This is an advanced chapter for tomorrow guys. I have something to do, and might not able to release the chapter. So here it is . Enjoy~
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When Shuta Ann and his group landed in Toronto, it was precisely 10 a.m. local time. The hotel's private car collected them from the airport, and by 11 a.m. they had arrived and completed check-in.
"Although it's already lunchtime, you can also sleep to adjust to the time difference," Shuta Ann said, glancing at the three visibly fatigued Uma Musume seated behind him. He himself had managed to rest adequately during the flight.
Tokai Teio responded first. "I'll have a hot honey drink, then go straight to sleep."
Silence Suzuka added, "I didn't sleep well on the plane, so I'll rest later."
Mejiro Dober forced a composed expression. "I'm not too tired. I'll stay awake until evening."
Shuta Ann sighed lightly. "I booked a suite for the three of you. You'll be sharing it, but there are three separate bedrooms and individual bathrooms. It would be best if your schedules synchronized as soon as possible."
The three Uma Musume blinked in surprise.
"I thought it would be like Hakodate—one room each," Tokai Teio said.
"I would have preferred that," he replied with a shrug. "But I couldn't secure four rooms for over a month. And I can't allow one of you to enjoy a single room alone. I'll take a standard room. You'll have the best suite the Hotel can provide."
"Actually, Dober should have a single room," Tokai Teio suggested. "She's the one racing next."
"Strictly speaking, Suzuka is," Shuta Ann corrected. "We chose to stay in Canada rather than Chicago because Chicago's environment is harsher. Suzuka's Arlington Million is three weeks earlier than the Natalma Stakes. I'll fly to Chicago with her a week before the race."
"Then what about me?" Tokai Teio asked immediately.
"You'll stay here with Dober," he answered evenly. "Are you planning to abandon her alone in Toronto?"
Faced with that, Tokai Teio could only pout and murmur in reluctant acceptance.
Shuta Ann required only a single day to overcome jet lag. The three Uma Musume needed three. Since he had emphasized caution, he set the example by staying within the hotel grounds during that period. When idle, he explored the hotel's recreational facilities.
He deliberately avoided the casino and similar venues, instead spending his time in the gym, sports courts, or cafés. Silence Suzuka adjusted the fastest. She trained diligently in the gym and the outdoor facilities, then bathed and joined her Trainer in the café for quiet evenings.
Mejiro Dober adapted second fastest. Unlike the others, she did not confine herself to the hotel. Each day she visited Woodbine Racetrack to observe turf conditions and local competitors.
After just two days, she had gained something significant: confidence.
Although Canada and the United States were geographically close, the competitive standard differed sharply. The Canadian scene still leaned heavily on the legacy of Northern Dancer for prestige. The current level of turf competition, in her judgment, lacked the intensity she had expected.
Even so, she remained cautious. The Natalma Stakes would include international entrants. Underestimation was unacceptable.
Tokai Teio adjusted last. Once fully recovered, she chose not to explore the city but instead followed Shuta Ann almost everywhere.
"You don't have to trail me constantly," he said. "Is there somewhere you'd like to visit? I can accompany you."
"No," Tokai Teio replied brightly. "I just want to stay with my Trainer. Wherever you go, I'll go. I won't interfere."
"Very well," Shuta Ann said—and promptly walked into the restroom.
Tokai Teio was left stamping her feet outside the door.
Not long after Mejiro Dober resumed recovery training, North American Twinkle Series media reported her confirmed participation in the Natalma Stakes. It was not solely her own profile that attracted attention, but her affiliation with Team Sadalsuud—a team that had previously sent Oguri Cap and Silence Suzuka to deliver strong performances on North American turf. As the third member to challenge a North American G1, Mejiro Dober drew considerable scrutiny. Media outlets and fans speculated eagerly about her prospects.
The coverage never reached her directly. She ignored newspapers and racing magazines. In a North American environment sparse in secondary-dimension culture, she instead replenished herself by chatting across time zones with Agnes Digital.
Shuta Ann, upon learning of this habit from Silence Suzuka, could only think wryly that Agnes Digital's stamina for late-night conversations was extraordinary.
Preparation remained Mejiro Dober's central focus. For most sessions, Tokai Teio served as her sparring partner. Suzuka's training progression had already surpassed Dober's by a significant margin; prolonged pairing would have imposed excessive psychological pressure.
An unintended consequence soon emerged. North American media began noticing Tokai Teio's remarkable sparring performances.
"Team Sadalsuud's sparring Uma Musume delivers astonishing displays."
"Tokai Teio—the next Oguri Cap?"
"Team Sadalsuud's hidden weapon."
Such headlines appeared with increasing frequency. Mejiro Dober remained unaffected; she understood the natural disparity in raw talent between herself and Tokai Teio.
Tokai Teio, however, grew visibly buoyant—her confidence practically radiating.
For a fleeting moment, Shuta Ann considered asking Secretariat to send a formidable Uma Musume to temper Teio's exuberance.
He dismissed the thought immediately. Deliberately undermining an Uma Musume's confidence, even for balance, violated the fundamental responsibility of a Trainer.
The entry list for the Natalma Stakes was released in mid-August. With registration officially closed, the lineup was finalized—nine Uma Musume in total, including Mejiro Dober. Of the nine, only one other overseas contender appeared: Golden Mirage from Ireland. The remaining seven were all Canadian natives.
After reviewing the summary, Shuta Ann's brow lifted slightly. Over the past two weeks, he had familiarized himself with the overall standard of the Canadian Twinkle Series and had already concluded that the local turf level was relatively modest. His attention therefore shifted immediately to Golden Mirage.
However, once he located and reviewed her archived race footage, his interest faded.
"She won a Listed race, but the quality was average," he concluded. "She relies on sustained stamina to grind opponents down. But Woodbine isn't a stamina-oriented course. The turf here is dry and firm—a classic speed track. You don't win here by outlasting others."
Unless, he mused dryly, the Natalma Stakes were suddenly extended to 16,000 meters. In that case, he would withdraw Mejiro Dober without hesitation.
He then moved on to the domestic entrants.
Kirbys Song had previously specialized in dirt before abruptly entering this turf G1.
(The Natalma Stakes here happened and referenced in its 1997 race year, not the 1996 one when Dober debuted)
"Likely chasing prestige," he assessed. "But North American dirt racing demands explosive speed. That quality may translate. She deserves some caution."
Marvelous Silver had focused entirely on local Canadian turf and had already contested five 1600-meter races at Woodbine Racetrack, winning all five.
"Her course familiarity is undeniable," Shuta Ann admitted. "But the finishing times across varying conditions are merely average. She dominates locally, but that doesn't equate to elite level."
Sarah Finesse had debuted on dirt in the United States, winning narrowly by a nose, before targeting this Canadian turf G1.
"I don't understand her Trainer's logic," he muttered. "Her stride mechanics and acceleration posture are clearly optimized for dirt, not turf."
Lady Beverly required little analysis—she had yet to secure a Twinkle Series victory. He skimmed her profile and moved on.
The remaining three Canadian entrants had already raced more than ten times before August, winning only once or twice. After reviewing their footage, he dismissed them as serious threats.
"Experience matters," he acknowledged, "but this is still August of their debut year. Eight to ten races in four months? That's excessive. It's not athlete development—that's resource extraction."
He felt genuine displeasure toward the Trainers responsible and quietly resolved to keep his distance.
Before Natalma preparations formally began, Shuta Ann had already departed for Chicago with Silence Suzuka. Her target was the Arlington Million, scheduled three weeks earlier. They arrived a full week in advance to acclimate.
"Is it really alright for Teio and Dober-chan to remain in Toronto?" Suzuka asked gently. "I'll be fine here. Perhaps you should stay with them?"
"It's fine," he replied calmly. "Both Teio and Dober are disciplined. They know when to focus. There's no need for constant supervision."
He raised a finger lightly. "Besides, no Uma Musume should contest a major race without her Trainer present for final preparation. Even Tojo Trainer is currently in Europe overseeing Taiki Shuttle's campaign."
At the mention of her friend, Suzuka smiled. "Then I'll win the Arlington Million as well. Otherwise Shuttle-chan will surpass me."
"You will win," Shuta Ann stated with certainty. He had already examined the entry list. The most familiar opponent was Labeeb—the same runner Suzuka had decisively defeated at Churchill Downs. Among the field, only Marlin, winner of the Hollywood Derby, posed a significant tactical threat. Sandpit, though a prior G1 winner, had entered decline. Awad, last year's Manhattan Stakes winner, had yet to regain form following injury. If they neutralized Marlin, victory probability increased dramatically.
(This Arlington Million was referenced in its 1997 race records. FYI, Awad was 1995 winner of Arlington Million. Therefore, the race doesn't confront to the reality when Suzuka should be in 1998 where she ran for Takarazuka Kinen and Autumn Tenno Sho.)
As for Labeeb, her trajectory since that defeat had been unfortunate. After the Turf Classic Stakes, she contested four additional races—from G1 down to G3—and failed to win any. Shuta Ann reviewed those performances during the flight and reached a reluctant conclusion.
"Labeeb was psychologically shaken by Suzuka. She's been running tentatively ever since."
From a competitive standpoint, this reduced risk. From Suzuka's perspective, it was regrettable.
"That's sad," she murmured, leaning slightly closer. "She was so confident before. One race changed her."
"It's not your fault," Shuta Ann said after a brief pause. "Her Trainer should have intervened properly. Psychological recovery is part of management. A sports psychologist should have been involved."
Suzuka lowered her gaze thoughtfully. "I hope I can help her regain herself during this Arlington Million. I don't want my running style to break other Uma Musume."
She clenched her fist lightly. "The Twinkle Series shouldn't be about that."
"Then perhaps I can arrange an opportunity for you to speak with her," he offered.
She gently tugged his sleeve. "No. We're Uma Musume. We communicate through running."
Her conviction was steady—and unmistakably her own.
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