Chapter 58. Teio Preparing to Get Serious
The next morning, Shuta An woke up feeling refreshed. Last night in the Dream World, he won 8 of the 11 races he rode, and the remaining 3 races he at least got third place, and the jockeys who ranked higher did not participate in the Takarazuka Kinen.
"Alas, if Ayrton Symboli had chosen to use Shuta An in the saddle, would it have been possible to defeat Biwa Hayahide!?"
After the twelfth race, the live commentator looked at Shuta An, who crossed the finish line first, and couldn't help but exclaim.
Shuta An felt nothing about such words. After all, there was no such 'if'.
Ayrton Symboli's Horse Owner and Trainer were not familiar with him, and had never invited him. Most importantly, Shuta An estimated that even if Ayrton Symboli's team sent an invitation, he probably would not have chosen to accept it after weighing his options at the time.
"After all, Ayrton Symboli seems to have average ability, and without precognition, I wouldn't have accepted the invitation."
Shuta An knew this in his heart.
—
After waking up, the young man simply washed up, then skillfully packed his luggage, pulled the suitcase to the first floor, threw it in the living room, and then began to prepare breakfast for himself and Mejiro Dober.
By the time Mejiro Dober came to the first floor with her suitcase, Shuta An had just finished making breakfast.
"Since we're going to England, I decided to try an English-style breakfast—toast with smoked bacon, and Ceylon black tea with butter-roasted potatoes."
The young man showed his results to his lover.
"Although I've experienced many British dishes, the ones Ann makes always look very appetizing."
Dober stared at the cross-cut potato wedges and responded.
"It's good if it makes Dober hungry." Shuta An sat down. "Let's eat!"
After devouring breakfast, Shuta An put the plates into the dishwasher.
"Berno and Oguri will be back tonight, so there's no need to worry."
Shuta An saw that Dober seemed to be worried about something, so he explained in advance.
"I see, is Suzuka-senpai not coming back yet?"
Mejiro Dober blinked.
"Suzuka is preparing for the Dream Trophy Series in Hokkaido, so she probably won't be back in Tokyo until at least the end of July."
Shuta An shrugged.
"Dream Cup..."
Mejiro Dober had another reason to prevent herself from participating in the Dream Trophy Series.
"I don't want to be separated from Ann for a long time."
The young man did not comment on Mejiro Dober's sentiment.
—
First, he went to Central Tracen Academy to pick up Tokai Teio, then called Kitahara and asked him to pick up his car from the airport in the afternoon.
After all this, Shuta An drove to the airport.
"The Epsom Derby I'm challenging this time, its history is so glorious!"
Tokai Teio, sitting in the back seat, exclaimed while holding her phone.
"Alcide, the Triple Crown Uma Musume Nijinsky, Mill Reef with 12 wins in 14 starts, Dahlia with nine G1 wins, the unfortunate Shergar who was kidnapped and disappeared, the terrifyingly fast Dancing Brave, the undefeated Two-Crown Uma Musume Nashwan with four consecutive G1 wins—"
Tokai Teio read to this point, then looked up at her Trainer's back.
"If I can win the Epsom Derby, I can put my name alongside these brilliant stars!"
"Yes, so after we've rested, Teio, we must redouble our efforts. The Takarazuka Kinen is in the past; the opponents we face this time are not simple."
Shuta An replied while driving.
Mejiro Dober continued for her lover.
"I'll list the opponents Teio might face, all of whom have declared their participation in this year's Epsom Derby."
"They are Opera House, who just won the G1 Coronation Cup; White Muzzle, this year's Italian Derby Uma Musume; Commander in Chief, this year's English and Irish Derby Uma Musume, and currently seems to be the biggest opponent; User Friendly, who had four consecutive G1 wins last year and was second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, also a strong rival."
(Fyi, Opera House achievement is true, White Muzzle also true. But both of them and User Friendly aren't participating in Epsom Derby)
"The remaining few are basically just making up the numbers. Dober has already mentioned all the opponents you need to watch out for, Teio."
Only then did Shuta An speak.
"I will defeat them all!"
Tokai Teio clenched her fist.
"It's a pity I couldn't compete against last year's winning Uma Musume. She won the Irish Derby by 12 lengths over the second-place finisher, and also beat Opera House by seven and a half lengths—"
The Undefeated Triple Crown suddenly became interested.
"Should I try to pull away from Opera House by even more lengths?"
"If you have the room, you can try." Shuta An took over the conversation. "Just don't get injured, because if we can win the Epsom Derby, there's no reason not to go for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."
"Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe—a race El Condor Pasa-senpai didn't win, everyone has been paying close attention to this race in recent years."
Tokai Teio excitedly searched for the history of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"If I can win it—"
Shuta An pursed his lips. Since he was driving, he couldn't get distracted, so he didn't continue speaking.
"Teio can definitely win."
Dober, however, knew that her lover and the French URA Association had a slight dissatisfaction.
Tokai Teio keenly sensed the change in her Trainer's mood.
"Is there something that Trainer can only do if I win?"
With her excellent intuition, Tokai Teio was very close to the truth.
"Then I have another reason why I must win the Epsom Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe!"
Teio put her phone in her pocket.
"For myself, for Trainer, Teio will be serious in Europe!"
—
At the England URA Association across the ocean, Tokai Teio's and Miss Mejiro Dober's respective entry forms had already arrived in their mailboxes weeks ago, but were only discovered by the staff today.
"I thought Trainer Shuta was joking. Does he really dare to let Tokai Teio challenge Ascot? He doesn't think Tokai Teio's strength can catch up to Oguri Cap in the Dream Cup, does he??"
An official complained.
"What if she succeeds?" someone asked.
"Impossible! If Tokai Teio wins, I... I'll kneel to Trainer Shuta according to the Eastern understanding!"
—
At 3:40 PM London local time, Shuta An landed at Heathrow Airport on schedule with Tokai Teio and Mejiro Dober.
The hotel he booked this time was called Royal Berkshire, located 2 kilometers from Ascot Racecourse. A major advantage of this hotel was that it offered a variety of cuisines for guests to enjoy.
"I really can't try British food anymore."
Shuta An complained.
Mejiro Dober nodded in agreement; two years of "painful" experience in Yorkshire made her strongly agree with her lover's opinion.
"I'm quite curious." Tokai Teio pouted. "I'll try it later when I go out for a stroll."
"If you want to leave yourself with some good memories, I suggest Teio you don't try it."
Shuta An kindly reminded her.
But Tokai Teio would not back down in this regard just because of one or two words from her Trainer.
"I will definitely find highly-rated restaurants to try!"
However, she also gave her assurance.
"It's hard for me to imagine what normal-level food a restaurant highly rated by the British's strange palate could produce."
Shuta An secretly grumbled.
—
It must be said that British reporters are really fast. After checking in, Shuta An returned to his room for a shower, then prepared to go downstairs for a walk. As soon as he stepped out and walked a few steps, he was stopped by British reporters—
"Trainer Shuta, what is the purpose of entering the Sadalsuud team's Uma Musumes in the Epsom Derby and the Nassau Stakes this time?"
"Miss Mejiro Dober, why didn't you enter the Yorkshire Oaks this time? If you had won, it would have been an unprecedented and difficult-to-repeat three consecutive victories!"
"Tokai Teio, as this is her first European expedition, will she be able to adapt to the local track?"
The reporters all asked the questions they wanted to know.
But Shuta An just snorted, not responding to anything.
"You should know my habits." he said after the chattering reporters quieted down. "This is not interview time, and I just arrived in England and plan to take a walk and see Ascot Racecourse, so I will not answer your questions."
After saying that, he stepped out of the reporters' encirclement, then turned his head.
"Of course, you can try to chase and question me. I reserve the right to refuse all future reports from your respective media outlets."
At this point, the reporters who came to block Shuta An today remembered something—
Shuta An extremely disliked media that disturbed his private life, and this guy had blacklisted a large number of his peers in Japan; even in America, there were unlucky ones who were permanently denied interviews by him.
But there were always some unconvinced reporters.
"Japan is his territory, so it's normal for him to have absolute power. In America, he's favored by the Secretariat, so it's understandable that he can blacklist a few reporters. But what power does he have here in England?"
"A friendly reminder, he knows Miesque."
An older reporter kindly reminded his juniors.
So everyone shut up.
Although Miesque was not a Uma Musume born in England, as a historic Uma Musume with the British 1000 Guineas and many victory in her honors, it would be quite easy for her to say a few words and cause trouble for reporters who were already in the wrong.
"Don't even think about secretly taking pictures." another reporter complained. "I checked, and the rooms booked by the two overseas Uma Musumes are all on the inside, so it's impossible to photograph them from the outside. As for sneaking in—if you're willing to endure that guy's methods, go ahead and try. I still want to keep my job."
"Only those tasteless guys from The Sun would do something like that; we don't do such things."
The other reporters unanimously expressed their disdain for The Sun.
—
Shuta An simply walked around Ascot Racecourse and came to a conclusion—
"It hasn't changed at all compared to the last time I was here."
If there was any change, it was that the surrounding facilities had become a bit older. Shuta An didn't go inside the Racecourse because it wasn't open, but he had explored all other areas.
"Ann, how do you feel about Ascot?"
Mejiro Dober asked softly, sitting beside him after he returned.
"Nothing, it's the same as before."
Shuta An said, then pinched Mejiro Dober's cheek.
"The Nassau Stakes that Dober will participate in is exactly one week later than the Epsom Derby, so your training intensity and Teio's schedule are staggered by one week. So, Dober, please help Teio with some intense training in the beginning."
"But isn't it still almost a month until training starts?"
Mejiro Dober leaned next to her lover, pouting.
"Reminding me of this now, is Ann worried about something?"
"Not at all." Shuta An pecked her lips. "I just mentioned it casually. For the next three weeks, you two should rest well."
"You too, Ann. There's still a long time until the Epsom Derby and the Nassau Stakes. Any information gathered now will be very outdated by then, so when we rest, Ann, don't go looking for work to do."
Mejiro Dober paused here.
"Unless it's work from the Academy that you can't put down."
"That's right. I let Rice and the others do as they please, but putting aside Rice Shower, who is preparing for the Kikuka Sho, I guess Ayabe will probably train with them too."
"Admire Vega?"
Mejiro Dober's mind conjured an image of her junior. She agreed with her lover's guess.
"She really might dare to do something like that. I can feel something chasing her, forcing her to constantly strive but I can't quite tell what is chasing her. And why she pushes herself so hard. If she hadn't joined the Sadalsuud team, I think Admire Vega would eventually break down from having her mental string pulled too tight."
"Don't make it sound like some kind of psychologist." Shuta An pouted. "I have some guesses about Ayabe's condition, but I'll have to wait until she enters the Twinkle Series before I can confirm and try to resolve it. Right now, she's still—"
Before he could finish, Mejiro Dober reached out and pressed her index finger against her lover's lips.
"Ann, don't keep talking about other Uma Musume when you're with me."
Noticing Mejiro Dober's somewhat annoyed expression, Shuta An provocatively poked her fingertip with the tip of his tongue.
"It's a good thing I booked three single rooms this time. Dober, come to my room tonight."
He whispered.
Mejiro Dober, her cheeks burning red, gave a soft, mosquito-like "Mm." indicating her agreement.