitwood possessed that level of sustained speed, she would never have struggled in lower-level European races.
So Shuta An maintained the same pressure, preserving Kitwood's cruising rhythm and delaying the final acceleration.
Behind them, Sister Tosho, Shinko Lovely, Ikuno Dictus, and the rest were charging relentlessly.
The thunder of hooves echoed from behind.
Without even looking back, Shuta An estimated the nearest rival was about a length away.
"It's fortunate that Meiner JooB only ran the first six hundred meters in 34.9 seconds and the first thousand in 57.7."
Yoshida Katsumi murmured quietly.
"If this had been last year's pace, it would have been disastrous."
"That sort of pace is rare even in Europe."
André Fabre shook his head.
"This racecourse seems designed to maximize speed. Fortunately, Kitwood appears to be adapting very well. Now it all depends on whether she can hold off the challengers over these final three hundred meters."
Yoshida Katsumi watched intently.
Then André Fabre suddenly asked,
"By the way, is Mr. Shuta planning a European campaign this summer?"
"I believe there are plans being discussed," Yoshida Katsumi replied.
"Oh?" A satisfied smile appeared on André Fabre's face. "That's perfect."
His eyes returned to the final straight.
"Then perhaps my gift will arrive at exactly the right moment."
After reaching the uphill section, Shuta An finally drew the whip he had been gripping tightly.
First, he waved it beside Kitwood's head as a signal. Then he launched into a full windmill motion.
"IT'S THE FAMOUS WINDMILL WHIP!"
"SHUTA AN IS TRYING TO MAKE HISTORY WITH KITWOOD!"
"IT LOOKS AS THOUGH YAMANIN ZEPHYR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD HIM OFF!"
"NISHINO FLOWER IS ACCELERATING!"
"MATOBA JOCKEY IS URGING HER ON WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS, BUT NISHINO FLOWER ISN'T RESPONDING PARTICULARLY WELL!"
"SISTER TOSHO CAN'T CATCH THEM!"
"SHE'S BEEN OVERTAKEN BY IKUNO DICTUS!"
"KITWOOD IS STILL ACCELERATING! SHE HAS ALREADY DRAWN LEVEL WITH YAMANIN ZEPHYR!"
"THEY'RE SIDE BY SIDE!"
As the commentator's excitement intensified, André Fabre's own emotions became impossible to suppress.
"Go!"
"Go!"
"Go!"
Although entering Kitwood in the Yasuda Kinen had originally been Sheikh Mohammed's idea, André Fabre himself had gradually become invested.
And now, with victory seemingly within reach, his legs were trembling.
Shuta An was unaware of Fabre's excitement.
He was far too focused on his own. Before the race, he had already expected a strong performance from Kitwood.
Now, judging by the response beneath him, she still had more to give.
"What do you mean that finishing in the top five is enough? If we can win now, then we win."
His competitive spirit ignited completely.
Producing perhaps his most physically demanding ride of the year, he drove Kitwood forward with every ounce of strength he possessed.
"Keep going."
"Charge."
"Charge!"
"Charge!"
As the finish line approached, he leaned forward with everything he had, pressing down sharply on Kitwood's neck and extending her head to its absolute limit.
"IS IT YAMANIN ZEPHYR? OR IS IT KITWOOD?!"
"WHO GOT THERE FIRST?! HAS THE CHAMPION DEFENDED HER TITLE? OR HAVE THE OVERSEAS CHALLENGERS CLAIMED VICTORY?!"
Even the commentator could not tell.
"The photo sign is on!"
"We'll need to wait for the replay!"
Yet both Shuta An and Shibata Yoshitomi already knew the answer. At the wire, Kitwood had likely prevailed by the narrowest of margins.
"Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable!"
Upon returning to the underground passage, André Fabre immediately rushed forward and wrapped Shuta An in a tight embrace.
"Shuta, you are the best jockey in the world!"
"Mission accomplished."
The young man raised both hands with a grin.
"You could even say it exceeded expectations."
André Fabre released him, looked him directly in the eye, and spoke with complete seriousness.
"This summer, Shuta, you absolutely must come to Europe. I will prepare an outstanding group of horses for you. I will also arrange more than ten G1 riding opportunities."
He extended his hand.
"This is my gift to thank you."