A Great Escape is Still a Runaway!
So, if she was going slower than her signature, habitual Great Escape pace, yet still faster than Sunday Silence's first attempt at leading, then in theory, shouldn't this be considered what's called [front-running] or [stalker] tactics?
In the eyes of the Golden Maiden Knight, she was simply experimenting with a new running style!
Except, her approach, while seemingly following closely behind the front-running Sunday Silence, appeared to be sticking a bit too close for comfort.
So much so… that it even put pressure on Sunday Silence ahead of Nearl, causing her to push the pace faster than anticipated!
But all of this was part of Nearl's plan!
Precisely because the Radiant Knight had decided to try a new style and had discerned Sunday Silence's intentions, she adopted this strategy of [gradually increasing the pace], guiding the rhythm of the race.
Typically, it's the leading Uma Musume who sets the pace for the entire field. Yet Nearl, who for the first time chose not to employ her Great Escape, was somehow "reversing the natural order"! Even without leading, she exerted immense influence over the rhythm of the entire race.
'Finally realized it, have you?'
The golden-haired maiden knight's orange eyes fixed ahead, observing Sunday Silence, who kept the gap between them firmly within two lengths.
But it's a bit too late for that now!
The current Sunday Silence immediately reacted, gritting her silver teeth as she worked to stabilize her gradually quickening pace.
She aimed to maintain a precise, steady speed—neither slowing down nor accelerating further.
On the high-speed racetrack, slowing down itself requires significant effort and offers no benefits; forcing an interruption would only bring drawbacks without any advantages.
Moreover, doing so would allow Nearl, who was close behind, to easily overtake her, rendering all the previous effort a waste of expended stamina.
Yet Sunday Silence had no intention of accelerating further either. If she pushed any harder… by the second half of the race, her pace would likely become unbearable, effectively turning into a [Great Escape] strategy.
'No more accelerating, I must control the rhythm, can't let the Radiant Knight dictate this anymore!!'
Her pupils filled with shock and heightened vigilance, the petite, dark-haired girl swiftly regained control of her rhythm with her powerful legs.
'Using conventional front-running tactics, or even the stalker style I've lost with before, could theoretically beat Nearl.'
'But a Great Escape? That's absolutely impossible. That's the one style Nearl knows best, understands most deeply!'
In Sunday Silence's view, not only was it difficult to find any horse girl in this year's [Classic Triple Crown] who could challenge Nearl with a Great Escape, but even looking across the entire history of dirt racing, few could surpass Nearl in this regard.
Even many internationally renowned older horse girls could only barely manage to win with a Great Escape in standard graded stakes or G1 races where the average competition was relatively weak.
But Nearl was different. As a freshman, she had already outperformed elite upperclassmen with her Great Escape, and now she was only more formidable.
Perhaps only a handful like Secretariat, Man o' War, Flightline, or Platinum could potentially rival Nearl in [Great Escape] tactics. And among that select few, Sunday Silence certainly didn't include herself.
That extreme style, testing power, explosiveness, stamina, and determination, was rightly called "forbidden" for a reason.
The monsters who could master such a style would undoubtedly be strong no matter what other tactics they employed!
Especially since she had only realized what was happening during the first turn, forced to accelerate earlier than planned and expend more stamina than anticipated. But Nearl's stamina… was beyond question!
Back when Nearl was a freshman, practically equivalent to an elementary or middle schooler, she defeated the "high schooler" Holy Bull despite a grueling campaign—a testament to her terrifying prowess.
Any hope of the Radiant Knight fading down the stretch was pure fantasy.
Unconsciously, the situation had descended into near chaos and unease.
Holding Nearl in extremely high regard and not daring to be the least bit careless, Sunday Silence was filled with caution and self-awareness. Calmly, she quickly regained her composure.
'I'm not accelerating anymore, so how will you respond, Nearl?'
'If you accelerate again… wouldn't that just be a weaker version of a Great Escape?'
In that case, her best option was to return to a conventional front-running rhythm, ensuring she wouldn't be easily caught.
"Normally speaking, it's not too late."
Because when it came to stalker tactics, she knew the rhythm all too well!
In an instant, the swift, dark figure reclaimed control of her own pace.
In Sunday Silence's eyes, her chances of victory hadn't significantly diminished yet!
[What a surprising turn of events, something beyond the expectations of many Nearl and Sunday Silence fans—these two top contenders have both switched their running styles.]
[Sunday Silence has become a front-runner, while Nearl has adopted the stalker style that Sunday Silence excels at?]
[And Sunday Silence's pace is getting faster and faster, nearly crossing the boundary of conventional front-running and approaching the ultra-fast rhythm of the Radiant Knight's signature "Great Escape" tactic.]
[It wasn't until after the first turn, as they approached the halfway point, that she finally stopped accelerating.]
[It has to be said, this is an incredibly rare and unbelievable scene. Miss Man o' War, what are your thoughts on this peculiar race rhythm and the style changes of the top contenders?]
The commentator's voice reflected the perspective of the general audience and fans.
Many of Nearl's fans had assumed that since she could dominate with her runaway style, maintaining an undefeated record so far, she would stick with this signature tactic until she eventually lost or even retired.
After all, many world-famous talented horse girls might spend their entire careers mastering only one running style.
Each style has its distinct characteristics. For instance, stalker tactics heavily rely on timing out of the gate, honing a strong finishing kick, and securing position.
Front-running and conventional escape tactics also have their own emphases. Even if the styles are similar, it took Sunday Silence a considerable amount of time to master them.
Nearl's Great Escape style was inherently extreme and intense, bearing no resemblance to the conventional [Front], [Pace], [Late], or [End] styles!
Mastering a drastically different style in such a short time—wasn't the cost and risk too great?
In such a short time, even if Nearl adopted the classic stalker style, could she truly perfect it?
Even the seasoned professional commentator was filled with astonishment.
After reporting on the positions and the unusual start, they couldn't help but ask Man o' War, the guest commentator, for her opinion.
From the commentators to many in the audience, everyone was curious about the perspective of this legendary horse girl and what judgment and insights she would offer.
In the commentary box, the imposing, crimson-haired beauty who seemed to reign from a throne spoke with keen interest.
[Right now… stalking? Nearl? From a conventional standpoint, yes, that's correct.]
[But if we're talking about the Radiant Knight, that's completely mistaken.]
Man o' War's casual yet firm tone left the commentators on either side stunned.
Huh?
Even among the general audience, murmurs of doubt arose.
Sunday Silence's speed had at one point rivaled that of a [Great Escape] tactic!
And Nearl, who consistently stayed close behind Sunday Silence—if she wasn't stalking, then what was she?
This time, it wasn't just the commentators and the average viewers.
Even many active horse girls or retired veterans in the front rows were taken aback, unable to understand why Man o' War would make such a judgment.
"Could it be… that Senior Man o' War thinks Nearl is also using 'conventional front-running' tactics?"
"Switching from Great Escaping to ordinary front-running? That wouldn't be very interesting, would it? Is Nearl really that kind of Uma Musume?"
"Could Miss Man o' War have misspoken or made a mistake? Nearl is currently in second place—doesn't that clearly indicate stalking, or at most, conventional front-running?"
"How dare you! My trainer could be wrong, but Miss Man o' War never is! She must be right—she's the GOAT!"
"I have to acknowledge Senior Man o' War's insight. She recognized Secretariat's talent, trained her sister War Admiral to a Triple Crown victory—if she became a trainer, she'd undoubtedly be world-class. Her judgment and evaluation of Nearl can't be wrong!"
Because many of them were horse girls themselves, some had grown up hearing legends about Man o' War, while others came from families where elders had been "Man o' War victims."
Their professionalism and understanding only made them more aware of just how formidable Man o' War was.
An Uma Musume of her caliber possessed insight far superior to most trainers—she could even teach trainers a thing or two!
Despite their astonishment, they trusted Man o' War's exceedingly high evaluation of the incredibly young [Margaret Nearl].
And in the next moment, Man o' War's voice rang out once more.
[My view is this—from her debut until now, as she competes in the American Triple Crown, Nearl has never truly employed a 'Great Escape' tactic in the literal sense!]
Once these words were spoken, they caused an uproar.
Not only among the general audience but even among the American Uma Musume who deeply admired Man o' War—all were stunned, their eyes widening in shock.
No way…
She consistently managed to build a massive lead, leaving the entire field far behind before the final stretch in every race!
If that wasn't a Great Escape, then what was it?
[The Great Escape is an extreme style that burns through all one's energy. Even the so-called 'strategic Great Escape' is based on the fact that the Uma Musume lacks sufficient stamina, trying to slow the pace and carve out a bit of recovery time. But it's not much different from a reckless Great Escape.]
[Thus, it's essentially an all-or-nothing tactic—not even a strategy, just seeing how big a lead can be built from the start. By the time the final stretch arrives, the seemingly impressive advantage is gradually eroded by the closing kicks of those behind.]
[Even if they win, it's never by the same margin they held mid-race. Winning by three or four lengths is already considered exceptionally rare.]
[And this is the literal meaning of—'Great Escape'.]
[So, let me ask: is Margaret Nearl's style one that burns through her energy, leaves her with nothing left, and prays that those behind can't catch up, hoping to minimize how much they close the gap?]
In other words, a Great Escape Uma Musume essentially cannot possess a strong finishing kick.
That's right—a true Great Escape might look impressive on the surface, but by the final stretch, the reality becomes clear.
Judging solely by the mid-race phase, that massive, super-sized lead looks majestic, incredibly powerful, and visually stunning!
But… that's only temporary. After the third turn, or during the final stretch, it wouldn't be surprising if stalkers with strong finishing kicks blow right past them.
To maintain a huge lead while galloping freely and still unleash an explosive closing kick—that's simply a super-powered monster beyond the realm of ordinary Great Escapees!
As Man o' War's words settled in, spreading across both sides of the stands, many confused spectators felt as if they'd been struck by a revelation.
"Wait, that… that actually makes sense?"
"Yeah, other Uma Musume who try to emulate the Pegasus's runaway style are just hoping to hang on and win—they always get reeled in during the final stretch."
"But Nearl and Platinum… they seem to… not only maintain their lead in the final stretch but sometimes even extend it?"
"Looking at the process and the results, Miss Nearl clearly has energy to spare in the later stages—she isn't burning herself out?!"
"In that case, could it actually be considered [front-…"
Amid the lively discussion, Man o' War delivered her final judgment.
[In reality, there are one or two well-known Uma Musume who share the same situation as Nearl—namely, 'Platinum' and 'Secretariat'.]
[In last year's Belmont Stakes, Secretariat, who seemed to have a slow start, immediately after the gate opened engaged in a head-to-head battle with Sham, who had dashed to the front.]
[After overtaking Sham and taking the lead, Secretariat raced at the front, never being caught even in the final stretch.]
[But for Secretariat, most people's first impression is that of a closer with a slow start—a misjudgment similar to the one made about Nearl.]
[In my view, Nearl stands alongside Secretariat and Platinum at the very pinnacle—none of them can be simply defined as pure closers or front-runners.]
At this point, Man o' War wasn't merely suggesting that Nearl might someday rival Secretariat or have the potential to challenge her.
She was outright stating that they were on the same level, acknowledging them as equals!
[The Radiant Knight, Margaret Nearl, who has always appeared to be a 'Great Escape' specialist, is not burning herself out. Instead, she was more like… a 'front-runner' who secures a forward position, gains positional advantage, and maintains it!]
[But because—she runs too fast.]
[Even without going all out, she can build a massive lead typically associated with Great Escapes, leading to her being mislabeled as a Great Escape specialist.]
[In truth, just like a conventional front-runner, after securing a forward position, she still has energy to spare and can unleash her closing kick!]
[It's just that Nearl's version of front-running is… ridiculously fast.]
This was Man o' War's interpretation of the Radiant Knight Nearl's true running style across nearly ten races!
——[Front-running] and [stalking]—these were the styles Nearl had truly mastered, both in the past and present!
Encountering a Great Escape Pegasus in a race, struggling to win despite giving her all?
Not a Great Escape!
How could there be an Uma Musume who, without burning through all her energy, simply by virtue of being fast and having excellent stamina, could mimic a Great Escape and build a huge lead from the front?
Such a thing… how is it possible?
But with similar cases like Platinum and Secretariat, coupled with analysis from a legendary Uma Musume, it was enough to confirm that such a phenomenon truly existed.
Man o' War's words were destined to send shockwaves through the entire dirt racing world, and even stir the turf racing community overseas.
On the turf, there was another Silver Pegasus, Platinum, famous not only for her incredible closing rallies but also for her Great Escape tactics.
If Nearl wasn't a conventional Great Escapee, then wouldn't Platinum also be… just too fast, hence mistaken for a Great Escapee?
And now, in this Preakness Stakes, Nearl, from a conventional perspective, judged herself to be employing front-running tactics…
But in Man o' War's view, for Nearl, this was actually an energy-saving, stamina-preserving [stalking] or even [closing] style!
[As for now, Nearl is conserving energy by holding back.]
[Let's look forward to the Radiant Knight's shining moment later. I'm also curious just how powerful her full closing kick can be.]
Holding back usually means positioning in the middle of the pack, behind the front-runners.
Stalkers or closers typically stay further back to save energy, famous for unleashing their closing kicks at critical moments to narrow the gap.
In the stands, countless fans, including some who originally supported Sunday Silence, couldn't help but feel curious.
In the eyes of the legendary Man o' War, the Radiant Knight was so fast that she resembled a Great Escape—yet even while leading, she could unleash an accelerating closing kick.
So now!
When not employing a Great Escape and conserving even more energy, just how terrifyingly powerful would Nearl's closing kick be?
"Hard to believe—so Nearl is just too fast, which makes her seem like a front-runner? Do such monsters really exist in this world?"
"Seeing such strong competitors up close is worth the price of admission, even if it kills me!"
"Gwaa, Miss Nearl… could she truly go all out in a Great Escape?"
"If her non-all-out Great Escape is already this impressive, I really want to see her [True Great Escape] where she burns every last ounce of energy!"
All eyes in the venue were fixed on the front of the racetrack, watching the petite, dark-haired figure and the dazzling golden knight close behind!
--+--
Approaching the second turn.
'Good, maintain the current rhythm.'
'Wait until the final stretch, then engage Nearl in a direct showdown!'
Currently, the cold, beast-like Sunday Silence was filled with excitement and exhilaration.
Nearl was right behind her.
Even if a sprint unfolded later, Sunday Silence believed she also possessed a decent closing kick and might stand a chance.
Even if she lost, it couldn't possibly be a repeat of the past, where she was blown away by a dozen lengths, right?!
With her strong competitive spirit and pride, she was full of anticipation for this Preakness Stakes.
This showdown was going to be thrilling!
Without that third-generation Big Red Monster, Easy Goer, in the race, her only opponent was Nearl!
Under Dr. Lin's watchful gaze, she would face Nearl in a fair and square competition.
But the very next moment!
Sunday Silence passed the second turn.
As she crossed the halfway point of the racetrack, it was as if she had awakened something.
Behind Sunday Silence, an astonishing, radiant golden light erupted, instantly enveloping the vast track.
In the next moment, the escalating aura reached its peak—unleashing the [Zone]!
In an instant, even Sunday Silence was stunned.
Without any runaway horse girls in the race, with herself leading just past the halfway point!
How could any Uma Musume… dare to activate the Zone, which drastically drains stamina, with at least half the race still remaining?
There was no need to guess which Uma Musume was controlling the Zone!
Even in the United States, where breeding standards were highest, most contemporary top talents only gradually mastered the Zone during their third crown campaign.
Only geniuses like herself, Easy Goer, and Nearl could possess the Zone before the third crown, at the Preakness Stakes.
With Easy Goer sidelined due to injury, the identity of this dominant, proud ruler was already clear!
Precisely because it couldn't be anyone else, Sunday Silence, who held the lead and was performing better than expected, broke out in a cold sweat.
The next moment, Sunday Silence heard the low murmur of the radiant golden-haired maiden knight.
It was like a knight summoning a storm, a calm whisper as she spread her wings.
"Don Armor!"
In an instant, the golden-haired girl, whom Sunday Silence could only barely keep in her peripheral vision, firmly controlling the distance between them…
Her white trench coat race outfit was now covered by shimmering silver knight's armor!
She was—arming herself to the teeth!
In the next moment, the knight-armored girl, who had been behind, leaned forward like a Pegasus knight ready to tear through everything in her path, launching her unique charge!
To the Pegasus, the rules of running styles…
"Rules are meant to be broken!"
--+--
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.