"Forty-nine point eight seconds." The comntator at Kasamatsu Racecourse widened his eyes in disbelief. "Incredible. On a good track, over 800 ters, this was Oguri Cap's debut race—and she produced such a result."
"This ti is what most Racehorse Girls at Kasamatsu can only achieve on faster heavier dirt tracks… On a good track, no Racehorse Girl in Kasamatsu's history has ever recorded such a stopwatch ti in her debut year." He continued his comntary for both the spectators and the radio audience. "Not only first-place Oguri Cap, but even second-place Fujimasa March achieved an exceptional ti today."
"Could it be that our Kasamatsu will have its own 'Haiseiko'?!"
The mont that sentence was spoken, the previously quiet stands erupted.
"Our own Haiseiko?"
"Forget Haiseiko—achieving even half of that would be enough."
"Yes! Forget winning the Satsuki Sho like Haiseiko—as long as they can take one major race in the Central, they'll already be Kasamatsu's heroes!"
For this small racecourse—the lowest level in the Tokai region—the greatest glory any Racehorse Girl had ever achieved was winning the Tokai Derby, only to fade afterward like a shooting star. So, the long-ti spectators of Kasamatsu dared not expect too much from Oguri Cap and Fujimasa March yet.
anwhile, Shuta An, standing near the track, remained calm.
"Well, I won the bet this ti," he said to Berno Light beside him. "If you want to join in taking advantage of Mr. Kitahara's generosity, you'd better go prepare for your debut race now."
"Eh? I can go too?" Berno Light's eyes widened. "I thought it'd just be Trainer and Oguri."
"We're a team. How could I leave you out of sothing good like this?" Shuta An snorted. "Go get ready. Perform well, and you'll be in an even better mood when we have free food tonight."
"I will!!" Berno Light raised her hand and jogged off toward the registration desk.
Shuta An watched her retreating back, then turned and smiled at Kitahara across the track, waving brightly.
Kitahara rolled his eyes, pouted, and looked away.
"Hee-hee~" Shuta An swayed his shoulders, muttering just loudly enough for Kitahara to hear, "A free celebration dinner tonight—saving money."
"We'll win next ti!" Kitahara snapped back, refusing to admit defeat.
"First, Mr. Kitahara, you'll have to et Oguri Cap again next ti." Shuta An spread his hands. "I don't intend for her to keep racing at Kasamatsu."
"Why?" Kitahara was startled, realizing what his friend ant. "You're going to have Oguri Cap challenge the Racehorse Girls in Nagoya?"
"Yes. The debut-year schedule is flexible." Shuta An shrugged. "After winning this debut race, and based on past results, Oguri Cap is already qualified to challenge OP-level races in Nagoya. I also want to push her toward longer distances."
"Mr. Kitahara, you know that here in Kasamatsu, until late August, debut-year Uma Musu only have 800-ter dirt races available." Shuta An glanced toward the track, where preparations for the next race were underway. "But Oguri Cap isn't naturally suited for short distances, and our long-term goal lies in mile and middle-distance races—so the earlier she adapts, the better."
Kitahara waited for him to finish before replying, "I'll also have Fujimasa March challenge the Nagoya races in the future."
"Good. I support that," Shuta An said, patting his friend's shoulder. "I'm looking forward to Fujimasa March's growth."
"You won't be disappointed." Although she had lost, Fujimasa March's finishing ti had also been excellent, and Kitahara wasn't discouraged.
"Don't forget you're treating us tonight," Shuta An reminded him as Kitahara turned to leave.
Kitahara's mouth twitched. "I haven't forgotten. I'll be back after I pick up Fujimasa March."
"I'll wait for you here," Shuta An said, narrowing his eyes with a grin.
By the ti Kitahara returned with Fujimasa March, Berno Light's debut race had already ended.
"Two consecutive wins, huh? An-san, you're sothing else." Kitahara looked up at the results board, surprised. "Didn't she lose badly in the simulated race?"
"Yes, but I trained her specifically to correct her weaknesses," Shuta An replied confidently. "And in this race, Berno Light ran as though it were her 'last stand.' Her competitors may have been stronger, but their determination wasn't as firm as hers. So her runaway victory was exactly what I expected."
"Determination, huh…" Fujimasa March sighed. "Maybe my determination isn't as strong as Oguri Cap's."
"You can't compare that," Kitahara stopped her gently. "Rest for now—we'll win the Maiden Race in half a month."
"Mm!" Fujimasa March nodded firmly. "I'll train even harder!"
Shuta An offered a suggestion: "If possible, Mr. Kitahara, find a mining tire and have Fujimasa March pull it."
"A mining tire?" Kitahara tilted his head. "I know what that is, but what's it for?"
"To train her guts," Shuta An said simply.
"Understood. I'll find one." Kitahara nodded without hesitation. He trusted his friend's insight.
Fujimasa March, standing nearby, also made no objection. After all, the young man suggesting the training was the one who had trained the girl who had just defeated her.
"It's ti to watch Oguri Cap's winner's stage," Shuta An said casually, turning toward the center of the track. He was looking forward to seeing his trainee's performance—after all, from his West Coast experience, Uma Musu were talented at singing and dancing, and he believed Oguri Cap would be no exception.
"I wonder what kind of performance she'll give," Fujimasa March said, also curious. If she had won, she had planned to sing Momoe Yamaguchi's 'Shiroi Yakusoku'.
Oguri Cap walked onto the stage with the portable speaker she had prepared, set it down, and plugged it in—
"Ha~ Dance, dance~ to this Kasamatsu Ondo~"
"This is…" Shuta An froze.
"Stamping on the Nōbi Plain~ startling the monkeys' tails~"
"This is Kasamatsu Ondo," Kitahara said, unable to hold back a laugh. "You're sothing else, letting your Racehorse Girl sing this on the winner's stage."
"I—" Shuta An clutched his head. "I had no idea this would happen!"
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