"Then I'm going to Great Escape!"
As the petite, dark-haired girl—Sunday Silence, once so exceptional she was dubbed the "Noble Prince"—lifted her pale, slender neck, her gaze fixed intently ahead.
This was her chance!
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Just like that era's top-ranked Pegasus Platinum, [Margaret Nearl] had always been exceptionally skilled—no, uniquely dominant—in one style: the Great Escape.
That Silver Pegasus would sometimes break poorly and switch to a closing style, leaving her with a coin toss between a "Great Escape" and a "Great Chase."
But Nearl was different. From her debut all the way to her stunning victory in the Kentucky Derby, the Radiant Knight had fought numerous battles and won several major stakes races. In nearly ten victories, each and every one was a dominant, Great Escape performance!
And now, starting from a wide post position, Nearl—who could have easily employed her signature, expertly honed runaway style—was positioned just within the edge of Sunday Silence's field of vision?
'Is this… a normal [front-running] tactic?'
'To think that Margaret Nearl, that monster, could actually master other running styles!'
Realizing this, the petite dark-haired girl felt no joy.
In her view, an Uma Musume with top-tier physicality and no visible weaknesses, who voluntarily changed her tactics when she had other options…
Clearly, Nearl believed that switching to another style wouldn't significantly weaken her compared to her Great Escape approach. She couldn't be underestimated.
Without a doubt, this wasn't a conservative closing style or a mid-pack stalker's tactic.
If this were turf racing—whether in Japan or Europe—the [stalker tactic], holding position just behind the front-runners, would be the undisputed classic strategy.
On turf, conserving stamina was key. Front-runners were often caught, closers risked falling too far behind, so the mid-pack positions were the safe, proven path to victory.
But on dirt, the classic strategy shifted somewhat.
On dirt, the dominant approaches were front-running and pressing the pace!
Of course, Great Escape tactics like those used by Nearl and Platinum were anything but conventional—they were extreme, high-risk versions of front-running.
But now, things were different. Nearl's sudden change in tactics had caught Sunday Silence off guard.
A fixed, one-dimensional running style allowed opponents like Sunday Silence to prepare specifically for that lone, formidable threat.
But when a [race favorite] and [classic race winner] switched styles, that alone was enough to shock every other Uma Musume on the track, enough to make them break out in a cold sweat!
'I'm already faster than usual, even slightly ahead of the other front-runners…'
'I planned to stick close behind Nearl when she made her move, not letting her build too big a lead.'
'But who would have thought she'd actually practiced other running styles besides the Great Escape?'
This was something Sunday Silence had never anticipated, but… she wasn't about to back down!
When it came to experience, Sunday Silence still had confidence.
She admitted that in terms of raw talent and ceiling, she might be slightly inferior to Nearl.
But right now, at this moment, having trained through racing and pushed herself toward her peak early, she still had a chance to surpass the Radiant Knight!
'I refuse to believe that in such a short time, while improving her physique through race training, Nearl also had the energy to hone other running styles.'
'Having debuted months later than me, she simply doesn't have as much time.'
Moreover, the difference between conventional front-running and pace-pressing wasn't all that significant.
The similarity in timing and style, combined with her own experience, gave Sunday Silence confidence.
This wasn't blind overconfidence—it was a reasonable judgment based on common sense.
Her opportunity was here and now, and she had to seize it no matter what!
Otherwise, she didn't deserve to win!
"I don't need to worry about the other horse girls!"
"With Easy Goer injured, the only one I need to watch is Nearl!"
"The others don't matter at all!"
Focusing solely on [Margaret Nearl] and ignoring every other opponent, every potential dark horse, wasn't carelessness—she didn't believe this would leave her vulnerable to an upset.
The Radiant Knight's strength was beyond question.
In her classic season, Nearl had already made a name for herself on dirt with a Kentucky Derby win, hailed as the future [Big Red Challenger] and [Secretariat's Rival].
Any horse girl who treated her like an ordinary classic winner was in for a painful defeat.
On this ever-changing track, facing such an overwhelmingly powerful monster, every opportunity was precious and fleeting. In Sunday Silence's view, she had to seize this chance with everything she had—otherwise, beating Nearl would be incredibly difficult.
Get ahead early, build a lead, and while Nearl was still adjusting to her new style, save enough for a final burst down the homestretch to face Nearl head-on when she closed in! That was the plan she immediately formulated.
Step one: take the lead and set the pace.
Step two: push until Nearl was out of sight, building a lead of four or five lengths before the homestretch.
Step three: confront her directly in the final stretch…
Step one was already done!
Next, all she had to do was shake off Nearl!
The petite, dark-haired girl—as elegant and refined as a noble prince, yet as explosively powerful as a wild beast—began flying across the well-maintained dirt track!
And yet, that dazzling golden figure was still close behind, sticking with her.
It was Sunday Silence leading the way, a scenario few spectators had anticipated, unfolding right from the start!
Just moments later!
"Huh?"
"She's coming for me?"
The Uma Musume in second place was a conventional front-runner.
She had already prepared herself to hold second, mentally steady even if Nearl built a huge lead.
But that was under one condition—if it was Nearl passing her.
Yet now, it wasn't Nearl overtaking her—it was Sunday Silence?!
Not only that, but right beside her was a Golden Knight in a white trench coat racing outfit!
This wasn't a Great Escape, yet she was already alongside a conventional front-runner!
And she was about to pass her!
"What kind of insane pace is this?!"
This strange, aggressive rhythm put immense pressure on her.
She couldn't understand why Sunday Silence was so fast. And why Nearl, who seemed to have switched styles, wasn't satisfied with just pulling alongside—she seemed determined to chase after Sunday Silence?
As for her second place…
In the next second, she went from running alongside Nearl to being overtaken by the Radiant Knight!
Before even the first turn, Nearl—who wasn't even employing her runaway tactic—had surpassed the conventional front-runner!
But no one knew if it was a coincidence. That dazzling golden figure remained just within Sunday Silence's field of vision.
Sunday Silence, who had long since ignored every opponent except Nearl, was now leading the pack. Her breathing grew slightly labored, her already quickening footsteps speeding up even further.
'Almost there, almost…'
'I'm about to shake her off—she's just a front-runner now!'
The rhythm of the race was no longer in the front-runner's control.
Nor was it in the hands of Sunday Silence, who had taken the lead.
Instead, it rested in the grasp of Nearl—who, for the first time, had changed her strategy and was effortlessly dictating the entire flow of the race!
--+--
In the stands.
Countless spectators watched the unexpected developments after the break with disbelief.
"Eh? The Radiant Knight… isn't Great Escaping?"
"I always thought Nearl was just a pure stats monster, relying solely on stamina and speed without any tactical nuance. Is she finally showing another running style?"
"Could it be that no other Uma Musume ever pressured her enough, so she just used the simplest, most brainless runaway style?"
"Impossible, completely impossible! The ones Nearl defeated before were [Holy Bull], [Sunday Silence], and [Easy Goer]! In any normal classic generation, wouldn't each of them be strong contenders for two, even three crowns?"
"How could that be? Let's not even mention the third-generation Big Red who suffered that humiliating defeat. Even Secretariat and Man o' War probably couldn't dominate using an unfamiliar running style, right?"
"Right. Even Secretariat wouldn't have felt zero pressure against Sunday Silence or Holy Bull, just running on autopilot, would she?"
The discussion about Nearl's change in tactics became a hot topic among the tens of thousands of spectators.
Though Sunday Silence had also switched strategies, taking the lead upfront, hardly anyone mentioned it.
What many spectators didn't know was…
That very same third-generation Big Red who had suffered a "humiliating defeat" was also among them.
The elegant red-haired girl, her leg wrapped in bandages, was watching the race as a spectator.
Her gaze was locked intently on the two figures at the front of the dirt track.
Nothing else held any interest for her.
She was Easy Goer! A horse girl who would have been the favorite in almost any Triple Crown race.
"Even though I can't compete, I couldn't miss this."
"My two biggest rivals are really giving me a [surprise]."
Easy Goer never imagined the scene at the front would be so different from what she expected.
Now, from her observer's perspective, she aimed to gauge the current form of Nearl and Sunday Silence after their classic G1 race.
After all, the previous Kentucky Derby had been exceptionally unique—a [heavy track] rarely seen in history.
Both Sunday Silence and Nearl excelled in bad conditions, but they were also strong on fast tracks, not just one-dimensional mud specialists.
Due to her leg injury—and on the advice of that handsome, excellent young doctor—Easy Goer had to skip one of the remaining Triple Crown races, reluctantly choosing to sit this one out.
Sometimes, the pressure of sitting out felt even greater than racing.
At least now, Easy Goer was watching the front of the pack in a cold sweat, determined not to miss a single detail.
"I have to win the next one, the Belmont Stakes."
"If I don't… I might not even keep my title as the [third-generation Big Red]."
Muttering to herself, the red-haired girl clenched her silver teeth.
Yes, she was already facing doubts.
In the Kentucky Derby, as the top favorite, she had suffered a crushing defeat—not just failing to place or show, but finishing several lengths behind Sunday Silence.
In the second leg, the Preakness Stakes, Easy Goer remained highly popular, the second favorite behind Nearl, and one of the top contenders.
But she withdrew due to injury, allowing Sunday Silence to move up as the second favorite.
Even if she won the Belmont Stakes, she could only claim one of the three crowns!
The previous Big Red monster had swept the Triple Crown the year before.
The first-generation Big Red, Man o' War, never lost a Triple Crown race, though due to era constraints, like many Uma Musume, she didn't compete in all three, still securing two crowns.
Now, as the third generation, with most of the Triple Crown already over, she hadn't won a single crown!
"Only by winning the Belmont Stakes can I live up to my name as the [third-generation Big Red]!"
"I need to carefully observe how the Radiant Knight and Sunday Silence perform on a fast track, and see if they have any weaknesses I can exploit."
"But I never expected… I never thought Sunday Silence would be the one in front?"
"Then again, there were signs before, but her presence… really wasn't that noticeable."
Easy Goer watched the petite dark-haired figure at the front, slightly surprised but quickly rationalizing it.
Though Sunday Silence had also changed tactics, it was different from Nearl's situation.
She had debuted earlier than Nearl and had also fought many battles, using [racing as training]—which led to injuries but also rapid improvement.
Learning other running styles to become more versatile was something Sunday Silence had considered long ago.
But Nearl was different. That Golden Pegasus, while also battle-hardened, always employed the Great Escape—an extreme tactic that took a toll on the body.
The difference between pace-pressing and conventional front-running was relatively small.
Similarly, the difference between mid-pack stalking and closing was also minor.
With similar distances and rhythms, plus Sunday Silence having ample time to adapt, it was natural she could switch confidently.
In contrast, Margaret Nearl switching from Great Escaping to pace-pressing… that was a much bigger difference.
One was an all-out, unrestrained display of power, maximizing the lead before the homestretch.
The other was a tactical, front-position strategy, following the front-runner and timing the acceleration, requiring precise positioning and timing.
"If she can win even after switching to a completely different style…"
"Then the Radiant Knight is truly terrifying—she might become an even bigger threat than I imagined in the Belmont Stakes!"
Sweating coldly, fearing the loss of her "third-generation Big Red" title, the red-haired maiden stared intently at the shining golden figure in second place, ignoring all others.
Sunday Silence, do something, Sunday Silence!
--+--
But the next moment.
After that dark figure overtook the other front-runner, the Radiant Knight followed closely and also passed her.
In an instant, the original top three were reduced to two.
At the front, Sunday Silence continued to accelerate, as if pushing beyond the limits of conventional front-running.
This wasn't her intention—it was more like something monstrous was closing in from behind, pressuring her into speeding up.
Her newly practiced running style wasn't yet seamless, and now even her rhythm was being disrupted?
Realizing something, Easy Goer's pupils contracted sharply.
'This… this isn't pace-pressing!'
'It's beyond any conventional running style—it's more like… a hunter driving, or more accurately, [hunting] prey that can only accelerate!'
After the first turn!
The petite dark-haired figure led the pack from the front.
But for some reason, even though things were going better than expected…
She was holding the lead, with Nearl just at the edge of her vision, seemingly on the verge of being left behind if she accelerated just a bit more.
Yet, an intense, uneasy feeling grew in Sunday Silence's heart.
Her stamina was draining, her breathing growing ragged—her body's reactions were telling her something was wrong.
'No, this isn't right! The pace is too fast?!'
'Where's the other front-runner? I can't see her anymore!'
'My original plan was to be slightly faster than the front-runners, but not to the extent of a [Great Escape] tactic?!'
Sweating profusely, the dark monster felt as though… a ghost, the ghost of Margaret Nearl, was haunting the track!
The rhythm of the race was being stolen by Nearl!
--+--
In second place!
The Golden Maiden wore a relaxed, cheerful smile, calculating the distance.
She could still hear the spectators' initial shock.
For example…
[Nearl, what are you doing? Without your Great Escape, how will you compete with Sunday Silence?]
But now—
"Simple, I'll just press the pace, won't I?"
A Great Escape is still a front-running tactic!
Nearl considered this slightly tempered version of her usual style as [pace-pressing]!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
There should be... around 70+ advanced chapters?
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.