Sapporo Junior Special Prize
Early September, Sapporo turf 1800 m (mile race), right-handed.
Alone in her private lounge, Gold Legend studied herself in the mirror.
"Feels like ages since I last looked at myself like this."
Not bad at all.
Even in racing silks her beauty was unmistakable, and Gold Legend allowed herself a proud smile.
"Haa..."
She exhaled slowly.
This was her first stakes race—only G3, but stakes nonetheless—and the level of competition had jumped.
No matter.
She wasn't nervous; all the training she'd banked wouldn't lose its shine.
She rose, opened the door, crossed the silent backstretch, and stepped onto the track.
Instinctively she glanced at the grandstand: every familiar face was there.
Spica's teammates, Oguri Cap and Tama-senpai, plus the Student Council led by the chairwoman and Maruzensky-senpai.
They didn't have to come.
Touched, Gold Legend waved.
"You look pretty relaxed."
A voice she almost recognized spoke behind her. She turned.
"Oh, Miss Black Tiger?"
That was the name, right?
"...You actually remember me?"
The other Horse Girl looked stunned.
"You introduced yourself."
Basic courtesy.
"Still, you're the only familiar face out here."
Gold Legend swept her gaze across the field and sighed.
"...You remember all of them?"
Tiger's expression turned complicated.
"Every face—nothing more."
"But this is our third straight meeting—fourth if we count the qualifier. Funny, huh?"
Gold Legend sounded wistful.
"Fate? Maybe."
Tiger's tone stayed calm.
Silence settled.
The starting bugle told them it was time.
"This time I'll win."
Without warning, Tiger spoke, voice hard with resolve.
Gold Legend finally looked at her properly.
The white-coated girl pressed a fist to her chest, blue eyes blazing.
"...I won't lose, either."
Gold Legend answered.
"Then let's see!"
The white-flecked filly spun away, her coat glinting in the sun.
"After so many defeats..."
Maybe that relentless hope was exactly what made Horse Girls so captivating.
"Come to think of it, why's a white horse called Black Tiger?"
Gold Legend mused as the announcer's voice rang out: '"Sapporo Junior Special Prize! The most talked-about newcomers gather here today to face fellow rising stars!"'
"Top pick: undefeated in two starts, winning both by daylight—barrier eight, lane four—Gold Legend!"
"Second pick: racing once a month, she's built a huge fan base—four starts, two wins, two seconds—barrier three, lane one—Black Tiger!"
"Both seconds, by the way, behind Gold Legend—so this is a revenge match!"
the co-host added.
Gold Legend glanced at the white filly in surprise.
Feeling the stare, Tiger looked back.
"Honestly..."
Gold Legend shook her head.
"Stage is set! Sapporo Junior Special Prize—they're off!"
The gates sprang open; no one stumbled.
"There she goes!"
The white horse had kept her eyes on Gold Legend's break.
"I've improved too."
Already in race mode, Gold Legend showed the fruit of her training.
This time no one tried to box her in; every girl ran her own race.
All thirteen runners broke cleanly from the gate.
Out in front is Gold Legend, with Black Tiger glued to her flank.
Behind them come Face-Black Unlucky, Cherry Democracy, Chongwen Xuehui, Fujiwara Memories, Summer Color Luna...
The commentator begins calling the positions.
(No one's coming with us?)
Only Gold Legend and the white Uma Musume nicknamed Black Tiger remain at the head.
(So a front-running strategy really is the meta—then I won't hold back.)
Glancing at the leaders five lengths ahead of the two escapees, Gold Legend smiles.
"Oh! Gold Legend suddenly kicks—Black Tiger matches her stride for stride, and the pack is dropping away!"
I can't believe she stayed with me.
Gold Legend's sharpened senses catch the hoofbeats behind her.
"I'm not like the rest; that cheap trick won't fool me."
Knowing that falling back means defeat, the white girl hugs Gold Legend's trail, drafting to save stamina.
"Really? Then don't lose that tail."
Reading her intent, Gold Legend says no more.
From here on, there is only the run.
"They're flying! After Gold Legend and Black Tiger hit the gas, the field responds—incredible speed into turn two!"
"The tempo's jumped several notches."
Gold Legend still leads, still accelerating; the white Uma Musume stalks her, eyes fierce, giving everything.
The pack, caught off guard, scrambles to respond but watches the gap widen.
"Amazing—positions unchanged into turn three, but the leaders have opened an uncatchable margin!"
"Barring a miracle, the winner will come from the top two!"
In what feels like a blink, Gold Legend enters the fourth bend.
"600 m to go—time to settle it!"
She bursts from the curve onto the long home straight.
"Now!"
In that instant the white girl knows this is the moment.
A red aura flares, clamping Gold Legend's limbs; she stamps the turf and explodes.
She knows the aura lasts only an instant.
"Not bad!"
Snared, Gold Legend doesn't bother unleashing her own field.
I acknowledge you!
She surges again, shrugging off the aura's grip.
The two Uma Musume pull level.
(400 m… 300… 250… 220)
She counts the metres in her head.
200!
Here!
Field deploy.
Aurora blossoms around her.
The aura's chains shatter—Gold Legend rockets away!
!!
As if witnessing the impossible, the white girl's eyes go wide.
"And it's—Gold Legend across the line!"
The announcer crowns the victor… Gold Legend trots in front of the stands, waves to the roaring crowd, then ambles toward the backstretch.
The white runner, still heaving, sees her leave and gives chase.
"What… was that?"
Away from the crowd's roar, she calls out in the quiet tunnel.
"What do you mean?"
Gold Legend turns.
"Don't dodge the question—that light, what was it?"
Miss Tiger demands.
"Oh my, you could see it?"
Gold Legend looks surprised, then laughs.
"You really are something."
"Stop deflecting!"
"When you can unfold one yourself, you'll understand. Allow me to keep the secret—it's not mine to tell."
"What?"
Ignoring her bewilderment, Gold Legend turns to go.
"Still, racing you was a joy—next time, let's run together again!"
Can you blame me for looking forward to it?
With that hope, Gold Legend walks away.
"Next time… together?"
The white girl stands alone, legs trembling, staring at the vanished gold.
"Little Black Tiger, are you okay?"
A soft, gentle voice calls out.
"…Ah, Alf, I'm fine."
She answers, snapping back.
"Really? Promise you'll tell me—after all, I'm your Trainer."
"Mm, I'm okay. Hey, do you know Gold Legend's next race?"
"Hmm? Not for sure, but given the schedule Okino mapped out, her next start will be a G1 for newcomers—probably the Asahi F or the Hopeful Stakes."
"Can you enter me?"
"Huh? Oh, since it's a newcomers' race, entries are light. Win two more and you're out of here."
"Then enter me."
"…Your body—are you sure? We agreed you'd rest after this one."
"I'm fine. Some things you just can't walk away from!"
She clenches her fist.
"I want to beat her—not for those half-hearted hopes people dump on me, but for me. I want to win!"
"…All right."
The soft-voiced Trainer nods.
"Thanks for indulging me, Trainer."
"Only time you call me that… but it's okay—I'm your Trainer, after all."
"Mm."
She looks once more where Gold Legend vanished; the corridor is empty.
"Next time, I'll win."
With that vow, she steels herself.