Chapter 42. Dream World's Takarazuka Kinen
Shuta Ann left the VIP area and headed to the media zone while Silence Suzuka prepared for her Winning Live.
The reporters who had been waiting there immediately noticed the brilliance of his smile. He was in an exceptionally good mood. That alone was enough to excite them—when Shuta Ann was relaxed, he occasionally revealed details he would otherwise keep guarded.
As the Trainer widely regarded as Japan's number one, yet with only two active Uma Musume in the Twinkle Series, information about Team Sadalsuud was notoriously scarce. Rumors surfaced from time to time, but confirmation from Shuta Ann himself was rare. This interview was an opportunity no one wanted to waste.
The first question came from Twinkle magazine, a publication under the URA Association.
"Congratulations on your first Takarazuka Kinen victory with Silence Suzuka, Trainer Shuta. How do you feel?"
A conventional opener.
"I'm extremely happy," Shuta Ann replied without hesitation. "Silence Suzuka has proven she is the strongest active middle-distance Uma Musume in Japan's Twinkle Series. Personally, winning the Takarazuka Kinen completes my Grand Prix set. That's meaningful."
The next reporter leaned forward. "Has Silence Suzuka's next race been decided? Is it what the commentator suggested earlier?"
"The Arlington Million is one option," Shuta Ann answered evenly. "But everything depends on her condition. I always design race schedules around the Uma Musume's physical state. Today's performance proves she can handle 2200 meters. If recovery goes well, I may consider another 2400-meter attempt. However, post-race examinations come first."
"Two thousand four hundred—" Several reporters immediately thought of the Japan Cup.
"Will Silence Suzuka defend the Japan Cup this year?" one pressed.
Shuta Ann shook his head slightly. "As you know, Tokyo Racecourse's 2400-meter configuration is unfavorable for front-runners. I'm not fully convinced she's matured enough to handle that distance under those conditions. At this point, the possibility of her running this year's Japan Cup is very low. After the Tenno Sho (Autumn), we may instead consider another overseas expedition."
The topic shifted.
"Could you share Mejiro Dober's upcoming schedule? She debuted impressively at Tokyo."
Shuta Ann gave a brief glance before replying. "Her next race will be the Hakodate Nisai Stakes. That doesn't mean we're committing to a short distance route. It's a temporary arrangement. Long term, she'll follow the traditional Triple Tiara path, aiming to become the second Triple Tiara winner since Mejiro Ramonu."
"A temporary arrangement?" a reporter caught the phrasing immediately. "Why?"
"Because my projected schedule includes overseas races," Shuta Ann said calmly. "To avoid returning empty-handed, we need a domestic graded win first. Hakodate serves that purpose."
"Can you reveal her overseas target?"
"Not yet," he replied with a light shrug. "After Hakodate, I'll decide whether to make it public."
The interview concluded soon after.
Silence Suzuka's Winning Live was about to begin. Shuta Ann positioned himself close to the stage, intent on watching every detail of her performance.
A middle-aged man approached and stood beside him. After a brief hesitation, he spoke.
"Good afternoon, Shuta-kun. I'm Stay Gold's Trainer—Kumazawa Yasuro."
Shuta Ann turned and offered a polite bow. "Good afternoon, Senior Kumazawa. It's a pleasure."
"Silence Suzuka is truly strong," Kumazawa Yasuro admitted with a wry smile. "For a moment, I thought Stay Gold might take it. But in the final fifty meters, I realized I'd been overly optimistic."
"That wasn't misjudgment," Shuta Ann replied. "Stay Gold ran exceptionally well. She's adaptable from 2000 to 3200 meters. There will be many chances for her to claim a G1."
Kumazawa Yasuro sighed. "Opportunities are one thing. Whether she'll stay patient with me until then is another."
Shuta Ann arched an eyebrow slightly. "Is there something you'd like to ask?"
Kumazawa laughed awkwardly, realizing he'd been read. "Nothing troublesome. I simply wanted your opinion. Given Stay Gold's profile, are there suitable overseas G1 races she could target?"
"Overseas G1s…" Shuta Ann paused briefly. "With her distance range, there are numerous options. Do you have additional criteria?"
Kumazawa scratched his head. "She seems…particularly interested in high prize money."
That narrowed the field instantly.
Several premier middle- and long-distance turf races surfaced in Shuta Ann's mind. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was dismissed almost immediately—its current competitive level far exceeded Stay Gold's.
That left alternatives such as the Breeders' Cup Turf, as well as Australia's elite staying events.
He laid out his analysis succinctly for Kumazawa Yasuro.
"Thank you, Shuta-kun. I'll study them carefully and discuss with Stay Gold before deciding." Kumazawa bowed deeply.
Shuta Ann did not step aside. The gesture was earned. Domestic trainers still possessed limited understanding of overseas circuits; it was precisely why someone like Kumazawa sought him out.
As the music began on stage and the crowd's cheers swelled, Shuta Ann watched Silence Suzuka under the lights.
"Honestly," he murmured inwardly, "I hope she chooses Australia's pinnacle—the Melbourne Cup. But the risk is immense. She probably won't."
That evening, after a simple two-person celebration in Shinsaibashi, Shuta An and Silence Suzuka boarded the Shinkansen back to Tokyo.
"Rest properly for the next month," Shuta An said after some thought. "Once Dober finishes the Hakodate Nisai Stakes in early August, we'll prepare to head to America again."
The idea of challenging the Arlington Million this summer was undeniably tempting.
"I can go to Hakodate as well," Silence Suzuka replied. "It's summer break anyway. I feel more at ease in Hokkaido than at the academy."
After a brief pause, she added, "Tokyo is just—too hot in summer."
On that point, Shuta An fully agreed. Even Oguri had fled Tokyo's oppressive heat after the Dream Cup, taking Berno to Okinawa to recover. If not for Mejiro Dober's upcoming race, he might have done the same.
"Then we'll go together," he decided. "Originally, I only planned to bring Teio."
Suzuka quietly exhaled in relief.
Good thing I mentioned it first. Otherwise, Teio would have been unbearably smug.
—
By the time Shuta An arrived home, the clock had already struck midnight. After a quick shower, he collapsed into bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
During the ride back from Osaka, Suzuka had remained close beside him, keeping him subtly tense. He had been careful—almost overly careful—not to do anything that might make her uncomfortable.
Once home, that tension dissolved into sheer exhaustion. It followed him even into the Dream World.
Tonight's dream challenge was the Takarazuka Kinen.
Because Mejiro McQueen had been entrusted to Yutaka Take by the head of the Mejiro family, Shuta An had declined Trainer Okudaira Shinji's invitation to ride Mejiro Ryan. Instead, he accepted Kansai trainer Sakaguchi Masanori's offer and partnered with Tai Eagle, a horse whose résumé included only a single OP victory.
Mejiro Ryan's main jockey, Norihiro Yokoyama, had been deeply moved.
"Even though we're not close, Shuta-kun gave me so much respect by not competing for the ride," he said emotionally. "After the race, I'll take him to the best bar in Osaka—we won't leave until we collapse!"
When this reached Shuta An's ears, he could only twitch his lips. Yokoyama had completely misunderstood—but gaining goodwill was never a bad thing.
He had thoroughly reviewed Tai Eagle's past races. A textbook front-runner. Modest finishing speed. Drawn in gate four—acceptable. Once committed to the mount, he already knew how he would ride it.
"Its ability isn't top-tier in this field," he admitted privately, "but with the right positioning, it can absolutely disrupt the favorites."
He would never say such a thing in front of the stable staff.
After the break, Tai Eagle obediently settled into fourth under his guidance. On the inside, Mejiro Ryan advanced steadily; on the outside, Mejiro McQueen moved up in parallel. Yokoyama and Yutaka Take had chosen identical early strategies.
Not ideal.
When Iide Satan in the lead signaled an intent to ease the pace, Shuta An instantly recognized the danger. Still, there was nothing he could responsibly attempt. Tai Eagle lacked the class to play games here. He stayed patient.
Entering the backstretch, Yutaka Take allowed Mejiro McQueen to steady slightly, conserving energy. Yokoyama seized the inside advantage and pressed forward to pressure Iide Satan.
One advanced. One retreated.
Shuta An remained still.
"Not yet. Let Tai Eagle run comfortably."
The lessons learned alongside Tokai Teio guided him. Talent differed wildly, but sound riding principles did not.
Most of the time, allow the horse to find its rhythm. After all, the one running knows more about running than the rider above.
Approaching the final straight, Mejiro Ryan took command. Mejiro McQueen swung wide, launching a powerful outside drive.
Shuta An, however, did not immediately deploy the windmill whip. Starting too early would cost him a 100,000-yen fine.
Instead, he drove with his body—pressing Tai Eagle's head down forcefully, then lifting the reins in rhythm. The motion sharpened efficiency. Across the Central circuit, few could replicate it; Tahara Seiki was still learning.
At the base of the uphill, Mejiro McQueen closed to within a length.
Now.
He maintained the left-hand drive and finally brought the whip down with his right. Not instructional—pure stimulation.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
Even partnered with the eighth favorite, he rode as if victory were possible.
I'll at least make him work for it.
His movements intensified, but Tai Eagle's response was limited by ability.
"Mejiro Ryan crosses the finish line! After five failed G1 attempts, victory at last!"
"And Shuta An, who passed on the favored Mejiro McQueen, takes a stunning second aboard Tai Eagle! Mejiro McQueen finishes third by a nose!"
Shuta An dismounted smiling, high-fived Tai Eagle's groom, then turned toward Yutaka Take with a radiant grin.
"Looks like neither of us won."
Yutaka Take exhaled softly. The Mejiro family's entourage was still celebrating with Norihiro Yokoyama and had not noticed them.
"No," he replied quietly. "Ann-san won."