Recaps

Kitasan Black and Little Anzu played at the Dubai ice rink while Anjing Zhen watched from the sidelines. Little Anzu suggested inviting him to skate, but Kitasan Black refused, still sulking over a joke he had made more than an hour earlier.

• Kitasan Black and Little Anzu tried skating tricks, fell repeatedly, and laughed as they helped each other up.
• Kitasan Black failed to stop and slid into Little Anzu, who caught her before they were dragged together across the ice.
• Little Anzu suggested asking Anjing Zhen to join them, but Kitasan Black huffed that she did not want to ask him.
• Kitasan Black claimed Anjing Zhen might not know how to skate, while Little Anzu realized she was still angry about his earlier joke.
• Little Anzu recalled how Kitasan Black had become embarrassed after Anjing Zhen teased her and wondered why their situation seemed so complicated.

Kitasan Black reflected on why Anjing Zhen's teasing had upset her and struggled to find the courage to apologize. After Almond Eye intervened, Anjing Zhen apologized and invited Kitasan Black to skate with him.

• Kitasan Black remembered Anjing Zhen's jokes and felt hurt, then questioned whether she had been unreasonable to stay angry.
• Kitasan Black decided she should apologize but became too embarrassed to approach Anjing Zhen.
• Kitasan Black accidentally said aloud that she wanted to apologize, and Almond Eye offered to help.
• Almond Eye spoke with Anjing Zhen, who came over to apologize to Kitasan Black and invited her to share a dance.

After the Dubai World Cup, Kitasan Black excitedly recalled the ice dance Trainer Yasui had performed with her, while Duramente struggled with losing the Dubai Sheema Classic after throwing a shoe. Duramente regained her resolve and looked ahead to the Takarazuka Kinen, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and another chance to race Adayar.

• Kitasan Black enthusiastically described Trainer Yasui's skating performance to Futanari Shingang and Duramente at the Dubai Mall rink.
• Futanari Shingang and Duramente said they wanted to see Trainer Yasui skate with Kitasan Black, but he was not there.
• Duramente had finished second in the Dubai Sheema Classic after throwing a shoe during the final stretch.
• Duramente set her sights on winning the Takarazuka Kinen and possibly racing Adayar again in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Japan Cup.
• Duramente thanked Kitasan Black for helping draw Adayar toward the Japan Cup and thanked both Kitasan Black and Futanari Shingang for comforting her.

Kitasan Black and her friends went shopping for souvenirs in Dubai, where Adayar impressed them with her expertise in luxury goods. Adayar then helped Kitasan Black choose a gift for Anjing: a pocket watch connected to the legendary Eclipse.

• Futanari Shingang declined Kitasan Black and Duramente's thanks, saying Little Kita deserved the credit and that she cared most about racing strong opponents.
• Kitasan Black invited Futanari Shingang, Duramente, California Spangle, Frostfall, and Adayar to shop for souvenirs at Dubai Mall.
• Adayar demonstrated her extensive shopping knowledge, leaving Kitasan Black, Futanari Shingang, and Duramente feeling out of their depth.
• California Spangle and Frostfall told Kitasan Black that Adayar wanted to help her choose a gift for Anjing.
• Adayar explained that the John Arnold & Son shop sold pocket watches, including one made by Master Arnold that had recorded Eclipse's race results.
• Adayar recommended that Kitasan Black give Anjing the pocket watch as both a blessing and a declaration of her resolve.

Adayar questioned California Spangle and Frostfall’s guess that Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen were romantically involved, warning that gossip could disrupt their preparations for the Japan Cup. Meanwhile, Anjing Zhen examined the pocket watch Kitasan Black had given him and asked if it was really for him.

• California Spangle and Frostfall told Adayar they had only guessed that Kitasan Black and her Trainer were dating, based on how close they seemed.
• Adayar said Japan’s rules made rumors about Trainer and Horse Girl relationships risky, especially if they affected Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen’s partnership.
• California Spangle and Frostfall admitted they had been tempted to stir up romance gossip, but agreed that Kitasan Black’s Japan Cup preparations mattered more.
• Anjing Zhen looked over the pocket watch Kitasan Black had given him and asked whether it was for him.

Kitasan Black gave Anjing Zhen a treasured pocket watch depicting Eclipse and shared the resolve and promise behind her gift. After returning to Japan, Anjing Zhen considered how to prepare Kitasan Black for the Tenno Sho Spring and began training with her and Almond Eye.

• Kitasan Black presented Anjing Zhen with a pocket watch chosen by Adayar and explained its connection to Eclipse.
• Anjing Zhen accepted Kitasan Black's resolve, promise, and blessing, and made them his own as well.
• On the flight home, Anjing Zhen considered the Tenno Sho Spring course, Kitasan Black's running strategy, and training her grasp of the domain.
• After handling his duties and delivering souvenirs with Kitasan Black and Almond Eye, Anjing Zhen began training with them on Monday at Central Treisen Academy, carrying the pocket watch alongside his tablet.

Anjing Zhen used Kitasan Black’s pocket watch during training and analyzed why she had struggled to unleash her full stamina. He explained that the problem had only been avoided in Dubai, leaving Kitasan Black wondering whether to use the same intense strategy in the Tenno Sho Spring.

• Anjing Zhen found that Kitasan Black’s pocket watch kept precise time and that its mechanical rhythm seemed matched to her stride and breathing.
• After a 3,200-meter training test, Anjing Zhen asked Kitasan Black whether she had felt strained or unable to run faster, and she confirmed that she had.
• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black and Almond Eye that her difficulty unleashing her stamina had returned on turf, just as it had during the race against California Spangle.
• Anjing Zhen explained that the intense Dubai turf Practice Race had temporarily helped Kitasan Black avoid the issue rather than resolve it.
• Kitasan Black wondered whether she should use a similar strategy for the 3,200-meter Tenno Sho Spring.

Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black had briefly touched the Zone during her Dubai race, but warned that they could not rely on it alone for the Tenno Sho Spring. He outlined a demanding training plan to strengthen her endurance, pacing, and ability to handle the 3,200-meter race.

• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black and Almond Eye that Kitasan had briefly entered the Zone in her Dubai turf training race, based on her experience and recorded data.
• Anjing Zhen explained the Zone to Almond Eye and said that its benefits depended on a Horse Girl’s fundamental abilities.
• Kitasan Black asked whether their next special training would focus on the Zone, and Anjing Zhen said they would also prepare through other methods.
• Anjing Zhen introduced Ultra-Distance Anchoring Training, which would teach Kitasan to maintain her pace for 200 meters beyond 3,000 meters.
• Anjing Zhen added lactate-threshold circuits, uphill intervals, and weighted 3,200-meter runs to Kitasan’s training regimen.

Kitasan Black adapted to Anjing Zhen's weighted training and found that running without the suit made her feel faster, reminding her of her Dubai sprint and the possibility of reaching the Zone. After several days of training, Anjing Zhen confirmed her measurable progress and explained to Almond Eye that improvement through effort was rare, especially for a fully mature Horse Girl.

• Kitasan Black struggled through weighted interval training, so Anjing Zhen stopped the weighted sets and admitted he had misjudged her adjustment after Dubai.
• Kitasan Black felt newly light and fast without the weights and connected the sensation to her Dubai race and the Zone.
• Kitasan Black trained diligently through the week, while Little Anzu recorded her workouts and noticed improvement in her arm swing.
• Anjing Zhen told Kitasan Black that her lactate threshold had risen by 0.3 mmol/L and her stride-frequency recovery after weight training had improved by around 8%.
• Almond Eye questioned whether those gains were too small, and Anjing Zhen explained that Kitasan Black was fully mature and that effort did not guarantee improvement for every Horse Girl.

Kitasan Black invited Anjing Zhen and Little Anzu to a dinner gathering meant to comfort Satono Diamond, but they declined so Kitasan Black could support her. On her way there, Kitasan Black ran into Koushou Hayate, startled her, and helped her find her fallen hat.

• Kitasan Black invited Anjing Zhen and Little Anzu to a dinner gathering for Satono Diamond, who had finished third in the Satsuki Sho.
• Anjing Zhen and Little Anzu declined the invitation, encouraging Kitasan Black to comfort Satono Diamond herself.
• Kitasan Black left for the gathering and spotted Koushou Hayate, whom she decided to invite.
• Koushou Hayate considered fishing during her break before turning around and startling herself and Kitasan Black.
• Kitasan Black helped Koushou Hayate retrieve her navy hat and joked that her hat seemed like her real body.

Koushou Hayate accepted Kitasan Black’s invitation to dinner with Satono Diamond and their friends, but became anxious after realizing she was the least accomplished Horse Girl there. Kitasan Black began distributing the gifts she had brought back from Dubai, starting with a consolation gift for Satono Diamond.

• Koushou Hayate wondered why others had called her hat her real body, then changed the subject when Kitasan Black asked what she had said.
• Kitasan Black invited Koushou Hayate to dinner with Satono Diamond and their friends, and Hayate agreed despite her hesitation.
• Koushou Hayate arrived at the Gray Impression restaurant and found Satono Crown, Satono Diamond, Duramente, and Futanari Shingang already gathered.
• Koushou Hayate realized that nearly everyone at the dinner had achieved greater racing success than she had and worried about standing out.
• Kitasan Black gave Satono Diamond a gift from Dubai, explaining that it had originally been meant to congratulate her but had become a consolation prize.

Kitasan Black gave Satono Diamond a book about Middle Eastern bad-luck legends and tools for dispelling misfortune, prompting the others to share what they knew about Diamond and their own secrets. The group then discussed their upcoming races, including Koushou Hayate’s likely start in the Tenno Sho Spring.

• Kitasan Black gave Satono Diamond a decorated box containing a book about bad-luck legends and related charms and tools.
• Satono Diamond excitedly opened the book, and Kitasan Black explained that it recorded Middle Eastern legends and ways to dispel bad luck.
• Futanari Shingang and Duramente explained that Satono Diamond collected bad-luck stories and liked dispelling misfortune.
• Duramente shared her secret difficulty cracking eggs and her childhood experience of eating dorayaki at every meal.
• Koushou Hayate realized that Kitasan Black’s friendships helped everyone get to know one another, then the group discussed their next races.
• Kitasan Black said Satono Diamond wanted to win the Japanese Derby, Satono Crown planned to race in Hong Kong, and Kitasan Black expected to run in the Tenno Sho Spring before asking if Koushou Hayate would race there too.

As Koushou Hayate watched Kitasan Black’s punishing training, she worried about facing her formidable friend at the Tenno Sho Spring. Her sisters arrived at the training grounds, and Koushou noticed Kyoushou was coughing despite being told to rest.

• Koushou Hayate watched Kitasan Black perform weighted parachute sprints and compared their training and recovery.
• Koushou Hayate worried that she could not stand toe-to-toe with Kitasan Black at the upcoming Tenno Sho Spring.
• Koushou Hayate saw Elder sister and Kyoushou arrive from the school building and went to greet them.
• Kyoushou complained that Koushou had a problem with her coming to cheer, then coughed and turned away.
• Koushou Hayate asked Kyoushou why she had come despite the doctor telling her to rest.

Koushou Hayate asked Zenno Rob Roy to help her prepare for the Tenno Sho Spring, while also worrying about her recovering younger sister, Kyoushou. Zenno reassured her about Kyoushou and began training her, ending by asking how she would catch or hold off an opponent she desperately wanted to defeat.

• Koushou Hayate recalled overcoming her doubts and asking Zenno Rob Roy for special training before the Tenno Sho Spring.
• Kyoushou teased Koushou Hayate after hearing her concern, and Zenno Rob Roy reassured Koushou that Kyoushou's surgery and recovery were going well.
• Zenno Rob Roy agreed to help Koushou Hayate but warned that she was not suited to long-distance races, so Koushou needed to follow her Trainer's tactics and strategy.
• Zenno Rob Roy began warming up and introduced a training trick by asking how Koushou would catch or keep away an opponent she wanted to defeat no matter what.

Anjing Zhen prepared Kitasan Black and Little Anzu for the Tenno Sho Spring, explaining how the race differed from her previous Arima Kinen and warning that she would clash with Adroit Labyrinth for the lead. The preparations continued as Kitasan Black listened and took notes, while Almond Eye began to consider questions of her own.

• On May 1, spectators filled Kyoto Racecourse for the Tenno Sho Spring as Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen returned from the Paddock to the Preparation Room.
• Little Anzu envied Kitasan Black's reception and asked why she was only the second favorite; Kitasan Black explained that she had not raced in Japan for four months while preparing for overseas races.
• Anjing Zhen asked Little Anzu to take notes as he reviewed the team's pre-race preparations with Kitasan Black.
• Anjing Zhen explained that the Tenno Sho Spring differed from Kitasan Black's Arima Kinen because the runners were now in their prime, making racing experience a key advantage.
• Anjing Zhen warned that Adroit Labyrinth, drawn in Gate 3 opposite Kitasan Black in Gate 1, would likely challenge her for the lead immediately after the start.
• Kitasan Black listened and took notes while Almond Eye also followed Anjing Zhen's analysis and began forming questions about Adroit Labyrinth.

Anjing Zhen explained to Almond Eye why race tactics required considering track conditions and all the opponents, then described Toho Lone Wolf’s tendency to act impatiently. The group resumed preparing for the Tenno Sho Spring, with Almond Eye beginning to understand the complexities of G1 racing.

• Anjing Zhen identified Toho Lone Wolf as a formidable long-distance runner but worried that her impatience could make her unpredictable.
• Almond Eye asked why the team was cautious about Adroit Labyrinth and Toho Lone Wolf, prompting Anjing Zhen to explain the basics of race-day planning.
• Anjing Zhen explained that track wear and the running styles of multiple opponents could make an immediate burst to the lead a poor tactic.
• Kitasan Black comforted Almond Eye and explained that Toho Lone Wolf was prone to losing her temper and rushing during training and races.
• Kitasan Black revealed that Toho Lone Wolf had been Gold Ship’s neighboring gate opponent when Gold Ship missed the start at the Takarazuka Kinen.
• Anjing Zhen urged Almond Eye to learn race planning gradually and warned her not to rush like Toho Lone Wolf.

Anjing Zhen and Almond Eye reviewed Kitasan Black’s Tenno Sho Spring preparations before meeting Zenno Rob Roy and Kyoushou in the stands. As they discussed the race, Kyoushou remarked that Kitasan Black should have been the most popular contender, prompting Almond Eye to eagerly agree.

• Anjing Zhen guided Almond Eye through their preparation details and recognized her competitive drive as she asked questions rather than pretending to understand.
• Anjing Zhen introduced Almond Eye to Zenno Rob Roy and Kyoushou in the stands, and the four exchanged greetings and pleasantries.
• Kyoushou noted that Golden Lyric was the race’s most popular contender despite Kitasan Black’s Arima Kinen victory and stronger reputation.
• Almond Eye eagerly agreed with Kyoushou that Kitasan Black deserved to be the most popular contender.

At Kyoto Racecourse, Anjing Zhen reminded Almond Eye that popularity did not decide the Tenno Sho Spring as fans roared for Kitasan Black. Almond Eye and Kyoushou argued over whether Kitasan Black or Koushou Hayate would win, then Zenno Rob Roy redirected them to Anjing Zhen’s race analysis as the 18 runners entered the gates and the race began.

• Anjing Zhen pointed out that Kitasan Black’s cheering section was as loud as the others and reminded Almond Eye that popularity did not determine a race’s outcome.
• Almond Eye, Kyoushou, and Zenno Rob Roy reflected on Kitasan Black’s and Koushou Hayate’s racing strengths as the crowd cheered for Kitasan Black.
• Almond Eye insisted Kitasan Black would win, while Kyoushou argued that her sister Koushou Hayate would take the championship.
• Anjing Zhen and Zenno Rob Roy tried to stop the argument, and Zenno Rob Roy shifted their attention by asking Anjing Zhen who he thought had the better chance of winning.
• Anjing Zhen began sharing his race analysis as the 18 Horse Girls entered the Starting Gates and the Tenno Sho Spring started.

Kitasan Black made a blistering return to racing after four months away, battling Wanlai Zhengming for the lead before settling into the front of the pack under pressure from Medal of Honor and Adroit Labyrinth. As the field climbed Yodo Slope, Wanlai Zhengming wondered why Kitasan Black had stayed out of competition for so long.

• Kitasan Black burst from Gate 1 and seized the lead as Wanlai Zhengming charged up from the outer lane to challenge her.
• Wanlai Zhengming dropped back to fourth or fifth, while Medal of Honor and Adroit Labyrinth moved in behind Kitasan Black to pressure her.
• Wanlai Zhengming advanced to third and followed Kitasan Black as the pack passed the first turn and climbed Yodo Slope.
• Wanlai Zhengming recalled her excitement after their Arima Kinen clash and questioned Kitasan Black's four-month absence from racing.
• Wanlai Zhengming considered how seasonal changes usually affected Horse Girls' racing schedules, noting that Kitasan Black's long break was unusual for a G1-class Horse Girl.

Kitasan Black used an unusually slow pace in the Tenno Sho Spring, surprising Wanlai Zhengming and the other racers who had studied her past tactics. Following Anjing Zhen’s plan, she aimed to preserve her stamina and recreate the desperate contest she had experienced in Dubai on the Final Straight.

• Wanlai Zhengming recognized that Kitasan Black had returned from her break stronger than before, but found her current running rhythm unexpectedly strange.
• Wanlai Zhengming and the other racers noticed that Kitasan Black accelerated whenever they closed in, then settled back into a steady cruising speed when they stopped pressing her.
• Kitasan Black recalled Anjing Zhen’s pre-race analysis and became excited that the Japanese runners preferred a comfortable, leisurely pace.
• Kitasan Black deliberately slowed her Slow Escape by a small margin as part of the strategy she and Anjing Zhen had devised to reach the Zone.
• Kitasan Black planned to conserve stamina while maintaining her narrow lead, then recreate her desperate Dubai battle on the Final Straight.

Kitasan Black controlled the race at a slower-than-expected pace while Golden Lyric tried to cut inward and was blocked by Toho Lone Wolf. Anjing Zhen judged that the race was unfolding as planned and said Kitasan Black had plenty of stamina left to respond later.

• At the 1,000-meter mark, the race reached a relatively slow time of 1 minute 2.4 seconds under Kitasan Black's control.
• Golden Lyric cut inward, but Toho Lone Wolf moved to block her, and Golden Lyric accelerated past her on the outside.
• Koushou took the position Golden Lyric had vacated, prompting Kyoushou to cheer and Zenno Rob Roy to praise the move.
• Almond Eye asked Anjing Zhen whether Kitasan Black was following the plan, and he confirmed that the pace and positions were better than expected.
• Anjing Zhen concluded that Golden Lyric had likely been unsettled by the slow pace rather than using a special tactic.

Zenno Rob Roy watched the Kikuka Sho and grew puzzled by Golden Lyric’s difficulty adapting to Kitasan Black’s slow pace and Koushou Hayate’s unusually relaxed approach to the race. As the field reached the second Yodo Slope, Al Bait, Satomi Noble, and Kitasan Black launched their moves.

• Zenno Rob Roy noticed that Koushou Hayate was racing seriously but seemed less desperate than she expected in a G1.
• Zenno Rob Roy suspected that Kitasan Black had deliberately suppressed the pace, though she could not determine why.
• The commentator reported that Golden Lyric had moved into fourth while Koushou Hayate took the inner lane.
• Al Bait began advancing on the outside, and Satomi Noble followed the route she opened.
• Kitasan Black accelerated as the runners approached the second Yodo Slope, sending the crowd into a roar.

Kitasan Black led the tightly packed field through the second ascent of Yodo Slope as she and Anjing Zhen relied on sustained acceleration to try to trigger the zone. As the runners exited the turn, Golden Lyric moved up on the outside, putting their plan under pressure.

• Kitasan Black accelerated first on Yodo Slope, with Adroit Labyrinth and Medal of Honor chasing close behind.
• The eighteen Horse Girls compressed into a tight wedge as they rushed toward the Final Straight.
• Kyoushou shouted encouragement to Noble Elegance from the railing while Zenno Rob Roy watched her anxiously.
• Anjing Zhen judged that Kitasan Black's early sustained acceleration was following their plan to make the late-race contest intense enough to trigger the zone.
• With 600 meters remaining, Kitasan Black still led as Golden Lyric began a move on the outside.

Kitasan Black battled Adroit Labyrinth in a brutal final sprint at the Tenno Sho Spring, while Noble struggled to understand her strength. Kitasan Black surged back at the finish and won the race.

• Kitasan Black held the lead as Golden Lyric faded and Adroit Labyrinth, Noble, Wanlai Zhengming, and Toho Lone Wolf closed in.
• Adroit Labyrinth drew level with Kitasan Black and edged ahead, while Noble fell farther behind.
• Noble wondered why Kitasan Black still had such explosive power after 3,000 meters.
• Adroit Labyrinth recognized Kitasan Black’s furious concentration but continued the head-to-head duel.
• Kitasan Black reached her limits, summoned another burst of strength, and won the Tenno Sho Spring.

Kitasan Black won the Tenno Sho Spring after being overtaken on the Final Straight, but she wondered whether she had failed to reach the domain. As the other Horse Girls celebrated her performance, Koushou Hayate spotted two familiar figures in the stands and lowered her head.

• Kitasan Black celebrated her victory, then questioned why she had not felt the clarity and control she experienced when she entered the domain in Dubai.
• Wanlai Zhengming approached Kitasan Black with a violin and praised her determined comeback.
• Adroit Labyrinth congratulated Kitasan Black and said she wanted to race against her again.
• The other Horse Girls congratulated Kitasan Black, who thanked the cheering crowd and promised to keep working hard.
• Koushou Hayate spotted two familiar figures in the stands, turned away, and lowered her head.