The moment the commentator's shocked shout rang out, half of the audience stood up from their seats.
The spectators who were initially cheering for Mejiro McQueen's acceleration in the final corner had already stopped cheering when Mihono Bourbon closed the distance between her and Mejiro McQueen to half a length.
Mihono Bourbon (number 1) and Mejiro McQueen (number 4) crossed the finish line at the same time.
The same thing happened in the competition a year ago, but the result was already known at that time.
Mejiro McQueen beat Rice Shower who was just one step away from winning.
This time, however, the score sheet clearly stated "[Photography]".
This means that the two people cross the finish line at the same time with almost zero time difference, and the difference cannot be discerned by the naked eye, so a photo is needed to determine the winner.
The huge hall was almost silent.
The audience stared in shock at Mejiro McQueen, who was panting heavily with her arms outstretched, and Mihono Bourbon, who was clutching her full chest and gasping for breath.
No one spoke at this moment; they were all quietly waiting for the final verdict.
Sakura Baimu had a premonition that Mihono Bourbon entered the Zone, but she didn't expect that this cyborg would be so powerful that it would require a photo analysis with Mejiro McQueen.
"Last time, Rice Shower crossed the finish line at the same time as McQueen, but ultimately lost by one step."
"This time, Mihono Bourbon and McQueen crossed the finish line at the same time, but we'll need to use photographic evidence to determine the winner..."
"These two Umamusumes are definitely not as strong as McQueen, but McQueen's rate of improvement is getting slower and slower..."
"If we wait for Mihono Bourbon to catch up in strength, will McQueen still have a chance to defeat her?"
"No, this might not even be a victory for McQueen..."
A sense of panic finally welled up in Sakura Baimu's usually calm heart. It was not because she was afraid someone was about to surpass Mejiro McQueen.
Instead, she was worried that McQueen would be left with a shadow in her heart after this battle.
Sakura Baimu knew Mejiro McQueen very well; all the confidence of this seemingly arrogant young lady came from her outstanding abilities.
Mejiro McQueen was a gifted Umamusume and she was not arrogant; instead, she persisted in training several times more than other Umamusumes.
Tokai Teio's talent is no less than hers, and her work ethic is equally impressive. Both of them are members of Sakura Baimu's team, so Sakura Baimu is not worried that Mejiro McQueen will be discouraged after losing to Teio.
But Mihono Bourbon is different; she's an Umamusume who once lost to Rice Shower, and Rice Shower was an Umamusume who once lost to McQueen.
After a year of training, Mejiro McQueen's overall strength has undoubtedly improved compared to a year ago.
But if she who has trained so hard were to lose to Mihono Bourbon here, it would likely be a significant blow.
Once an Umamusume feels that no matter how hard she tries and can't catch up with others, forget about breaking through her limits and opening up new Zones; she might even find it difficult to continue with a normal competition.
"Is the Zone really that strong? I didn't think so at first... In any case, this competition is a significant blow to McQueen..."
Sakura Baimu crossed her arms over her chest, her fingers gripping her other arm tightly with a tense grip, so tightly that it even hurt a little.
Teio and the two new members both turned their heads and noticed Sakura Baimu's nervous expression. They wanted to say something, but they silently shut their mouths and turned back to wait nervously for the final result.
"Miss McQueen…" Satono Diamond also clasped her hands to her chest, praying silently for Mejiro McQueen.
Just as Satono Diamond was praying anxiously, Sakura Baimu quickly walked past her and ran towards the spectator spot closest to Mejiro McQueen.
"The results are in, and the ultimate winner is—"
"Mejiro McQueen!"
Amidst the tense atmosphere where countless people dared not breathe, the commentator announced the result of the match.
Immediately, the sound of people taking a breath filled the hall.
"Congratulations to Mejiro McQueen for maintaining her winning streak in the Tenno Sho and taking her fourth Tenno Sho title!"
"Second place goes to Mihono Bourbon, who made her comeback after more than a year, and she delivered an outstanding performance."
"Third place is Nice Nature; she surpassed two BNW players in the final straight line..."
...
The deafening cheers mixed with the announcer's voice announcing the results drifted around Mejiro McQueen, but it failed to reach her ears.
Sweat trickled down her fair and beautiful cheeks to her smooth chin, then dripped onto the grass.
Mejiro McQueen's eyes were wide open, her purple pupils still trembling slightly.
"What was that just now? What exactly was that aura from Bourbon? She's been resting for so long and hasn't competed, so how can she still have that kind of speed? Wasn't she supposed to have dropped to fifth place? How did she manage to catch up?"
Countless questions arose in Mejiro McQueen's mind. She slowly raised her hands, which were resting on her knees, to her face, only to find that her hands were even trembling slightly.
The cheers gradually reached Mejiro McQueen's ears. The colorful confetti flying in the air came into her view. She turned her head sharply to look at the audience and realized that she had won.
After taking several deep breaths, she finally calmed down a little.
However, after calming her panic, Mejiro McQueen realized another problem...
If she herself suffered this blow, then what about Mihono Bourbon, who almost pulled off a miracle...?
Mejiro McQueen turned her gaze to Mihono Bourbon's face.
Sure enough, she saw that Mihono Bourbon was expressionless and detached, exuding an aura of deep disappointment and sorrow.
"I lost... I failed to keep my promise to Rice... I couldn't surpass Rice..."
Unlike Mejiro McQueen, she didn't have such obvious movements and facial expressions.
But it was precisely because Mejiro McQueen was used to her expressionless face that she felt even more keenly how profound the sense of loneliness Mihono Bourbon felt at this moment.
Mejiro McQueen slowly walked up to Mihono Bourbon and gently patted her on the shoulder.
When Mejiro McQueen saw the umamusume who looked like a robot turn her gaze toward her, and seeing Mihono Bourbon's lifeless eyes, she was at a loss for words.
"Bourbon!! Bourbon!!"
Rice Shower shouted at Mihono Bourbon from the stands, but Mihono Bourbon looked like she didn't hear her and just stood there blankly.
Just as Rice Shower was about to jump over the railing in desperation, someone suddenly grabbed her shoulder.
She turned around and saw that it was Sakura Baimu, Mejiro McQueen's trainer.
"Hey Cyber Umamusume over there, look at the scoreboard!"
Sakura Baimu shouted at Mihono Bourbon, and upon hearing her voice, Mihono Bourbon mechanically turned her head little by little.
After seeing what was displayed, Mihono Bourbon's previously lifeless eyes regained a glimmer of light.
Because the scoreboard clearly recorded her score with Mejiro McQueen.
[Record (New Record)]
[3:16.2]
She and Mejiro McQueen broke the record set a year earlier by Mejiro McQueen and Rice Shower.