Sunday.
Today was the race day of the Sprinter Stakes.
(This Sprinter Stakes should happen in 1998 where Taiki and Seeking the Pearl lost to iner Love. However, Sabuno Hana Park should be Flower Park, the one who win Sprinter Stakes in 1997.)
Sabuno Hana Park, who had just secured the first graded-race victory of her career in the previous CBC Sho, would be participating in this race. At the sa ti, this race would also beco Taiki Shuttle's final appearance in the Twinkle Series.
"Didn't you say the Mile Championship was supposed to be her retirent race?"
Standing at the entrance of Nakayama Racecourse, Shuta An looked toward Tojo Hana with a puzzled expression.
"Does Taiki Shuttle also have troubleso relatives at ho forcing her to participate in the Sprinter Stakes?"
"There aren't any unfortunate relatives like Miss jiro Dober's family."
Tojo Hana's voice carried obvious bitterness.
"It's more my own problem, I suppose."
"Taiki Shuttle's previous endorsent contract required her to participate in this race in order to receive the full advertising fee. That clause was hidden in the additional terms, and I completely forgot about it while arranging her schedule."
"Considering that failing to race would result in an eight-figure financial loss—"
"To put it bluntly, I could only trouble Taiki Shuttle, who originally planned to travel aboard together with Miss jiro Dober, to hastily prepare for this race."
"That actually works out nicely anyway."
Shuta An shrugged lightly.
"Dober also has to participate in the Arima Kinen. Once Dober finishes racing, the two of them can continue their travel plans afterward."
"But they'd only truly feel like traveling if they win, wouldn't they?"
Tojo Hana shook her head helplessly.
"Although everyone says Taiki Shuttle is the overwhelming favorite, honestly speaking… I'm not very confident."
"I always feel like there's sothing I haven't handled properly."
"If you can't even identify the problem itself, then you might as well temporarily assu it doesn't exist."
Shuta An offered his suggestion calmly.
"In any case, the answer will reveal itself after this afternoon's race."
"Who are you supporting this ti, Ann-san?"
Nishizaki Ryu, who had just arrived at Nakayama Racecourse, imdiately walked over after spotting Shuta An and Tojo Hana chatting together.
"I support Sabuno Hana Park."
Shuta An answered without even hesitating.
"Taiki Shuttle is Miss jiro Dober's best friend!"
Tojo Hana widened her eyes in disbelief, clearly not expecting Shuta An to support another Uma Musu instead.
"Compared to Taiki Shuttle, Sabuno Hana Park looks slightly weaker."
The young man answered matter-of-factly.
"So I'm supporting the weaker side."
"Now that you say that…"
Tojo Hana imdiately followed his logic with a mischievous smile.
"When the Arima Kinen cos around, I suppose I'll have to support Miss jiro Dober too."
"Hana, do you really think Miss jiro Dober is weaker than Special Week from our team and Grass Wonder from your team?"
Nishizaki Ryu instantly began stirring trouble from the side.
"Ann-san, can you tolerate that?"
"Miss Tojo is simply stating the truth."
Shuta An showed absolutely no intention of denying it.
"Dober's current strength is indeed still slightly inferior to Miss Special Week and Miss Grass Wonder. Although Dober is already a Seven-Crown Uma Musu, the strongest opponent she has defeated so far is Kyoei March, who will also participate in today's Sprinter Stakes."
"Moreover, the Arima Kinen will beco Dober's very first challenge in a mixed G1 race."
"To be honest, personally speaking…I really don't want Dober participating in this Arima Kinen."
"Sigh~ the jiro Family…"
Both Trainers, who were close friends with Shuta An, sighed almost simultaneously.
"I just hope Ann-san can resolve those issues soon."
"To say sothing sowhat rebellious…"
Shuta An lowered his voice slightly.
"To completely solve those problems, we'll probably still need several more years. Only once that person is no longer around will we truly be able to act."
"Oh right, speaking of which…"
Tojo Hana suddenly narrowed her eyes and looked toward Nishizaki Ryu.
"Doesn't Team Spica also have an Uma Musu from the jiro Family? How co you haven't encountered the sa issues as Ann-san?"
"If I had Ann-san's face, I'd probably encounter them too."
Nishizaki Ryu rolled his eyes helplessly.
"I already asked McQueen whether she needed help, but she just played dumb with ."
Shuta An casually patted his friend's shoulder.
"This entire matter originally started because of . It would be too troubleso to drag Nishizaki-san into it as well."
"But when the ti finally cos for to step in, Ann-san, you absolutely can't forget ."
Nishizaki Ryu's eyes suddenly lit up.
"This is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity to go against a prestigious family like that."
"You're getting excited over a power reversal now?"
Tojo Hana pouted slightly.
"Don't just talk about !"
Nishizaki Ryu imdiately pointed toward Shuta An.
"Isn't Ann-san supporting the weaker Sabuno Hana Park today because he also enjoys that kind of power reversal?"
Because of his declaration of support for Sabuno Hana Park, Shuta An was ultimately "expelled" by Tojo Hana and sent directly toward Kitahara-san's Box instead.
"Kitahara-san, I've co seeking political asylum!"
The young man loudly announced himself the mont he pushed the door open.
"Good morning, Shuta Trainer."
Fujimasa March blinked softly before lightly patting Kitahara-san, who was currently resting with his head on her lap.
The next second, Kitahara-san imdiately rolled off and crashed directly onto the floor.
"It seems I arrived at a bad mont."
Shuta An narrowed his eyes slightly and instinctively prepared to retreat.
"Ann-san, why are you here?"
Kitahara-san hurriedly scrambled back up while calling out to him.
"I thought you'd be with Miss Tojo today. Team Rigil seems to have gathered completely."
"Because I openly told Miss Tojo that I'm supporting Sabuno Hana Park today, so I got kicked out."
Shuta An casually sat down opposite Fujimasa March.
"Looks like I really interrupted sothing?"
"No problem at all."
Kitahara-san scratched his head awkwardly before sitting back onto the sofa.
"I honestly didn't expect Ann-san to support Sabuno Hana Park. I thought you'd naturally support Taiki Shuttle like everyone else. After all, she's overwhelmingly strong in sprint and mile races."
"Taiki Shuttle definitely has the higher probability of winning."
Shuta An shrugged lightly.
"But I want to see sothing different happen. So don't misunderstand. I'm not specifically favoring Sabuno Hana Park."
"I'm only supporting her emotionally."
"Alright then."
Kitahara-san did not comnt further.
"Anyway, although I don't have much confidence either, since Sabuno Hana Park herself requested this challenge, then we have to try. If she can really win—That would beco history."
"Making history…"
After hearing those words, Shuta An involuntarily thought of Oguri Cap.
"Back then, Oguri and I were also constantly creating history together."
The mont Oguri Cap's na surfaced, Fujimasa March could no longer restrain herself. She carefully looked toward the young man, her voice becoming noticeably cautious.
"How has Oguri been lately?"
"Oguri should still appear publicly fairly often, shouldn't she?"
Shuta An looked genuinely puzzled, unable to understand why Fujimasa March was asking that question.
"She looks perfectly fine to . She also hasn't ntioned encountering any problems recently."
"Is that so…" Fujimasa March lowered her head slightly.
"Oguri looked very energetic during the Dream Trophy Series."
"Sorry…"
At that mont, Kitahara-san hurriedly spoke up to comfort her.
"It's my fault for not being able to secure you an opportunity to enter the Dream Cup."
At this point, Shuta An found it sowhat awkward to interject into the atmosphere, so he simply lowered his head and pulled out his phone, intending to casually browse the latest news.
Then, a headline entered his eyes.
"Silence Suzuka officially deregistered from the Twinkle Series today under the URA Association and completed transfer procedures to the Dream Trophy Series Association."
"Better not read that headline aloud."
The young man, extrely skilled at reading the atmosphere, decisively swallowed the words back down internally.
"Sabuno Hana Park! It's Sabuno Hana Park!"
"Taiki Shuttle finishes second! Sabuno Hana Park overtook Taiki Shuttle right before the finish line!"
"She becos Team Scorpii's second G1-winning Uma Musu!"
"Oh!"
Shuta imdiately raised both arms high before turning around toward his friend with a smile.
"Kitahara-san, you owe a good al this ti. I ca all the way here to watch the race with you, I even support her in front of Ms. Tojo, and you ended up winning a G1."
"Alright, alright, alright."
Kitahara-san grinned so hard that his face was practically splitting apart.
"This is my first mixed Central G1. I hope I can keep winning more in the future."
"There'll definitely be opportunities."
Shuta reached out and patted his shoulder firmly.
"To win the Sprinter Stakes during her Classic year, while still having two senior years ahead of her—Sabuno Hana Park will definitely continue winning."
"I'll gladly accept Ann-san's auspicious words."
Kitahara-san turned toward Fujimasa March.
"Let's head down and see Sabuno Hana Park."
"Mhm."
Although Fujimasa March verbally agreed, her gaze remained fixed on Sabuno Hana Park's figure displayed on the television screen.
For Fujimasa March, winning even a graded race in the Central Twinkle Series had always been a long-held dream.
Unfortunately, she herself had never managed to achieve it.
anwhile, Sabuno Hana Park had already beco a G1 winner.
Shuta naturally noticed the subtle change in Fujimasa March's expression, but ultimately chose not to say anything.
In his position, comforting Fujimasa March would only create unnecessary misunderstandings.
Besides, if anyone should comfort her, it should be Kitahara-san.
—
After leaving Nakayama Racecourse, Shuta checked the ti briefly. Instead of heading directly ho to rest, he instead changed direction and headed toward Central Tracen Academy.
"Just as I expected."
The mont the young man arrived at the academy's first training ground, he imdiately saw jiro Dober pulling Silence Suzuka along for additional practice on the Slope Road.
"You still need to rest when it's ti to rest."
Shuta walked over and called out to the two Uma Musus.
"That's enough training for today. I don't want to suddenly hear news tomorrow that Dober injured herself."
jiro Dober lowered her head slightly.
"I understand."
After quietly responding, she imdiately turned around and left the training ground, leaving only Silence Suzuka standing where she was.
"Ann was too blunt just now."
Silence Suzuka looked toward him and softly complained.
"Dober being willing to work hard is a good thing, isn't it? Besides, I was watching over her too."
"Training too excessively isn't good either."
Shuta looked at the Uma Musu and patiently explained himself.
"If Dober gets injured, then the pressure on my side will only beco even greater. And besides, Suzuka officially stopped being an active Twinkle Series Uma Musu today as well."
"You should properly rest whenever it's ti to rest and preserve your energy for next year's Dream Cup. If Suzuka got injured while helping as a sparring partner—I'd be very sad."
Before the young man could continue speaking further, Silence Suzuka gently raised her index finger and pressed it lightly against his lips.
"Alright, don't keep talking anymore."
Then, she softly smiled.
"Instead, I'm going ho with Ann today. Is that okay?"
"That's my ho."
Shuta naturally grabbed hold of the Uma Musu's wrist.
"And it's Suzuka's ho too. What's strange about returning to your own ho? Let's go. We'll make it back just in ti for dinner."
—
After leaving the training ground, jiro Dober slowed her steps slightly before eventually stopping and turning around.
The mont she saw the Trainer chatting naturally together with Silence Suzuka, she silently turned away once more and continued walking forward.
"Dober!"
After walking absentmindedly with her head lowered for nearly half a minute, jiro Dober suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out to her.
She looked up toward the direction of the voice and imdiately saw jiro McQueen waving toward her from nearby.
"McQueen, what's wrong?"
jiro Dober walked over while asking quietly.
"I noticed Dober looked rather dejected, so I wanted to ask what happened."
jiro McQueen carefully observed her expression.
"Dober still has to prepare for the Arima Kinen, so your ntal state also needs proper adjustnt."
"It's nothing."
jiro Dober imdiately waved her hand dismissively. Was she supposed to openly admit in front of jiro McQueen that she had just felt slightly jealous while watching the Trainer and Silence Suzuka together?
However, even if jiro Dober refused to admit it verbally, her behavior had long since been noticed by the other Uma Musus of the jiro Family from the sa generation.
Naturally, jiro McQueen was one of them.
The purple-haired Uma Musu blinked lightly before smiling knowingly.
"Is this about Shuta Trainer?"
"No."
jiro Dober instantly denied it in an unusually stiff tone. She imdiately turned her face away.
"McQueen should focus properly on recovering from her injury. It's better not to pry into this kind of gossip."
That rigid response was practically equivalent to a confession already.
However, after seeing jiro Dober's reaction, jiro McQueen wisely chose not to continue teasing her. Instead, she simply threw the topic directly at her.
"If it really is about Shuta Trainer—I think Dober simply needs to beco more honest."
Although jiro Dober still refused to turn around, her ears noticeably perked up.
"Back then, it wasn't only a few of us in the family who wanted additional guidance from Shuta Trainer."
jiro McQueen slowly continued speaking.
"That list itself was personally arranged by Grandmother. And afterward, there were also several girls who wanted to directly join Team Sadalsuud."
"It wasn't only Dober."
"So even secretly persuaded their elders to speak with Grandmother on their behalf"
At this point, jiro McQueen paused briefly before continuing.
"But in the end, the only request Shuta Trainer actually responded to was Dober's."
"Dober. Have a little more confidence in yourself."
"I don't know what McQueen-chan is talking about."
jiro Dober abruptly threw out those words before almost fleeing from the scene in embarrassnt.
"Could it be—"
After jiro Dober's figure completely disappeared from view, jiro McQueen frowned slightly and muttered to herself quietly.
"that we guessed wrong? Could Dober simply dislike arranged marriage, while Shuta Trainer rely intends to negotiate with the family in order to fulfill her wishes?"
—
Late at night, Shuta returned to his room and quickly fell asleep.
Just like reality during the dayti, he also needed to participate in the Sprinter Stakes within the Dream World tonight.
And this ti, his partner was Sakura Bakushin O.
Ever since Trainer Katsutaro Sakai invited Shuta to ride Sakura Bakushin O, he had consecutively finished second in two separate 1600-ter graded races.
In Shuta's opinion, Sakura Bakushin O genuinely lacked suitability for mile races.
Because of this, even though Horse Owner Jeon Yeon-Sik had already beco sowhat dissatisfied with the results, Shuta still barely managed to retain his status as Sakura Bakushin O's main jockey.
"This race absolutely must be won."
Sitting inside the jockey waiting room at Nakayama Racecourse, the young man quietly muttered to himself.
"If I lose again, then my position as main rider will definitely be replaced. Although it's not like no stable has ever removed from a main rider position before…"
The young man subconsciously paused for a mont.
"and this definitely isn't referring to the jiro Family. But if I get removed specifically because of poor results—That would honestly be too embarrassing."
Shuta stretched his neck slightly before glancing once more toward today's track conditions.
"Although the weather outside is cloudy, the turf condition is still rated as 'Good.' Considering Nakayama Racecourse's track structure and the layout of the 1200-ter course today, I'll have to fight alongside Sakura Bakushin O."
The reason he said this was very simple.
Sakura Bakushin O possessed an extrely explosive temperant. The mont the gates opened, he always loved charging recklessly forward at full speed, fully living up to the "Bakushin" in his na.
Under today's circumstances, where there was almost no margin for error left, Shuta Ann no longer wanted to risk unnecessary complications.
Because of that, he had already decided.
From the very start of the race, he would aggressively urge Sakura Bakushin O forward himself, directly controlling the pace through force rather than allowing him to completely run wild on his own.
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