Chapter 53. Eclipse First, The Rest Nowhere 1
Tokai Teio was, of course, the last Uma Musume to enter the starting gate, but she had adjusted her condition before entering, so as soon as she stepped into the starting gate, she was ready to start.
Mejiro McQueen glanced at her good friend and also her biggest rival.
She didn't speak, because Mejiro McQueen knew that even if she did, Tokai Teio wouldn't respond now, and might not even bother to turn her head.
Not wanting to make a fool of herself, Mejiro McQueen also struck her starting pose.
"Teio and I can finally compete on the Twinkle Series stage."
Mejiro McQueen focused with a mix of joy and excitement.
"Click!"
When the sound of the starting gate opening uniformly reached the ears of the 15 Uma Musume.
"TAKARAZUKA KINEN, OFFICIALLY BEGINS!"
When the trackside commentator's voice rang out.
"GO!"
When the spectators in the stands shouted.
Tokai Teio took her first step in this race.
Mejiro McQueen's start was no less swift than Tokai Teio's.
Thanks to a slight advantage in her gate position, the young lady of the Mejiro Family even managed to get ahead of Tokai Teio after the start.
Tokai Teio didn't retaliate, but instead followed directly behind Mejiro McQueen, attempting to cut into the inner lane with her friend.
However, the commentator quickly noticed the difference between Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
"It seems Tokai Teio's intention to cut inside isn't as firm as Mejiro McQueen's. Mejiro McQueen has already moved up to fourth place, while Tokai Teio is now... in eleventh place, with many rivals separating the two Uma Musume."
"And as expected, Mejiro Palmer has taken the lead of the pack, starting to set the pace!"
If one were to look at the track, the first to be noticed would undoubtedly be Mejiro Palmer.
And just as Shuta An expected—
"Mejiro Palmer showed an acceleration to snatch a position at the start, but after securing the lead, she didn't intend to accelerate further, instead maintaining a cruising pace."
Considering that the first 300 meters after the start of the Hanshin 2200-meter track is a downhill section, Mejiro Palmer can be said to have barely expended any stamina apart from securing her position.
"A slow pace tactic to conserve stamina."
After politely declining Mejiro Ramonu's suggestion to watch the race from the Mejiro Family Box, Mejiro Dober held her lover's arm and softly articulated Mejiro Palmer's plan.
"Facing Mejiro McQueen and Teio, choosing such a conservative tactic is understandable."
Shuta An was not surprised by this at all.
Considering that the Hanshin Racecourse was listed as a good track today but was actually slightly heavy, possibly even reaching heavy track data, all of Mejiro Palmer's actions could be said to be within the young man's calculations.
Although he hadn't contacted Tokai Teio to inform her of the track changes today, Shuta An was confident that Tokai Teio, who had diligently studied with him, would know how other rivals would act under such track conditions.
"Staying in eleventh place, waiting for an opportunity, Teio has indeed remembered the tactics very well."
As Shuta An said this, he turned his head to look at Kurofune and Admire Vega:
"Kurofune and Ayabe, you two must learn this point, remember the tactics that might appear under different circumstances."
"It sounds very complicated."
Kurofune grumbled.
"No matter how complicated, it won't be more complicated than a rugby playbook."
Shuta An offered a comparison that Kurofune could easily understand.
"I heard a playbook can be one centimeter thick, and it has to be double-sided."
Kurofune stuck out her tongue,
"Luckily, the Twinkle Series doesn't have such a complex playbook."
"However, the Twinkle Series demands a high level of improvisation from the Uma Musume."
Shuta An flicked Kurofune's forehead,
"So when I explain tactics to you, even if they're not used in later races, don't just forget them; there will always be a time when they're useful."
"Understood."
Admire Vega finally spoke, her tone calm.
For her, memorizing all tactics, though difficult, was something she absolutely had to do.
"How could I possibly be lazy or give up?"
Admire Vega placed her hand on her chest, feeling her heart beat.
"I only stole the chance to live thanks to my sister's charity; I cannot do anything to disappoint my sister."
—
While Shuta An was coaching Kurofune and Admire Vega off the track, the entire pack completed the initial 525-meter super long straight.
Tokai Teio now moved up slightly, reaching eighth place.
Although this was a mid-pack position, considering that Mejiro Palmer's slow-paced leading tactic had been identified and the Uma Musume in front were all pressing forward, Tokai Teio, whose position improvement was not significant, was still in a relatively rear position overall.
"It seems Teio's positioning is in line with pre-race expectations."
Mejiro Dober looked at her Trainer.
"She'll accelerate slightly on the straight opposite the stands to catch up with Palmer, and accumulate leg strength, then once she enters the downhill section of the final bend, she can use the momentum to surge forward in one go."
"Mejiro McQueen should also have noticed Palmer's tactic; if nothing unexpected happens, she will accelerate forward almost simultaneously with Teio, attempting to overtake Mejiro Palmer."
Shuta An's voice barely pierced through the cheers from the stands, reaching Mejiro Dober's ears.
"If they accelerate at the same time..."
Mejiro Dober's pupils contracted.
Although she had no affection for the old folks of the Mejiro Family, deep down she still supported Mejiro McQueen by about forty percent, so upon hearing her lover's analysis, she immediately realized the problem.
In terms of explosive power, Teio completely surpassed Mejiro McQueen.
Mejiro McQueen would have to rely on her stamina advantage to accelerate earlier to win.
If the two Uma Musume accelerated at the same time, even if Mejiro McQueen currently led Teio by more than four lengths, Teio could completely nullify Mejiro McQueen's lead in an instant on the final straight.
And at that moment, Mejiro McQueen, wanting to battle Tokai Teio in the final sprint, would only taste bitterness.
—
On the other side of the spectator area, Nishizaki Ryu and Special Week, along with the other Uma Musume of Team Spica, also simulated what would happen if both accelerated simultaneously.
"Then McQueen has to accelerate even earlier." Gold Ship said. "Can she realize that?"
"She definitely can!" Vodka nodded vigorously. "I was her sparring partner during the pre-race training; McQueen-senpai started her acceleration earlier than I did, I think she realized this problem back then!"
Nishizaki Ryu remained silent.
The timing of Mejiro McQueen's acceleration during training was not something he had specified, so he wasn't sure if Mejiro McQueen had realized the issue.
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