Sugimoto Kentaro calmly organized the docunts in his hands. For soone as seasoned as him in the racing circuit, this was all second nature. It was just another G2-level stakes race, after all—he'd even lost count of how many Classic Triple Crown races he'd comntated on. There was no need to feel rushed.
Noticing the young rookie beside him looking rather nervous, Sugimoto adjusted his glasses thoughtfully before giving the younger man's shoulder a reassuring pat, signaling him to take a break and calm his nerves.
Nodding at the grateful junior, Sugimoto took over the materials he'd prepared.
As he skimd through the list of Uma Musu participating in this race, Sugimoto habitually began ntally outlining each competitor's na and current form.
"rci Stage… if I recall, I've comntated on her races before. She won the G3 Arlington Cup and the Daily Hai, and even ran in this year's Satsuki Shō and Japanese Derby."
At that thought, Sugimoto couldn't help but shake his head and sigh inwardly.
'But her performances in both classic championship races were lackluster.'
'Then again, that's hardly surprising. Her opponent was that monstrous filly who blots out the sun. This year's Triple Crown series probably doesn't have anyone who can match her. Looks like we're about to witness another Triple Crown winner.'
Realizing his thoughts were wandering, Sugimoto quickly rubbed his temples and pushed everything unrelated to this race out of his mind. As a professional comntator, he owed it to every race and every Uma Musu to stay focused.
Once he'd recentered himself, he continued flipping through the list.
"Fujino Makken O… if I rember right, she placed third in the Satsuki Shō and fourth in the Japanese Derby this year. A tenacious one, that filly. Maybe she'll put on a noteworthy performance in this race?"
With that thought, he turned to the next page.
"Star Man…"
Sugimoto's gaze lingered on the photo printed on the page—a short-haired Uma Musu with a bright, cheerful smile.
'Her running form is truly exceptional. She must be the most naturally gifted Uma Musu in this year's Kobe Shimbun Hai.'
He flipped through a few more pages, but none of the other entrants seed to asure up to the first three.
'Seems like the winner of this year's Kobe Shimbun Hai will be one of these three.'
Drawing on years of experience comntating on races, Sugimoto made his early judgnt. Picking out the most likely winners beforehand also helped him guide the audience's attention during the broadcast.
Even though he'd already made up his mind, he didn't close the folder just yet. Instead, he continued reading through each profile one by one.
To Sugimoto, this was the most basic respect he could show every Uma Musu on the track.
There could only be one winner, but every single one who set foot on the course was equally courageous in his eyes. On that battlefield of power and speed, every Uma Musu deserved that much respect.
Soon, he'd finished reviewing all nine profiles for this cup race. But just as he was about to set the materials aside, he noticed one more docunt tucked at the back.
'A late entry? I'm surprised anyone would sign up at this stage.'
Turning to the noticeably newer set of papers, Sugimoto's hands began to tremble the instant he saw the na, nearly dropping the folder altogether.
Staring at the surna, Sugimoto felt his focus waver—a rare occurrence for him.
"Northern… Dreams."
"Northern, huh…"
The mont he saw that na, his mind drifted back to a distant mory.
When he was just a boy, his father had taken him to the racetrack. Held in his father's arms, his young eyes had been captivated by one figure—a breathtaking presence that outshone every other Uma Musu on the field.
Even now, well into middle age, Sugimoto still held that Uma Musu firmly in his heart.
Her surna was Northern.
And it had been a long ti since Sugimoto had seen that na on the race program.
His calloused fingers gently traced over that deeply rembered surna as if touching sothing precious, and he murmured almost unconsciously,
'Only an Uma Musu worthy of inheriting that glory would bear the na Northern. So her appearance must an the Northern family is ready to reclaim their ancestors' honor on the track.'
Sugimoto felt a surge of joy. The Northern family, which he'd supported since childhood, had finally produced another Uma Musu capable of carrying on their legacy.
But alongside that joy ca a thread of unease.
As a professional comntator with years of experience in the racing world, Sugimoto knew a little about the Northern family's current situation.
He'd heard from journalist friends who'd tried to interview them that the Western-style mansion, hidden deep in the mountains, was so neglected that the family couldn't even afford maids to clean it.
The once-grand estate was now overgrown with moss, and the carefully tended forests had long since gone wild. Weeds choked the land, blocking out the sunlight, and the entire Northern property was said to be steeped in decay and neglect.
Rumors even suggested only two Uma Musu remained in the Northern family—a grandmother and granddaughter. The outer grounds were untended, and dust blanketed the interior of the mansion. Only a few rooms showed any signs of habitation.
Could a family fallen so far really produce an Uma Musu worth looking forward to?
Was this new competitor ant to inherit past glories… or was this their last, desperate gamble?
Sugimoto imdiately began scanning the filly's details, but found almost no information—she was shrouded in mystery. She hadn't enrolled at Central Tracen Academy, so there were no records of her daily performance.
The only data available was from her debut race last year.
While her performance back then had been enough to dominate her opponents in that debut, it was far from enough to fill Sugimoto with confidence.
After all, in his heart, the glory associated with the na Northern was far too imnse, far too brilliant. Coupled with their tradition of staying out of the spotlight until they were ready to stun the world, nearly every Uma Musu who bore the Northern na had gone on to claim her own glory.
But now, Sugimoto found it hard to believe that this Uma Musu—with no professional guidance, no proper equipnt, and likely not even adequate nutrition—could, after nearly a year of silence, suddenly burst back onto the scene with stunning power.
If sothing like that really were to happen…
'It would be nothing short of a miracle,' Sugimoto murmured to himself.
-- --
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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