Understanding his Uma Musume's fighting spirit and feelings, Yasui Makoto thought it over, then decided to compare her with Satono Crown.
In her first Debut Race, she ran 1,800 meters on turf in 1 minute 50 seconds, averaging 16.36 meters per second.
Her final three furlongs took 33.5 seconds, putting her speed close to 18 meters per second.
The second race was also 1,800 meters on turf, and her finish time was even faster: 1 minute 47.9 seconds, for an average speed of 16.68 meters per second.
Her final three furlongs were a little slower, at 38 seconds. Cruising must have affected her stamina for the sprint; otherwise, she might have been even faster.
For an Uma Musume who'd only just debuted, those were genuinely impressive results, especially compared with the Satsuki Sho records from the past five years.
Judging by finish times alone, the champions in a G1 like the Satsuki Sho had finished in between 1 minute 58 seconds and 2 minutes over the past five years.
The slowest was Gold Ship, who won two years ago with a time of 2 minutes 1.3 seconds.
The Satsuki Sho was 2,000 meters long, which meant Gold Ship's speed in that race was 16.48 meters per second.
Satono Crown's two races, by contrast, were both Pre-OP. To run at 16.36 or even 16.68 meters per second in such beginner-level races made her a definite favorite for the Satsuki Sho.
By comparison, Hokubu Genkoma's average speed in training lately had been in the fifteen-meter range, with her better runs around 16.2.
Perhaps she'd quietly compared those numbers herself, and that was why she felt pressured.
However, Yasui Makoto didn't explain any of that to Hokubu Genkoma.
Races were far more complicated than training.
Weather, track conditions, spectators, how they felt that day, their rivals, the atmosphere of the race... all of these could affect the result.
If a pre-race prediction could count as the result, they might as well skip the race and just watch the awards ceremony.
To win a race, the Trainer and Uma Musume had to work together, staying in sync throughout.
With that in mind, Yasui Makoto entered Hokubu Genkoma in the race and explained his decision.
"I think racing once a month is the ideal pace, which is why I planned things that way before the Satsuki Sho.
"The reason I chose the Spring Stakes is simple: the Yayoi Sho is on March 8, which is too soon.
"The Spring Stakes is on the twenty-second, giving us more time to prepare.
"I didn't consider the Wakaba Stakes because it's held at Hanshin Racecourse in Kansai.
"The Satsuki Sho is at Nakayama Racecourse, and like Tokyo Racecourse, it's in the Tokyo area. Their track conditions are relatively similar—at least more so than Hanshin's.
"So unless you're from Kansai, you'd generally choose one of the Nakayama Racecourse trials, the Yayoi Sho or the Spring Stakes, rather than the Wakaba Stakes."
After giving his Uma Musume a thorough rundown of the Classic campaign, Yasui Makoto saw Hokubu Genkoma's face light up with understanding, then changed the subject.
"But all of that is still more than two months away. What you need to think about now is your upcoming Debut Race."
"Okay! I'll do my best!"
Hokubu Genkoma nodded emphatically on reflex, then paused in confusion.
"Wait, upcoming...?"
"You haven't checked the date? It's this Saturday's race day."
Pointing to a line of race information, Yasui Makoto reminded her:
"In my opinion, you're ready for your Debut Race. There's no time like the present, so let's do it this Saturday.
"Tokyo Racecourse, 1,800 meters on turf, Race Five.
"That'll be your Debut Race."
After getting up on race day, Yasui Makoto found himself thinking for the first time that he might have to find a way to get a room in the academy's Trainer dormitory.
Maybe Japan was the same in every world: every line of work put a lot of emphasis on seniority and experience.
As a rookie Trainer, he wasn't eligible to live in the academy dorms. His excellent exam results didn't matter; those rooms had to go to the senior staff first.
Until now, he hadn't cared whether he lived on campus. He'd never liked dealing with other people anyway.
But this was his Assigned Uma Musume's first race. It was impossible not to feel nervous and excited, and he couldn't wait to see how Hokubu Genkoma was doing today.
Even so, he kept his impatience in check. He washed up, ate breakfast, packed everything they'd need for the race, then went downstairs, got on his motorcycle, put on his helmet, and headed to Tracen Academy.
Central Treisen Academy and Tokyo Racecourse were both in Fuchu, in the western part of Tokyo's 23 wards, and were only a few kilometers apart.
Unless special arrangements had been made, Uma Musume and Trainers with races that day were driven to the venue by school bus.
Hokubu Genkoma was already waiting by the academy parking lot entrance. Beside her stood another Uma Musume with light brown hair and pale golden eyes.
Yasui Makoto soon recognized her from the information he'd read: another young lady from the Satomi Family, and his Uma Musume's roommate, Rizumu Hikari.
Then Yasui Makoto gave Hokubu Genkoma's feet a strange look.
Hokubu Genkoma was still wearing her tracksuit: a scarlet top and scarlet pants. She'd changed into her running shoes, too.
The problem was...
"Xiao Bei, when you left the dorm, didn't your shoes feel uncomfortable?"
"Good morning, Trainer... Huh? Uncomfortable? No... Huh?! Why are my shoes on the wrong feet?!"
It was race day at Tokyo Racecourse, with twelve races scheduled for the day and an average of fifteen runners in each. All two hundred or so Uma Musume were students at Central Treisen Academy.
A steady stream of students was arriving at the parking lot. Those in tracksuits were racing that day.
The friends accompanying them to the venue, like Rizumu Hikari, were also Uma Musume at the academy.
Hokubu Genkoma's exclamation was loud enough to draw plenty of attention.
The Uma Musume nearby glanced over, noticed Hokubu Genkoma's shoes were on the wrong feet, and quite a few of them covered their mouths as they giggled.
"What am I supposed to do... S-sorry, Trainer. I-I'll find somewhere to change my shoes right now..."
Blushing, Hokubu Genkoma turned to run off.
Rizumu Hikari looked surprised, and a little guilty as well.
"Xiao Bei, I'll help you... I'm terribly sorry, Trainer Yasui. I should've checked Xiao Bei's shoes for her..."
Yasui Makoto was a little speechless that Hokubu Genkoma had put her shoes on the wrong feet, but he could understand.
If they were going by age, he was more than twice as old as he looked, yet he was still nervous about the race ahead. It was no wonder Hokubu Genkoma felt that way.
Because of Full Bloom, Uma Musume developed differently from humans, but their ages could still be roughly compared.
Having only just entered Full Bloom, Hokubu Genkoma was about as mature as a human girl of fifteen or sixteen. It would have been stranger if she hadn't been anxious about the first race of her career.
"There's nothing to apologize for. This is my responsibility as her Trainer."
After quickly explaining himself to Rizumu Hikari, Yasui Makoto raised his voice.
"Hey! Xiao Bei! Stop running! Come back!"
Uma Musume were fast. In the few seconds since she'd taken off, Hokubu Genkoma had already dashed dozens of meters away.
But when she heard Yasui Makoto call out, she soon slowed down. She stopped and turned around, hesitated for a moment, then hurried back with an awkward gait.
"I'm back, Trainer, but my shoes..."
"Just change them on the motorcycle."
Yasui Makoto nodded to the embarrassed Hokubu Genkoma. Once she obediently sat on the parked motorcycle, he crouched down.
"E-eh?! Trainer, you, you can't..."
As Hokubu Genkoma cried out, Yasui Makoto calmly crouched, untied her shoes, and took off the pair she'd put on the wrong feet.
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