This debut race at Kyoto Racecourse garnered significantly more attention than Kitasan Black's debut race in Tokyo.
However, the audience's enthusiasm couldn't match that of Kitasan Black's previous debut race.
Last time, Kitasan Black dominated the race with a stunning performance, captivating the entire audience from start to finish.
In contrast, this time, in the "50,000-person popularity showdown" between Satono Diamond and Leukerbad, both highly popular Umamusumes performed rather modestly in the early stages, offering nothing particularly noteworthy.
Therefore, the audience's attention naturally shifted to the fiercely competitive Danon Alauda and Lord Lauder.
Their attention wasn't due to their superior speed or the gap in their early front-runner positions, but rather because Satono Diamond seemed to be disrupting the initial running pattern.
"Danon Alauda, in the lead, has already crossed the second corner and entered the flat straight."
"Lord Lauder remains close behind, about a length behind Danon Alauda."
"In third place is Satono Diamond, also less than two lengths behind Lord Lauder."
"Satono Diamond clearly doesn't seem to be aiming to be a front runner, but she's following the pace of the two front runners ahead of her."
"Behind Satono Diamond, in fourth place, is Pisco Sour, about four lengths behind Satono Diamond."
"This Umamusume is also using the front-running strategy."
The commentator's voice was filled with a hint of worry, the meaning of which was self-evident.
Front Runner Umamusumes can use the stamina they would save for a late-game sprint in the early stages. Their goal is to create a gap between themselves and the late running Umamusumes, disrupting their rhythm and wearing them down.
They don't need to overtake anyone, so after disrupting the rhythm of the late running Umamusumes, maintaining their advantage in the final stages is enough to secure victory.
However, an Umamusume who adopted a Chaser tactic clearly couldn't follow the pace of the Front Runner Umamusumes. In the mid-to-late stages, the chaser Umamusume needed further acceleration to overtake the Front Runners while simultaneously preventing the Umamusumes using the Late Surger Running and Closer techniques from overtaking her. She had to balance both.
Most of the people present agreed that Satono Diamond's rhythm was seriously off.
"No wonder she's from the Satono Clan, which has never had a G1 Umamusume. Using the chaser running method and getting her rhythm disrupted, it's really pathetic..."
Leukerbad, currently fourth from the bottom (seventh in total), looked at Satono Diamond, with her flowing, long, brown princess-style braids, closely following the two Front Runner Umamusumes, and couldn't help but find it amusing.
"Oh well, the Pace Runners are basically competing against the Umamusume who are already ahead. We behind them won't be affected much."
Leukerbad thought to herself, finally rounding the corner and entering the straight.
"The innermost track is really troublesome, not easy to overtake…" Leukerbad considered this and slowed down slightly.
"Leukerbad is now in eighth place, overtaken by Oba."
"Huh? How did Leukerbad get overtaken?"
Kitasan Black looked at Leukerbad, who had initially climbed to seventh but had dropped to eighth and was even on the verge of being overtaken by the Umamusume in ninth, with some confusion.
"Looks like she's planning to overtake at the next corner," Sakura Baimu answered Kitasan Black's question. "When overtaking at a corner, the innermost lane experiences greater centripetal force, making it more difficult."
"Leukerbad is slowing down now to wait until the end of this 600m straight, then accelerate on the outside at the third corner to overtake. That's a good idea," Sakura Baimu commented.
"I see," Kitasan Black nodded, feeling she had learned a lot.
"Speaking of which, it seems we don't have any Umamusumes on our team who use the Late Surger or End Closer running method." Mejiro McQueen remarked casually.
"Dia-chan could run as one of those, but her father has high expectations for her performance this time, so he doesn't recommend that she should fall behind."
Sakura Baimu then let out a long sigh.
"Speaking of which, I've invited an Umamusume who is adaptable to almost every running style to join the team many times, but I've always been turned down."
"Who is it? So amazing? Adaptable to all running styles?" Tokai Teio was also somewhat surprised, turning back to Sakura Baimu. "Could it be Maya?"
"Tamamo Cross. That's a true genius, on a completely different level from you two. That's a true Umamusume. Except for Front Runner, she's top-notch in all other running styles."
Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen: "..."
The two veteran runners were speechless for a moment before Tokai Teio slowly muttered.
"Trainer-san, Tamamo-senpai has retired..."
"She can come back after retiring; it's not like she can't run anymore."
Mejiro McQueen and Tokai Teio were speechless again, thinking that even if Tamamo-senpai were to make a comeback, why would she come to Sakura Baimu instead of her original trainer?
"Tamamo-senpai is…?" Kitasan Black asked.
"Ah, don't you know, Kita-chan? She's the one who's always with Oguri-senpai and the others—short, with gray hair, a long red and blue headband, and she speaks with a Kansai accent," Tokai Teio said.
"Ah! I've seen her before!" Kitasan Black suddenly remembered. "Dia-chan and I saw her at the entrance ceremony. She told us that our trainer is quite strange!"
"Agreed, agreed!" Smart Falcon nodded repeatedly.
"Of course. Your trainer harasses Tamamo-senpai the most," Mejiro McQueen spoke.
"Alright, alright, let's watch the race. Tamamo will be on our team sooner or later," Sakura Baimu urged, seeing her teammates huddled together gossiping about her.
"Lord Lauder is currently in first place and has entered the third corner."
Kyoto Racecourse is divided into an inner and outer track. The outer track is about 110 meters longer than the inner track. Mejiro McQueen's last race, the Tenno Sho (Spring), was on the outer track, while Satono Diamond's 2000m debut race is on the inner track.
"Leukerbad has fallen to last place, but she doesn't seem anxious at all."
"Accelerating! Leukerbad is accelerating! She's moved from the innermost track to the outermost track and is accelerating!"
Leukerbad, the most watched Umamusume in the race, has finally started to push.
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Just a side note: Tamamo Cross used the Front Runner running style in her debut race but lost speed on the straight and finished seventh. It seems she never ran as a Front Runner again after that. (No wonder her running style adaptability in the game is G.)