Behind the starting gates, Offside Trap's gaze was sharp and steady as she listened to the runner in the outermost stall step into place.
The commentator's voice and the roar of the crowd all poured into her ears. She lowered her body slightly, eyes fixed straight ahead.
Bang!
The instant the gates flew open, her figure shot out with them.
[Lord of the Dimensional Realm bond activated: all attribute-enhancing effects gain an additional 5% increase.]
[Earthguard bond activated: Strength +30, Stamina +30, Guts +30, track aptitude correction +30%.]
[Otherworldly Shadowflow (all attributes +10%).]
[Variable Supercar (during the race: within 800m, Strength +5%; 800m–1400m, Intelligence +5%; 1400m–2000m, Speed +5%; 2000m–2400m, Stamina +5%).]
[Mockery of Stability (all opponents' corresponding attributes lower than the horse girl's are reduced by 50 points).]
[Deep Sea Rhapsody (Speed +200, Speed +50, Stamina +50, Strength +50, Guts +50, Intelligence +50, track influence -50%).]
[Level One Counterclockwise (Green)]
[Single-Minded Focus (Gold)]
No other runner appeared at her side.
And Offside Trap did not hesitate for even a moment. There had never been a clear front-runner in this race to begin with, so after breaking brilliantly from the gate, she did not slow down. She simply pressed on, turning that advantage into momentum.
"And they're off! All eight horse girls have broken cleanly! At the front right now is Japan's Offside Trap! Right behind her is Royal Anthem, sticking tight to her tail! Further outside is Central Park, already moving up—there's no obvious sign she intends to seize the lead outright, but Offside Trap has left her the room to try! Dolce, meanwhile, is sitting in the middle of the pack, still waiting for her chance!"
"The field is already bending right through the first small turn. The overall pace is not slow, and Offside Trap is the one setting it with her excellent condition today. But the pack is still compressed—those behind clearly have no intention of letting her open daylight while dictating a brisk tempo. Dolce remains slightly behind mid-pack, exactly the same as Good Dream. Good Dream herself is currently second- or third-last. Up front, Offside Trap is still leading, with Central Park to her outside. Once they return left, Central Park can cut directly toward the rail!"
Offside Trap flicked her eyes left.
The unfamiliar horse girl there wore a grim, concentrated expression, arms pumping hard as she clung stubbornly to Offside Trap's flank.
Offside Trap felt no concern at all.
Just from the fact that Central Park was already showing signs of strain while following her pace, Offside Trap could tell as much. On this slightly slippery turf, she had chosen to carry speed precisely because of her absolute confidence in her aptitude for heavy going.
Behind her, Royal Anthem's eyes widened faintly as she looked at Offside Trap's back.
She could clearly see how effortlessly the other girl was running—and that only made her more excited.
This was exactly the kind of powerful opponent she had wanted. Only against someone like this could victory taste worthy.
"The pack has now begun drifting toward the left side of the course! Offside Trap remains outside, but that's no problem! Central Park is on the inside, while Royal Anthem has also chosen a path toward the outer lanes. The three popularity leaders have all taken positions slightly to the outside, clearly reserving room for their finishing runs. Up front, Offside Trap! Behind her, Royal Anthem and Dolce both boast devastating finishing kicks—can Offside Trap really hold them off? The field has fully joined the left-handed running line! They're now entering the third and fourth turns, with Offside Trap and Central Park first to hit them—and the others are staying right on their heels!"
The cheers from the stands washed over the track, and the runners' ears twitched with rising excitement.
Further back, Good Dream could see all the major contenders in front of her.
She could feel that her stamina was still entirely sufficient for what remained, so she began quietly storing strength in her legs.
This final stretch at Epsom—more than six hundred meters straight—was a course that fundamentally tested finishing speed. The field would face the home straight on the fourth-last furlong.
Good Dream drew a breath and subtly adjusted her stride, shifting slightly outward.
Dolce and Royal Anthem, ahead of her, still had the luxury of waiting. She did not. She had to prepare for an earlier move. With the runners in front possessing such explosive closing speed, it would be arrogance to believe she could match their timing and still run past them.
"Still in front are Central Park and Offside Trap! The red-and-white silks inside, the solid blue outside—Central Park is still trying to hold on, but the pace has not dropped at all! Is she beginning to weaken? It certainly looks that way! And behind them, Royal Anthem is preparing to accelerate!"
"Royal Anthem! Royal Anthem has already come three wide and is moving! Her momentum is excellent! Dolce, on the other hand, continues to hold her rhythm through the center of the pack!"
Royal Anthem caught sight of Dolce slipping into the space she had just vacated and frowned.
If the runners ahead failed to create enough room when they launched for home, then Dolce would have willingly trapped herself in the very worst line.
That was definitely not the kind of race Dolce excelled at.
Even so, Royal Anthem kept most of her focus on Offside Trap.
The Japanese horse girl's condition had not weakened in the slightest. With stamina overflowing through her body, Offside Trap was galloping freely over Epsom's demanding turf.
[Race Planner (Gold-Blue)]
A golden radiance flared around her, and Offside Trap felt even lighter.
Her aptitude for this kind of ground made her bolder. She lifted the tempo a little further—if she had chosen this position, then naturally she meant to pressure those behind her, force Dolce, Royal Anthem, and Good Dream to show less than their absolute best.
Up in the stands, Shinji saw what she was doing.
Her judgment in-race had matured more and more—this was the experience and confidence accumulated through repeated races and repeated victories. She was no longer merely capable of thinking like this; she now dared to act on it.
He nodded in satisfaction.
Even Bally, standing nearby, could not help remarking inwardly on how flawless Offside Trap's handling of the race still was.
From the perfect break to her impeccable forward positioning, her tactics today were an orthodox front-running style created simply because there was no obvious pacesetter in the field. And that alone had already placed great pressure on the others.
"The field is now approaching the final straight, heading into Tattenham Corner! Up front, Offside Trap is beginning to edge the pace again, the field is beginning to lift slightly! Good Dream in the rear is already moving up through the middle! Is she launching a little early? She's in a very good position! And then Dolce on the inside! Further back, Pure Lady! The field is beginning to stretch! Central Park on the inside is losing momentum, which may create more room—but Royal Anthem on the outside is still refusing to let Offside Trap go! Good Dream has also surged up, but there is still some distance, still some distance! Offside Trap is accelerating again! Offside Trap is accelerating again! Offside Trap! Royal Anthem is keeping pace, but Good Dream can no longer cut into the gap!"
"So it's Offside Trap! Can Dolce still accelerate on the inside? Dolce seems to be gathering herself! But Royal Anthem on the outside is already turning this into a duel, and Dolce is still glued to them! The three popularity leaders have formed a battle for the front, the three popularity leaders are locked in battle! Behind them, Good Dream has already begun to lose contact—can she no longer go with them?"
"The final 400 meters! The final 400 meters! Offside Trap still at the head, still at the head! Dolce on the inside and Royal Anthem on the outside—the top three in the betting have claimed the first three places, answering the expectations of their fans, and all three are still giving absolutely everything!"
[Master Duelist (all attributes +15%)]
The moment Good Dream fell four lengths back, an overwhelming aura exploded from Offside Trap's body.
Fire flashed in Royal Anthem's eyes, while Dolce pressed her lips together.
This was the same burst Offside Trap had shown at the end of the Japan Cup.
But just as Dolce had sworn to herself moments ago—this time, on ground she could handle as well, she would not let Offside Trap get away.
The sky, calm until then, suddenly seemed to stir.
A brilliant golden radiance burst from Royal Anthem, imperial in force, blazing over Epsom.
At the same time, a pale glow rose from Dolce. Shimmering white flame-like shadows flickered at her eyes, and an equally powerful aura erupted from her, carving a dazzling slash through the open air.
The majesty of an emperor.
A white blade that could cut through everything.
Offside Trap could feel both tremendous pressures closing in on her from either side—and then the anklet at her ankle began to burn.
Wind howled past on both flanks. She knew who they were without needing to look.
Dolce.
Royal Anthem.
And as for herself—
She lowered her body further.
She no longer held back even the final reserve she had kept in her body, and drove down hard onto Epsom's turf with all her might.
The earth caved beneath her step.
She placed her final hope in her guts—she would trust her own instincts and run them all the way to the line.
"The last 300 meters! The last 300 meters! Dolce is suddenly accelerating on the inside! Has Royal Anthem on the outside begun to weaken—has she started to lose touch with the front pair? The gap is about a length and a half now! But up front, Offside Trap and Dolce—Dolce is still surging, still surging! Can Offside Trap hold her off?!"
"The last 200 meters! The last 200 meters! Offside Trap and Dolce! Will the result of the Japan Cup be overturned here today?! But half a length remains between them—Dolce simply cannot get by! Offside Trap in front is still defending, still defending! In the Japan Cup she proved to the world she was the sharpest spear—will she now prove, in the Coronation Cup, that she is also the strongest shield? The final 50 meters! After this, there may be no more dispute over the greatest middle-distance horse girl of this generation! Offside Trap and Dolce in front, Royal Anthem a length and a half back—Offside Trap, you have earned the right to contest a place in history! Offside Trap! First past the post!"
"The Land of the Rising Sun has finally welcomed the sun it has waited so long for! I am certain this race will be remembered forever, because Offside Trap has defended the future—her own, and the future of every expectation, every hope behind her!"
"The wind... has carried her from the depths of the valley... all the way to the summit of the world!"
"Offside Trap wins the Coronation Cup! Five straight G1 victories! As of this moment—without question—the number one in the world!"
Slowly, the girl eased down and turned to look back.
Her rivals had all crossed the line now, and all of them were looking at her.
They were greeting a new queen.
And she accepted the submission that she had carved out with her own hands.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 165)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter220)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter125)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter250)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 220
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 185
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 248
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 230
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 125
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 145
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 115
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 110
My Harem Is Indescribable 100
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 105
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 105
Still playing traditional Honk 80
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 85
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 78
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 80
Checking In in Demon Slayer 85
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 100
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 85
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 90
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 75
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 80
Why did they assign me to Uma 75
MYGO Beauties 70
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 70
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 80
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 80
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 57
The Uma Musume Who Became 55
I'm Definitely Not the King of 60
After Maxing Out Every Class 45
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 35
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 34
I, the Elden Sword Saint 27
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 24
No One Knows Pokémon Better 18
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 20
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin
My patreon : patreon.com/queen_sin