"Dokkan… Turbo!"
Turbo surged in the race's final stretch, erasing her Hopeful Stakes flop with blistering speed. Despite leading throughout, her erratic bursts—early, mid-race, and now the final straight—unleashed her true top gear. Pure Dokkan Turbo.
"Turbo Engine's in top form! Twin Turbo redeems Hopeful Stakes with a Kisaragi Sho win—8 lengths ahead!"
"Take that, Teio! Your lifelong rival, true Turbo, ships out!" Turbo shouted.
"Shipping what?" Rampage muttered.
"Bit off, but so Turbo," Ikuno said.
"Should we let that slide?" Rampage sighed.
As Turbo's substitute trainers for Kisaragi Sho, Rampage and Ikuno praised her win but cringed at her post-race antics.
"We'd like to hear from Canopus's Mejiro Rampage. You and Ikuno Dictus are here, but where's Minamisaka?" a reporter asked.
"Minami-chan's in Tokyo for Nature's race. We're pinch-hitting," Rampage explained.
"Any questions, we'll answer," Ikuno added.
Kisaragi Sho and Kyodo Tsushin Hai were same-day races. Minamisaka couldn't split between Kyoto and Tokyo, so he sent trusted Canopus seniors as proxies.
"The Director's secretary as a substitute trainer?" the reporter marveled.
"My schedule was free. These two would've managed fine," Takanotsume said.
Her gaze landed on Rampage hoisting Turbo on her shoulders, Turbo flashing a peace sign, Ikuno smiling warmly—a family-like trio. Then—
"Minami-chan's call. Yo, Turbo won clean. Your Dokkan Turbo plan worked," Rampage said.
"Good. Nature won by 5 lengths," Minamisaka reported.
"Nice. My turn next," Rampage said.
With teammates winning, Rampage steeled herself. February Stakes, a G1 dirt race, was a week away.
February's fickle weather swung from warm to bitter cold. At Tokyo Racecourse, Uma Musume shivered in the 1°C chill, warming up diligently despite gusts.
"Tokyo Racecourse presents the G1 dirt race, February Stakes! Despite the cold, the heat's on with 140,000+ fans—rivaling Japan Derby turnout!"
"Achoo!" Amazing Dyna sneezed loudly.
No surprise—February Stakes, a main event, started in the afternoon, yet the cold lingered. Uma Musume in revealing win costumes felt it most, especially Dyna in her sporty, minimal outfit.
"Warmed up thoroughly, but still…" Dyna shivered.
Rampage offered her long coat. "Wear this?"
"That's your coat!" Dyna yelped, retracting her hand.
Rampage's exposed figure—usually hidden by her coat—drew a stare. Dyna hurriedly made her put it back on.
"Wear it! I chose this outfit!" Dyna insisted.
"That's gotta be freezing. I'm cold just looking," Rampage said.
Her long-sleeve, long-pant, coat-clad style shielded her, but Dyna looked like a kid in shorts in winter.
"Every race, I wonder—aren't you cold?" Rampage asked.
"With proper warm-up, I'm fine. Win costumes boost us, enhance warm-up effects, and keep us warm. It's cold, but running heats me up!" Dyna said.
"We're weird creatures," Rampage mused.
Win costumes transformed them—truly strange.
"Anyway, I'm here to settle Tokai Stakes. I won't lose in this outfit!" Dyna declared.
"Big talk. This coat's fought the world. I'm not going down easy," Rampage grinned.
They shook hands, thrilled to clash again. Then, second-favorite Lady Saber approached.
"Lady Saber. Racing you in a G1 is an honor," she said.
"Likewise," Rampage replied.
"We're all grateful to you," Saber said.
"Grateful?" Rampage asked.
Saber glanced at the 140,000-strong crowd. Dyna and Saber were moved.
"This many for a dirt race… Other races too, thanks to you. Fans see dirt's charm now," Saber said.
"Dirt's got unique appeal. A G1 with this crowd? We're thrilled!" Dyna added.
Even turf G1s rarely drew 100,000. This rivaled or surpassed the Derby. Racing here was pure joy, and they credited Rampage.
"To repay this, we'll hit you with everything! We know you're all-in, but we've got dirt pride and dreams. We won't lose!" Saber vowed.
"Love that fire. I'm the challenger here, taking on all of you in February Stakes!" Rampage roared.
"Bring it!" they echoed.
"Gate-in soon! All eyes on top favorite Mejiro Rampage! A win means seven G1s and the first turf-dirt G1 sweep in history! Can Dust Knight Lady Saber or vengeful Sand Express Amazing Dyna stop her?!"
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