"Is this the true strength of a G1 Umamusume? Even though it's her first time competing at Kokura Racecourse, she's handling the Kitakyushu Kinen hill like she's run it countless times!"
"Even uphill, even on the inside corner, Rice Shower's speed hasn't slowed down much!"
"Rice Shower's performance after her injury is simply amazing!"
"What an excellent climb! Many Umamusumes struggle on this hill when they first come to Kokura Racecourse."
In the first place, Glimmer Expres was startled by the commentators' and narrator's praise of Rice Shower and quickly glanced behind her.
Sure enough, she saw Rice Shower, whose face was half-hidden by her long black hair, already close behind her.
"Why? This should be her first time on Kokura Racecourse!"
"Why? She wasn't affected by the uphill climb and the corners?"
Glimmer Express was quite puzzled. She instantly realized that her track advantage and home-field advantage hadn't created a significant gap between herself and Rice Shower.
"Tsk, tsk. So arrogant just because it's her home track. Once her confidence is shattered, she probably won't even be able to maintain her rhythm."
Ogura Storm, following behind, noticed the shock and wavering on Glimmer Express's face.
Seeing Glimmer Express's increasingly erratic pace, she immediately understood her situation.
"It was just a climb and a turn where I didn't lose much speed, and they're already this surprised. This race's level of popularity is so weak. I don't know how she won the Kokura Daishoten last time. If I had known, I would have signed up too. I'd be on a four-peat by now."
The Kokura Daishoten is a G3-level 1800m race held in late February at Kokura Racecourse.
"After reaching the top of the hill, there's a 300-meter downhill section. I can accelerate now."
Ogura Storm thought to herself, quickening her pace.
"Glimmer Express has passed the second turn first, with Rice Shower close behind!"
"Ogura Storm is accelerating! She's catching up from the outside! Fourth, third!"
"She's overtaken Divine Jacket and is now in third place, closing in on Rice Shower!"
"Accelerating so early?"
Glimmer Express was startled again upon hearing the commentator's voice.
Rice Shower, the most popular runner, was right behind her.
But now, Ogura Storm, the second most popular runner, had already started accelerating before the race was even halfway through.
Faced with such a formidable opponent, Glimmer Express couldn't help but feel anxious, and her pace quickened.
"Whoa! Glimmer Express is accelerating too!"
"Although the Kitakyushu Kinen is a race with a fast pace, this year's pace is much faster than usual."
"Is it really because of Ogura Storm's five-race winning streak and the presence of Rice Shower?"
"Ogura Storm is in excellent form, and her strength is formidable."
"Ogura Storm has caught up with Rice Shower."
"She has overtaken Rice Shower and is now heading toward first-place Glimmer Express!"
Glimmer Express's acceleration at the second corner drew gasps from many spectators.
Most of the spectators were drawn by Rice Shower's rapid comeback after suffering a comminuted fracture.
The remaining spectators were mostly local residents of Fukuoka Prefecture.
After witnessing Rice Shower, who had gained an advantage on the climb, being overtaken from fifth place, the attention of the spectators gradually shifted to Ogura Storm.
Meanwhile, the residents of Fukuoka Prefecture were primarily there for Glimmer Express, the local winner of the Kokura Daishoten.
They naturally knew that the Kitakyushu Kinen was a fast-paced race.
But when they saw Ogura Storm single-handedly push Glimmer Express's pace even higher, their attention also turned to this Umamusume named Ogura Storm.
"Ogura Storm, she's incredibly strong!"
"No wonder she's on a five-race winning streak, even surpassing Rice Shower!"
"Ogura Storm increased her stamina consumption in the early and middle stages by accelerating at the second corner, but because she accelerated downhill, she used less stamina than expected."
"Ogura Storm! Her timing is absolutely precise!"
"Ogura Storm! Her judgment of the situation is superb!"
The audience, listening to the commentators and announcers, watched with growing astonishment as they gazed at Ogura Storm.
This non-local Umamusume, Ogura Storm, had made such accurate judgments about the situation in her very first race at Kokura Racecourse—it was simply unbelievable.
After the downhill section, there was a flat straight of about 400 meters.
The race was past the halfway point, and the Umamusumes at the back were beginning to accelerate.
Glimmer Express was still leading.
However, due to the fast pace at the start of the Kitakyushu Kinen , coupled with the pressure from Ogura Storm, she had been forced to accelerate during the early and middle stages.
As a result, Glimmer Express was beginning to show signs of fatigue.
Her initial confidence, built on competing on home turf, was almost completely eroded.
Now, realizing her exhaustion, her already wavering spirit plummeted.
"Approaching the third turn."
"The Umamusumes behind are starting to accelerate!"
"Sacred Jacket has overtaken Rice Shower! Rice Shower has now dropped to fourth."
"Glimmer Express looks like she's struggling a lot. Is she running out of stamina?"
"Sure enough, the fast pace at the start accelerated her stamina depletion, and she's having trouble managing her energy."
"Glimmer Express has entered the third turn first."
"Ogura Storm is less than a length behind Glimmer Express at the front."
"I knew Rice Shower couldn't have recovered so quickly. Even a broken bone takes a long time to heal. She was so badly injured, yet she's only been back for a month before competing."
Hearing the commentator announce that Rice Shower had dropped to fourth, Ogura Storm felt a surge of joy.
"At first, I was actually quite dissatisfied with only getting second place in popularity. Now, it seems I really should thank you."
"Thank you for bringing me so much popularity and attention. If I win today, all the attention will probably go to me, right?"
Ogura Storm felt smug and quickened her pace again, overtaking Glimmer Express, who was in first place.
"She overtook her! Now, Ogura Storm is in first place!"