Chapter 59: Kikuka-shō Trial

There are two trial races for the Kikuka-shō (Japanese St. Leger): the G2 St. Lite Kinen and the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai. Regardless of whether they belong to the Central or regional training centers, any horse girl who places within the top three in these trial races will earn priority entry into the Kikuka-shō.

Additionally, horse girls who win the Ōka-shō (Japanese 1000 Guineas), Satsuki-shō (Japanese 2000 Guineas), Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), or Tokyo Yūshun (Japanese Derby) are also granted priority entry.

This means that Ōka-shō winner Guriko and Yushun Himba (and Japan Dirt Derby) champion Happy Meek could enter the Kikuka-shō if they wanted. But since they're primarily focused on sprinting or the Tiara races, they probably won’t show up… Still, Happy Meek, who can handle long distances just fine, is technically a threat. A very minor one, though.

Getting back on topic, the Kikuka-shō trial races tend to attract late-summer bloomers aiming for that priority entry. Here, "late-summer bloomers" refers to horse girls who built up their strength in summer races, climbing from lower-class conditions to open-class victories.

It’s not uncommon for a horse girl to struggle until a certain point, only to suddenly transform like a mutation, performing so well it’s as if her past was a lie. Riding a winning streak, she rockets to stardom.

This year, there are three such horse girls: Joyeux, Hot Commander, and Little Flower. Below is what I’ve gathered from their Uma-Musume profiles and Monthly Twinkle.

Joyeux had zero wins in seven starts (turf and dirt) by late June and was even considering transferring to regional tracks or dropping out of the training center. But in the July Week 2 2600m Maiden Race, she abruptly awakened.

That victory kicked off a three-race streak: the Akan Lake Special (2600m, conditions race), followed by the Tanchō Stakes (2600m, open class). Flaunting her long-distance potential, she’s set her sights on the Kobe Shimbun Hai next, signaling her confidence in the Kikuka-shō.

Hot Commander, after eight losses, won the July Week 1 2000m Maiden Race and then went on a tight-schedule rampage: the Date Special (2000m, conditions race) in July Week 3, the Shinano River Special (2000m, conditions race) in August Week 2, and the G3 Kokura Kinen (2000m) in August Week 4.

Now a top contender for fall, she specializes in 2000m, so while she won’t run in the Kikuka-shō, she’s reportedly prepping for the Tennō-shō (Autumn). Her next race is the G2 All Comers (2200m).

Little Flower had two wins in four junior-level races before fracturing a leg in a training accident, derailing her spring classics campaign. Returning in summer, she won the 2-win-class Kisogawa Special (2000m), then placed second in the open-class Tomoe-shō (1800m) before dominating the open-class Kanketsu Stakes (1800m).

Though she lost to Air Groove in the G2 Sapporo Kinen, she proved she could compete with senior-level talent. Her team stated, "Her injury has fully healed. We’re also considering longer distances." True to their word, she’s entered the G2 St. Lite Kinen next—clearly eyeing the Kikuka-shō.

Destiny, who fought hard in the spring classics, is also reportedly aiming for the Kikuka-shō. According to Tomio, she spent summer grinding in conditions races, alternating losses and wins before making major strides. She’s set to run in the Kobe Shimbun Hai.

Three different paths, ten different destinies—and so, the Asahi Hai St. Lite Kinen begins in mid-September. The top contenders are late-summer bloomer Little Flower and King Halo, with a full gate of 18 horse girls.

Tomio and I, camped in front of the TV with stacks of data on all 18, began our analysis. On pure specs, King Halo has the edge over Little Flower… but you can’t underestimate that momentum—the sheer force of a horse girl riding a hot streak.

Factoring in skill, momentum, and gate luck, it’s a toss-up—or so Tomio claimed.

"King-chan’s running in the Kikuka-shō, huh?"

"Mm… what’s that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I think she’s better suited to mid-distance or shorter."

"Maybe… but she’s got the talent to run anywhere. Win or lose, she should race where she wants."

Flipping through Tomio’s painstakingly compiled notes, we watched the paddock closely.

『Gate 1, No. 2—King Halo, the favorite!』

『Her conditioning seems decent. Though she’s been winless lately, she’ll be gunning for a comeback victory today.』

King Halo swept a hand through her hair in the paddock. As always, her face was stunning—but compared to her usual self, her expression seemed clouded. Her perfectly shaped brows were slightly furrowed, lacking the usual dominance she shows in G1s. Maybe her trainer was keeping her peak for the Kikuka-shō a month later, letting her form dip for now.

『Gate 7, No. 15—Little Flower, second favorite!』

『Though she finished second to Air Groove last time, her talent among the classic-generation horse girls is undeniable. Can she ride this momentum to victory?』

A chestnut horse girl with glasses waved cheerfully, flashing a friendly smile. That was Little Flower—the unstoppable force on a hot streak. Scanning her stats, I listened to the commentary.

—Little Flower. Height: 167 cm, Weight: ◾︎◾︎ kg. B85, W60, H87— (Why do I even know this? I’ll grill Tomio later.) —Turf: A, Dirt: G. Distance suitability: 1800-3200m (tentative). Running style: mid-pack closer. Speed and power are top-class in her generation—* Basically, a stacked résumé.

As the paddock cleared, the screen switched to the turf, where horse girls were being led out. Little Flower, brimming with energy, beamed at the crowd—radiating confidence. Maybe her battle against Air Groove, last year’s Horse of the Year, had given her that boost.

Well, fighting strong opponents does build confidence. When I first raced King-chan and Spe-chan, even though I lost, it made me think, "If I push myself, I can compete with them!"

"Who do you think will win, Tomio?"

"King Halo or Little Flower."

"Cheater, naming two!"

"Could be a dead heat."

"Ugh, fine, we don’t know, so whatever. Ugh, I’m so nervous!"

"If you could see the future—know the race results, know what’s ahead—would you want to, Apollo?"

"Eh~, I’d hate that. Sounds boring."

"Yeah, figures."

"Since no one can predict the future, everyone’s pushing themselves to the brink, right? They’ll all end up burned out at this rate."

"Well said."

"Right?"

The Asahi Hai St. Lite Memorial is 2200 meters. Honestly, since the Kikuka-shō is 3000 meters, you’d think there’d be a 2800-meter trial race… Not that I’d know the details, anyway.

Shifting my gaze from the documents to the monitor, the brass band appears just as the fanfare blares. As the music fades, 18 horse girls settle into the gates. Clear skies, firm turf—perfect conditions. Finally, all the racers are locked in.

A moment of silence. The girls in the gates tense, crouching low as they gather strength. The start is make-or-break, so the pressure is immense. Positioning advantages aside, a single misstep could decide the entire race.

As I swallow hard, the dry clack of the gates rings out. The race begins, the horse girls tearing across Nakayama Racecourse. Cheers and hoofbeats erupt, the monitor bursting to life in an instant.

Early on, front-runner Lanzknecht sets the pace. The slightly slow tempo bunches the pack tight, with the forward group hemming in the chasing squad up front. King Halo, positioned toward the front near the inner rail, radiates frustration—likely aggravated by her inside draw. Meanwhile, Little Flower, starting from the outer gate, surveys the field with calm precision.

"This is…"

Tomio murmurs, hand on his chin. He doesn’t elaborate, but the implication is clear: "No way King Halo wins trapped like this." And he’s right. Marked hard and stumbling at the start, she’s boxed in completely. Her fury practically burns through the screen—but it’s not just the usual temper. This is volcanic.

Why? She’s seething. Sure, her distaste for crowded fields is known, but this rage is extreme. A botched start? Failing to secure position amid the swarm? No. This isn’t anger at others—it’s self-directed.

Even from afar, her frustration scalds me. Since her Hopeful Stakes win, losses piled up—Yayoi-shō, Satsuki-shō, the Derby. The agony of unmet potential, the guilt toward her trusting trainer—it all twists in my chest.

『Final corner! Into the homestretch! Lanzknecht clings to the lead! Little Flower surges wide with a devastating charge! The pack shifts—positions changing fast!!』

『With this slow pace and Nakayama’s short stretch, frontrunners hold the edge!』

No gaps open for King Halo. Inner rail to her right, rivals to her left, walls of runners ahead. No room to drop back or swing wide. She whips her head around, scouting escape routes, but the futility only tightens her jaw.

Meanwhile, Little Flower rockets past the pack, exploiting the clearer outer path. Her stamina—a long-distance weapon—fuels a wide, sweeping attack.

Her gaze flicks toward King Halo for a split second before centrifugal force carries her wider, launching her final sprint. Only 310 meters left. King Halo remains buried in the pack.

『Lanzknecht fights! Little Flower unleashes her closing kick! Is this a two-horse duel!? Where’s favorite King Halo!? Still trapped far back—struggling desperately!!』

The front-running Ranka Tsunehito surges ahead, while Little Flower accelerates from the far outside to chase her down. Given the considerable gap between the two, Ranka likely can't use her Competitive Spirit now. Is Little Flower planning to overtake from the outside with that in mind?

As they pass the 200-meter mark, Ranka Tsunehito leads by half a length over Little Flower, with the chasing pack two lengths further behind. King Halo is nowhere to be seen amid the crowded field—perhaps trapped in the inside traffic. But we all know King-chan isn't the type to fold here.

『At the 200-meter pole, Ranka Tsunehito gets caught! Little Flower storms past from the outside!! Is this the decider?!』

The announcer's shout coincides with Little Flower's momentary grin as she establishes a two-length lead. The exhausted frontrunner trails in second, with third place even further back. Most spectators think it's over—until a shadow tears through the pack, flashing across the screen for just an instant.

—King Halo.

『What?! King Halo—King Halo is scraping the inside rail at full speed!! What grit! What determination to win!! She's closed the gap with Little Flower from three—no, two lengths!!』

King Halo rams through the inner fence, forcing open a path through the wall of horse girls. It's a near-suicidal move—at this speed, hitting the rail should spell disaster. Even if the inner rail is designed to be softer, a fall would be inevitable. Yet King Halo charges through the tightest line, hungering for victory.

『King Halo fights on!! Little Flower holds firm!! But—King Halo's momentum won't stop!! Under 150 meters left!! King or Little?! It's still anyone's race!!』

King Halo's gym clothes and white number tag are filthy. Whether from collisions in the pack or biting her lip—crimson blood drips from her mouth. Her fighting spirit transcends the screen. Roaring wide-mouthed, she pumps her arms desperately to chase Little Flower.

I'm moved. Her tenacity is beautiful. Before I know it, my fists are clenched and raised.

"Go, King-chan! You got this!!"

"King Halo... what an Uma Musume."

With trainer-stunning power, King Halo bursts through the pack, her battered body showcasing the fastest closing speed despite having no 『Zone』. 100 meters left. After erasing Little Flower's lead, she brushes past every rival in one sweeping motion.

Little Flower's shock lasts only an instant before she tries countering—but the 2200-meter curtain falls here.

『GOOOOAL!! The strongest closing kick of this generation!! King Halo wins!! From a hopeless position at the final turn, she carved a path along the razor's edge of the inner rail!! Little Flower takes a valiant second!!』
『Little Flower ran a perfect race. This is King Halo's victory to celebrate.』

Buried in traffic with no path forward, King Halo's guts and grit snatched her first win in nine months. Nakayama Racecourse erupts with cheers rivaling a G1, the triumphant "King Call" echoing through the stands. I join the chorus:

"King-chan, you're amazing!! King! King!"

"Sigh... we'll need to reinforce King Halo's mark now..."

The trainer's remark cools my excitement, reminding me that beyond Agnes Tachyon's "unknown territory," we must also reckon with the summer growth of other horse girls.

This premonition would grow stronger at the upcoming Kobe Shimbun Hai and Kyoto Daishoten.

—At the Kobe Shimbun Hai, Special Week dominates by eight lengths over summer-improved rivals including Joyeuse. Then at the Kyoto Daishoten, Seiun Sky crushes Tenno Sho (Spring) winner Mejiro Bright by five lengths. Facing rivals honed beyond expectations, our challenges grow ever more complex and formidable.