Anjing Zhen vaguely noticed the subtle emotions among the Horse Girls of the Gold Ship Family.
However, seeing that Kitasan Black and the others were immersed in the fervent atmosphere of race day and had not noticed anything at all, he thought it over and chose not to point it out.
After leaving the Rest Hall and taking their reserved seats near the front of the stands, they watched several races scheduled before the Tenno Sho Spring that afternoon. Then, the instant Gold Ship appeared in the Paddock, the Horse Girls all erupted in cheers.
"A-Fun! Look over here! Here!"
"You look to be in pretty good shape, A-Fun... Go, A-Fun!"
Amid Special Week and Vodka's excited cheers, Daiwa Scarlet and Silent Suzuka chatted thoughtfully.
"Only second favorite... How strange. A-Fun clearly won the last Hanshin Daishoten, so how did this happen?" Daiwa Scarlet asked in confusion.
"The favorite... is Great Kindness?"
Pinching her chin, Silent Suzuka said softly, "I remember... she was the Derby Horse Girl from two years ago, right?"
"The race guide and commentators both said she was very well suited to long-distance races. At last year's Tenno Sho Spring, she even crossed the finish line about three Horse Lengths ahead of A-Fun."
"In that case, it isn't too hard to understand why A-Fun isn't more popular than her."
What the two of them said was common knowledge to those with experience, and most of the Horse Girls who heard them nodded in agreement.
Almond Eye looked over and asked curiously, "The Japanese Derby... Do you have to win that race to become the strongest Horse Girl?"
"Well... not exactly."
Daiwa Scarlet rubbed Almond Eye's head and said fondly, "The Japanese Derby is indeed very special. Or rather, every race called a 'Derby' is special. The name