Recaps

Anjing Zhen and Agnes Tachyon refined Kitasan Black’s training as she chose the Autumn Triple Crown and prepared for a camp race. Kitasan used the race to challenge T.M. Opera O and encourage Mikki Rocket to find her own running style, then faced questions about what came next.

• Agnes Tachyon explained that her experimental drug had made Anjing Zhen’s skin glow, and he saw a way to use fluorescent markers to study Horse Girls’ training.
• Anjing Zhen and Agnes Tachyon intensified Kitasan Black’s training, and Kitasan chose the Autumn Triple Crown over the Daily Crown route.
• Kitasan Black learned that Mikki Rocket was nervous about meeting T.M. Opera O, so she ran with Mikki and Little Anzu before the senior arrived.
• T.M. Opera O warned Mikki Rocket that imitating her would keep Mikki from developing her own style, and Kitasan Black defended Mikki’s ambition to surpass her seniors.
• T.M. Opera O joined the training camp Practice Race, and Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen she had a bold plan for their showdown.
• Kitasan Black conserved her strength during the race, then sprinted against T.M. Opera O on the final straight as Mikki Rocket adjusted her form and joined the chase.
• Daiwa Scarlet won the race, while T.M. Opera O told Mikki Rocket to make victories and a legend of her own, and Kitasan Black later worried her strategy had been reckless.
• Little Anzu reassured Kitasan Black, and T.M. Opera O praised her conviction before asking whether she thought this was the end.

Kitasan Black prepared for the Tenno Sho Autumn under mounting scrutiny, with Anjing Zhen and Agnes Tachyon refining her training and her friends offering support. Satono Diamond won the Kikuka Sho, and the rainy Tenno Sho Autumn began with Kitasan Black trapped in the pack before she fell back.

• T.M. Opera O encouraged Kitasan Black to bear the scrutiny that came with becoming strong, while Anjing Zhen explained that her bold tactics had been meant to convey a message.
• Agnes Tachyon analyzed Kitasan Black’s data, identified her potential on soft overseas tracks, and estimated targeted training could improve her Final Burst by 0.1 to 0.3 seconds.
• Anjing Zhen invited Agnes Tachyon and Daiwa Scarlet to join his team, and Agnes accepted as Kitasan Black continued Chase Training and began hypoxic-chamber sessions.
• Kitasan Black spent a day at Odaiba Seaside Park with Anzu, Satono Diamond, and Satono Crown, then supported Duramente and Adayar as they prepared for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
• Satono Diamond won the Kikuka Sho, and Kitasan Black caught her as she stumbled after the finish and celebrated with her family and friends.
• Teio Sho challenged Kitasan Black ahead of the Tenno Sho Autumn as public attention intensified, and Anjing Zhen admitted to Kitasan Black that he was also struggling with the pressure.
• In the rain at Tokyo Racecourse, Kitasan Black received messages of support and entered the Tenno Sho Autumn, where Eishin Flash led and the surrounding runners trapped her in the pack.
• As the Tenno Sho Autumn continued, Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen trusted Kitasan Black to find a way forward, while Kitasan Black welcomed the challenge and suddenly fell back.

After winning the Tenno Sho Autumn, Kitasan Black faced anxiety about the Japan Cup and found renewed confidence through time with Spring and Autumn Equinox and advice from her seniors. She resumed full training, adapted to Tokyo Racecourse and overseas racing tactics, and entered the eve of the Japan Cup ready to face the international field.

• Kitasan Black conserved her energy, cut through the muddy Inner Lane, overtook Eishin Flash, and won the rain-soaked Tenno Sho Autumn to claim the first medal of the Autumn Triple Crown.
• While recovering, Kitasan Black worried about the Japan Cup and met Spring and Autumn Equinox and Almond Eye in Chinatown, where she encouraged Spring and Autumn Equinox and competed with her in a lion dance.
• After Kitasan Black told Anjing Zhen that the outing had calmed her worries, Anjing Zhen confirmed she was ready for full training and realized Spring and Autumn Equinox was a celebrated champion racehorse.
• Kitasan Black studied the formidable Japan Cup field with Anjing Zhen and Agnes Tachyon, then received course advice from Dream Journey and other seniors, who explained the race’s importance to Japanese Horse Girls.
• Anjing Zhen adjusted Kitasan Black’s preparation for Tokyo Racecourse’s harder track and taught her high-frequency stepping, while warning her that overseas entrants had physical advantages and could use contact during the race.
• At Tokyo Racecourse, Gold Ship and The Matriarch deliberately collided with Kitasan Black to test her balance, and Anjing Zhen taught her to absorb and redirect the impact.
• Adayar challenged Kitasan Black to a direct race during final training, while Trof explained that the European team had studied Kitasan Black and Anjing Zhen’s tactics.
• On the night before the Japan Cup, Kitasan Black attended the URA Association banquet and surveyed the Horse Girls gathered from around the world.

Kitasan Black won the Japan Cup after a fierce battle, then struggled to focus on the Arima Kinen as she recognized her feelings for Anjing Zhen. After hearing his response to Tokai Teio, she felt reassured and renewed her determination to race, while her friends planned a chance for the group to unwind.

• Kitasan Black followed Anjing Zhen’s race plan through California Spangle’s disruptive advance and fought off Adayar and the other contenders to win the Japan Cup.
• California Spangle and Adayar congratulated Kitasan Black, and she celebrated on the Winner’s Stage before Anjing Zhen kept her Arima Kinen plan tentative while prioritizing recovery.
• At the hot spring, California Spangle and the others teased Kitasan Black about Trainer Yasui, and Kitasan Black described her ideal type in terms that matched Anjing Zhen before declaring Teio-senpai a perfect match.
• Kitasan Black’s thoughts about Anjing Zhen distracted her from training, so she asked California Spangle, Frostfall, and Adayar for advice and then confided in Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen.
• Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen hid Kitasan Black in a display cabinet while Tokai Teio asked Anjing Zhen how he would respond if Kitasan Black’s trust became romantic affection.
• Anjing Zhen said Kitasan Black’s affection would be too precious to refuse, but stressed that patience, responsibility, her racing dream, and his duties came first.
• After Tokai Teio and Mejiro McQueen reassured her that Anjing Zhen trusted and believed in her, Kitasan Black vowed to give her all for the Arima Kinen.
• Kitasan Black told Satono Diamond and her friends she had resolved her worries, while Duramente revealed that Symboli-senpai had arranged tickets for an event so they could relax.