Chapter 65. Opera House's Confidence
The interaction with Prince Charles was nothing special. His passion for the Twinkle Series paled in comparison to Elizabeth II's fervor. He came to watch the races more to appreciate the beauty of the Uma Musumes themselves.
Elizabeth II, however, possessed genuine Trainer qualifications. She could discuss race tactics eloquently; she even personally participated in the breeding of the Ascot Gold Cup-winning Uma Musume.
This placed her among the heads of state most knowledgeable and passionate about the Twinkle Series in any country.
Shuta An didn't care much about Prince Charles's main purpose for being there. He just wanted to focus on Tokai Teio's upcoming race.
Undoubtedly, the biggest favorite in this Epsom Derby was Tokai Teio herself.
The second favorite was Commander in Chief, who had won both the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby.
Opera House and White Muzzle followed closely behind.
But to be honest, Shuta An was quite confident about this race. After all, she had won it in the Dream World, and in the real world, Tokai Teio had already shown adaptability to Ascot Racecourse.
"Win this race beautifully, and then we can proudly step into the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe,"
Shuta thought to himself on his way back to the Box.
"As long as we win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, I'll be able to meet the president at the awards ceremony. Then I can ask him about my grandmother."
He clenched his fist.
"If possible, I want my grandmother to be moved into the Panthéon."
Of course, Shuta An knew this was unlikely.
After all, the Panthéon was originally the Sainte-Geneviève Church built by King Louis XV of France. After several transformations, it was now the most famous burial place for cultural figures in France. As an Uma Musume, Seabird had no connection to "cultural figures."
"If not, then move her to America."
The young man stopped and looked to the east.
"Sleeping in a place she dedicated her entire Twinkle Series career to, yet didn't receive the protection she deserved, would probably not be a happy thing for my grandmother."
—
Tokai Teio didn't know what the results of today's and the next race meant. But as an Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume, she knew she was rightfully supposed to win every race she entered.
"The Epsom Derby only has a few decades of history, but its position from its inception has been as the top mile and a half Twinkle Series in Britain and even Europe."
"Win this, then win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and then take the Japan Cup, and I can say I'm the strongest turf mile and a medium distance Uma Musume this year!"
Tokai Teio, sitting on the sofa and swinging her legs, muttered to herself.
And if she could achieve this, Tokai Teio felt she could completely catch up to Oguri Cap-senpai.
"However, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. First, I need to win this race, otherwise, my Trainer won't even register me for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe."
Reminding herself to focus on the present, Tokai Teio stood up and paced back and forth in the lounge.
"Sitting for too long makes me stiff; I need to move around a bit."
—
Meanwhile, Opera House wasn't watching the TV broadcast of the outside. Instead, she had projected Tokai Teio's Dubai Sheema Classic race video from this year.
"So strong."
Although she had watched it many times, Opera House always let out such an exclamation every time she finished watching.
Unlike other Uma Musumes, Opera House had watched the live broadcast of the race. Before the race, she hadn't favored Tokai Teio, but her Trainer, Stoute, had insisted on her chances. The race result proved Stoute correct.
But what left a deep impression on Opera House was, first, Tokai Teio's performance, and second, Stoute's subsequent advice to her.
"Tokai Teio is sure to challenge in Europe. You must observe her now as a worthy opponent. Perhaps at Ascot, at Swinley Bottom, at Epsom, she won't be your opponent, but Opera House, if you want to go to Longchamp, Tokai Teio is absolutely an enemy you and I must face."
Stoute had previously thought Tokai Teio couldn't adapt to Ascot, but Tokai Teio adapted in two days. When Opera House learned of this, she wasn't as startled as her Trainer.
"Isn't it normal for a genius who can pull so far ahead of the second-place finisher in Dubai to quickly adapt to the turf of Ascot Racecourse?"
In Opera House's eyes, nothing Tokai Teio did would be surprising.
"Next up is our first encounter."
She murmured to herself.
"My Trainer said you, Tokai Teio, would choose to be conservative this time, holding back for a late surge, but I always feel you'll do something unexpected."
She rubbed her eyes.
"But no matter what tactics you use, I must win this race. I refuse to let last year's crushing defeat be replayed at Ascot today."
"You must also be defeated by me; White Muzzle and the others won't do."
Opera House, as if singing an aria, tilted her head back and murmured to herself.
—
When the check-in process began, Tokai Teio was the first to leave the lounge. Half an hour before leaving, she had taken a shower in the lounge and changed into her winning uniform.
Although it was summer, the real-time temperature at Ascot Racecourse was only 15 degrees Celsius. As the breeze blew into the underground passage, Tokai Teio felt only refreshing coolness.
"This feels great, a million times more comfortable than Hanshin in summer."
She mumbled, flexing her wrists.
"At this ambient temperature, I can perform at 110% of my Takarazuka Kinen form."
This was spoken in Japanese, so no one around understood.
The Japanese Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume, after checking in, stood alone by the exit of the underground passage. She squinted as she watched the Ascot Racecourse staff briefly trim the turf and water it with equipment before the display segment began.
"Oh dear, oh dear, this is targeting Teio, isn't it?" Mejiro Dober frowned. "It's too obvious."
"This isn't targeting."
Shuta An shook his head.
"There are two or three Uma Musumes on the entry list who openly dislike heavy ground, but Tokai Teio is not among them. For Teio's adaptability to heavy ground, many consider it an unknown."
"What about Ann's take?"
Holding her lover's hand, Mejiro Dober turned her head and pressed.
Shuta An grinned.
"I'm preparing to register Teio for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, so what do you think I believe about her ability to run on heavy ground?"
Hearing this rhetorical question, Mejiro Dober instantly understood her lover's implication.
"Ann is too optimistic about Teio."
She mumbled softly.