The moment she entered the final bend, Vodka slowly lowered her body.
Unlike the leading pace set by Daiwa Scarlet and Kitasan Black, her steps were remarkably steady and powerful. There was a subtle sense of method to her movement, as if she had already predicted Daiwa Scarlet's acceleration.
And she had.
Having raced against her rival many times throughout her career, Vodka knew Daiwa Scarlet all too well.
Her goal at this moment was clear. She would use the bend to close the gap as much as possible before the final straight and set herself up for the last sprint.
While keeping a close eye on Daiwa Scarlet, she did not neglect Kitasan Black either.
She glanced at the younger horse on her inside, gave a small smile, then quickly refocused on what lay ahead.
"Not bad, Kita-chan. To think you could keep up this far…"
As she murmured to herself, her eyes stayed locked on the exit of the final bend. The moment she came out of the turn, her gaze fixed on the familiar figure up front, one she knew better than anyone.
At the same time, her peripheral vision caught two other figures running side by side on the outside and closing in from behind at an angle.
"Special Week and Gold Ship have caught up too…"
"But if you two keep going like this…"
"You won't beat Daiwa Scarlet!"
With a low roar, she lowered her body once more. The momentum she had built since entering the bend surged through her. Her long brown ears and tail shot straight back, then swung out in a wide arc to the left.
She suddenly accelerated, charging straight after Daiwa Scarlet right in front of her.
Slightly ahead and to Vodka's inside, Kitasan Black felt a familiar twinge in her chest.
Just like Daiwa Scarlet, Vodka's timing for her move was not only precise but carried an indescribable finesse that Kitasan Black found hard to read.
In an instant, the same uncomfortable feeling of being held back from the early part of the race washed over her again. She instinctively wanted to break free the same way she had before and copy her senior's powerful move through the bend.
But this time she could not do it. She could not imitate it.
She felt as if the great strength she usually possessed was trapped inside her body. Even though her mind was giving the orders, her legs and hips refused to obey. All she could do was watch helplessly as her senior swept past her on the left.
Over the broadcast, Tokai Teio's voice suddenly grew louder.
"She's catching up! Vodka is catching up!
"She's overtaken Kitasan Black at the exit of the bend and is going straight for Daiwa Scarlet. Is she challenging her old rival once again?!"
Mejiro McQueen's voice, on the other hand, remained calm.
"Daiwa Scarlet's finishing style is different from most front-runners. She still has plenty of sprint left in her. At this stage, you can't afford to wait until the straight like you would against other escape horses. You need to go after her and fight her head-on right now."
"Vodka's strategy is perfectly targeted. Truly worthy of a longtime rival!"
By the end, even she could not hide her growing excitement.
Tokai Teio continued in his booming voice.
"Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka have entered the final straight! Vodka has caught up!
"They're running side by side now!
"Exactly! Vodka isn't giving her rival any breathing room! These two Uma Musume are so close! They're neck and neck!
"This is a true one-on-one battle!"
The stands erupted. In everyone's eyes, the two leaders at the front of the pack entered the final straight together.
From the side, Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka's figures almost overlapped. Their two brown tails streamed straight out behind them in the wind as large clumps of grass flew up in their wake.
Left behind by her two seniors, Kitasan Black was shocked. Yet she also clearly felt the earlier uncomfortable sensation of being restrained disappear.
She vaguely understood that the rich experience and superior technique her seniors had displayed had kept her in a passive position ever since the race began.
Especially here in the final straight. Whether in training or in a Training Race, what she excelled at most was running in the lead from start to finish and claiming victory that way.
Being stuck in the awkward third position meant too many of her familiar tactics and preferred strengths could not be used. At this moment, she even felt uncomfortable simply trying to sprint normally.
The last time she had briefly broken out of that passive state was by taking the initiative. So now she had to chase actively once again.
However, just as she adjusted her breathing and stride, a fierce set of hoofbeats came thundering from her left. Her pupils shrank.
She turned her head in disbelief, only to see a dark figure flash past as if tearing through the air.
At the same time, Tokai Teio, who was commentating live, suddenly paused.
"Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka are still locked in a one-on-one battle, they… But! But!
"Suddenly bursting from the outside! Special Week has caught up!
"There are still 300 meters to the finish line!
"Special Week is holding her position away from Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka. Those two are still fighting each other, but Special Week has already overtaken them!
"Truly the General!
"Truly the power of the General's final spurt!
"But Daiwa Scarlet and Vodka aren't giving up that easily. They're both closing in on Special Week!
"Vodka is faster! She's getting closer to Special Week!
"A final spurt showdown!
"Now it's a final spurt showdown!
"Only 200 meters left!
"Will this chaotic three-way battle continue right to the end? Or… Wait!
"It's her, after all!
"Gold Ship… is finally making her move!!!"
The moment Tokai Teio shouted Gold Ship's name, even Mejiro McQueen could no longer contain her excitement.
"As expected of Gold Ship. She always brings surprises!
"Her stamina is the best preserved, and her finishing kick is every bit as strong as her opponents in front. That acceleration just now was perfectly timed!
"She's catching up!
"Now only four lengths behind… No, three lengths… two lengths behind!
"As expected of Gold Ship!"
For a brief moment, the entire racecourse fell into a strange silence.
Astonishment filled the eyes of every spectator. Everyone was left speechless by the dazzling battle unfolding on the final straight.
Then, in the next second, that astonishment turned into pure delight. Unprecedented cheers exploded over the Tracen Academy track.
Earlier, the crowd had been clearly cheering for their own favorite idols. But now all the voices blended together into one massive, indescribable roar.
For the spectators of this Training Race, it no longer mattered who they were supporting. What mattered was witnessing these legendary figures, forever etched in racing history, once again running and battling with everything they had on the green turf.
On the track, in Kitasan Black's eyes, as the three leading seniors clashed with overwhelming power up ahead, another tall, silver-gray figure burst forth from beside her.
That imposing silver-gray-haired figure charged forward without hesitation, calmly slicing through the side of the fierce battle in front and racing straight toward the finish line.
No matter which of them she looked at, they all felt impossibly far out of reach.
Uncontrollably, a deep sense of powerlessness rose up from the bottom of her heart.
But that feeling of helplessness lasted only a moment.
I haven't lost yet…
The Training Race isn't over yet…
I haven't lost!
Her fingernails dug hard into her palms. The surging power throughout her body replaced the helplessness she had felt. Her breathing grew shorter and shorter until she held it completely. Kitasan Black slammed her hooves into the ground and desperately chased after the figures ahead of her.
Moments later…
"Crossing the finish line! The champion of this Training Race… is Gold Ship! Thank you! Thank you very much! Thank you all so much for this wonderful Training Race!"