Chapter 87. Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Part 2
Once the paddock presentations concluded, the eighteen Uma Musumes transitioned to Longchamp's turf course to begin their warm-ups.
Those who had presented earlier in the order had already finished their preliminary stretches and were lightly jogging, testing the feel of the afternoon's track conditions.
Stepping onto the grass, Tokai Teio immediately frowned. Comparing the sensation to the grueling summer turf at Ascot, she realized something was distinctly off.
The official listing says 'heavy,' but stepping on it—this feels more like yielding or outright bad ground, doesn't it?
She looked up, scanning the faces of her competitors.
Everyone had noticed it.
The famously outspoken Subotica was already loudly voicing her displeasure.
"This isn't heavy ground; it's straight-up bad ground! Do they think this is my first time running at Longchamp? Even at its absolute worst, heavy turf doesn't feel like a swamp!"
Hearing Subotica's outburst confirmed Tokai Teio's suspicions.
It seems the Longchamp officials deliberately sabotaged the turf conditions. This is going to drag the pace down to an absolute crawl.
But Tokai Teio couldn't fathom what possible benefit the Longchamp officials or the French URA Association stood to gain from such a petty move.
—
High above, in the top-floor executive suite of the grandstand, the newly appointed President of the French URA Association, Dominique, stood alongside the racecourse manager, looking down at the eighteen competitors and the bustling track staff.
"Mr. President, why did you specifically order us to soak the turf? Are you trying to stop Tokai Teio?"
The manager was still somewhat baffled by the directive he had received earlier.
"Something like that."
Dominique had originally come from a trainer background, though his career results had been thoroughly mediocre. Later, leveraging his wife's family connections, he had astutely transitioned into the French URA Association bureaucracy, where he thrived and rapidly climbed the ranks.
He had never personally interacted with Shuta An, nor was he the French representative who had attended the previous IFUA meetings. However, in Dominique's view, Shuta An's family history practically guaranteed he harbored deep-seated hostility toward the French URA and the local Twinkle Series.
If I were in his shoes, I would undoubtedly seek retaliation.
Dominique reasoned.
Driven by this paranoia, the French URA Association had subtly manipulated the reimbursement limits for overseas Uma Musumes participating in the Arc this year. The stipend was perfectly sufficient for European competitors but fell short of covering Tokai Teio's extensive travel and lodging costs.
When Shuta An completely ignored the slight, rather than feeling reassured, Dominique had grown even more vigilant. In a desperate bid for control, he had abused his personal connections to order Longchamp to thoroughly drench the turf.
If, in my very first year in office, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is claimed by an overseas Uma Musume—especially one managed by a trainer who is destined to be an enemy of France—God only knows what kind of humiliation he will inflict upon us during the post-race interviews and the Winning Live. I have to find a way to stop him.
Due to the intense global scrutiny, Dominique couldn't deploy more overtly underhanded tactics; modifying the track conditions was the absolute limit of his power.
The man has Secretariat backing him, not to mention the full institutional weight of Japan. Fabricating a scandal to disqualify him would only destroy my own career.
Dominique didn't want to make a permanent enemy of Shuta An; he just wanted to ensure Tokai Teio didn't win.
Had Shuta An known about Dominique's petty sabotage, he would have laughed in his face and remarked that the man's abysmal record as a trainer was entirely deserved.
—
"The worse the ground, the more it plays to Teio's advantage. Meanwhile, all those local Uma Musumes who rely on pristine turf are currently pulling their hair out."
The young man watched the conflicted, frustrated expressions of the runners on the field, a brilliant, predatory smile spreading across his face.
Down on the track, Tokai Teio was initially anxious. But as she recalled her lover's meticulous analysis, a fierce courage welled up in her chest.
Ann said that if the ground becomes atrociously heavy, it actually gives me the biggest advantage. I conquered the brutal turf at Ascot; I am the one best adapted to this kind of slog. Thinking about it that way, the ground being worse than advertised is actually a blessing!
The Uma Musumes were not given much more time to deliberate. The massive starting gates were wheeled into position, waiting for the eighteen competitors to load. Tokai Teio, drawing Gate 11, was among the earlier group to load in.
Stepping into the narrow stall, she habitually glanced left and right, confirming the positions of her immediate neighbors.
Sapience in Gate 10 and User Friendly in Gate 9 are both front-runners. But considering the raw difference in their specs, User Friendly should easily dictate the pace. In that case, I'll just tuck in right behind Sapience to secure my stalking position.
Vert Amande in Gate 12 is a dedicated chaser. The slow pace of this race won't change her tactical programming; she'll drop to the very back of the pack even if the first 1,000 meters takes a glacial 70 seconds. I definitely don't need to worry about her challenging me for early position.
Polytain in Gate 13 is this year's French Derby winner, but she suffered a crushing defeat here at Longchamp recently after getting boxed in during the Prix Niel. She might try to push forward aggressively today to avoid repeating that mistake. But it's equally possible she simply hates this turf. If that's the case, her initial acceleration won't hold a candle to mine. Even if she wants to fight me for position, she won't have the legs for it.
Having mentally mapped out every possible permutation of the break, Tokai Teio settled into her starting stance, waiting as Saganeca slowly made her way to the outermost Gate 18.
At that exact moment in Japan, the Japanese Green Channel commentator began his impassioned opening monologue—
"Speed Symboli. Mejiro Musashi. Sirius Symboli. El Condor Pasa—"
"Unplaced. 18th. 14th. 2nd—"
"Time and time again, our Uma Musumes have stood just one step away from the absolute pinnacle of world turf racing. Yet, in the years since El Condor Pasa's heroic run, not a single one has managed to even crack the top ten. Are we cursed? Must the lingering regrets of the Washington, D.C. International bleed forever into the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe? Can we truly never conquer this damned 2,400-meter summit?"
"But finally, amidst the hopes and prayers of a nation, Team Sadalsuud's Undefeated Triple Crown Uma Musume, Tokai Teio, has arrived at the Bois de Boulogne! Today, at this very moment, she stands upon the turf of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, bearing the collective dreams of every Japanese Twinkle Series professional and fan, carrying a legacy that stretches back decades to the era of Speed Symboli!"
"If even Tokai Teio—if even Team Sadalsuud, with their peerless overseas record, cannot achieve this—"
The commentator's voice cracked with emotion before surging with absolute conviction.
"But I believe! And I ask all of you watching on your televisions or listening on your radios to believe with me! Tokai Teio will absolutely not betray our expectations!"
"SAGANECA LOADS INTO GATE 18! A THIRTY-YEAR-LONG DREAM CULMINATES IN THIS SINGLE, DEFINING MOMENT! LET US SEND OUR CHEERS TO TOKAI TEIO!"
"THE GATES FLY OPEN! AND THEY ARE OFF!"