On a Pale Horse (Umamusume/Youjo Senki)

[drake_azathoth]

Smart Falcon says hi.

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Yeah, but Smart Falcon would be in rough shape if she went from the the Champions Cup in Early December to the Tokyo Daishoten later that same month. And even the prize for 2nd place isn't bad.

Of course, if Agnes Digital is also racing...

 

[Lyrista]

Problem is Dirt Races have a lot less attention to them, less spectators and fans, so the prize purses are smaller which would make Dirt Races less attractive to Shirogane.

 

[MikaShogo]

Why do I feel like Shirogane is gonna make up her short coming by being very attentive to other racers habit, like Diego Brando way of thinking in JoJo SBR? Like for example the breathing habits that he was able to get from Gryo's horse to immediately speed up his horse's pace. Like I get Shirogane could easily be put in front, but I feel like she just needs to see if there's a hiccup of a habit from racers just to get a pass on them, while conserving stamina. Plus with her passive of being really intimidating to umas that races against her, it's a very easy strategy to get used to.

 

[Crispy Taco Shell]

It's interesting how Shiro's first two official races has collisions that takes out half the competition and ends with the second place umas being carried away on stretchers. Combine that notoriety with her Robert Patrick T-1000 running style and you get an uma that is perfectly tailored as a heel character for all the hotblooded competitors to prove themselves against. With her stamina, resistance to injury, and self-imposed heavy racing schedule, Shirogane could be ubiquitous in most racing circuits, serving as a sort of gatekeeper boss battle for many umas for years to come.


Hotshot Newbie: I'm the greatest thing since canned bread!

Veteran Uma: Oh yeah? We'll see after your next race.

Newbie: If I win, you'd train me?

Veteran: You don't need to win. Just finish the next race and I'd train you.

Newbie: That'll be easy!

Veteran: Nononono. You need to finish the race with Her.

*Shirogane suddenly appears. Los! Los! Los!

 

[GarfRed]

*Shirogane suddenly appears. Los! Los! Los!

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I just remembered there was a comic where different umas faced off against vr counterparts of what they deemed the strongest or would be a different uma of the future. Like wonder acute racing agasint smart falcon on dirt. Silence Suzuka facing off Equinox and Bakushin facing Lord Kanaloa. Tsumaru Tsuyoshi facing off against the golden generation. Funilly enough Tokai Teio faces off against herself.

Imagining Shirogane being a subconscious enemy in the vr umalator by her friends would be fun to think about.

 

[MikaShogo]

It's interesting how Shiro's first two official races has collisions that takes out half the competition and ends with the second place umas being carried away on stretchers. Combine that notoriety with her Robert Patrick T-1000 running style.

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Ngl I wanna see a fanart of that

 

[Ligoya]

About the race schedule, since Shiro's already did her Maiden, is the story chapter gonna be this ?

Slice of life -> picking track -> training -> training -> race -> back to slice of life

 

[0000000]

Spoiler

Translated using IA. If you find any inconsistencies, please keep in mind that English is my second language and grammar tenses are still a bit confusing for me.

Haru's trainer watched intently as Orzel competed in her twentieth race. She had been allowed to race once a week, but that wasn't Dai Muneishi's primary concern. What truly occupied his mind was his pupil's recent discovery: a method that could potentially grant her a first G1 victory or, at the very least, a spot within the top five.

"You remember the plan, right, Urara?" Dai Muneishi asked, trying to hide his own restlessness.

"Of course, Trainer!" she replied with a radiant, enthusiastic smile.

"Good. Remind me of the steps," he suggested, crossing his arms.

"Step one: follow Shiro-senpai. Step two: overtake her on the final stretch," Urara listed, though her fingers moved with a hint of insecurity as she counted, betraying a slight doubt.

Dai Muneishi let out a sigh, half resignation and half hope. At least she remembered the strategy; if everything went according to plan, Urara-chan would reach her best position to date.

Dai lost himself in his memories. He recalled how no one had ever noticed Haru Urara; to the rest of the world, she had no potential. She lacked top speed, her concentration was volatile, and her stamina was insufficient. However, he had seen that glint in her eyes—an attitude that reminded him of his own youthful idealism. Even so, he knew that training her would be an uphill battle.

Everything changed when his pupil seemed to find her center. She began training with renewed momentum, setting aside her usual distractions. When Dai asked her the reason, the answer left him stunned:

"Shiro-san told me to run up and down these stairs.""Shiro-san...""Shiro-san...""Shiro-senpai..."

That name had become the mantra of her progress. The heart of the problem was that, in his eagerness to help her, Dai used to overwhelm Urara with complex plans and a multitude of variables. By simplifying the training to general notions "run X laps" and applying quick corrections in between, the results were almost immediate. Urara had ceased to be an uncompetitive runner and had become an average Tracen athlete. It was accelerated growth, yes, but it was the fruit of finally finding the way to reach Haru Urara.

-----

—"Muneishi-senpai, why are we spying on Shiro-senpai?" Urara asked with evident confusion, trying to track her mentor through a pair of binoculars.

—"It's simple, Urara. We must verify if her motivation is where it needs to be; otherwise, we'll have to recalibrate the plan immediately," Dai Muneishi replied, without taking his eyes off his target.

—"But Trainer... the only one I know well enough to follow is Shiro-senpai," Urara insisted, a hint of insecurity in her voice.

—"True, the primary objective remains the same. But if she isn't at her peak, the margin for error increases and we'd have to find another reference. Could you do it if necessary?" he asked, casting an evaluative glance at her.

—"I think so..." she replied, though her fingers toyed nervously with the binocular strap.

At that moment, movement in the main building caught their attention. Shirogane was stepping out of Hana Tojo's office. Orzel wore that specific smile on her face the one Tracen's PR department had banned for being "too aggressive" but Dai Muneishi didn't care about aesthetics. He ignored the instinctive shiver that ran down his spine upon seeing her; what he sensed through his lens was an overwhelming presence. She didn't just want to run; she wanted to win.

—"Alright, Urara. The plan stands. Go out there and show them what you're capable of!" Dai exclaimed, standing up with a renewed burst of enthusiasm.

—"Right!" Urara shouted, caught up in her trainer's energy.

It was a moment of triumph and determination... that lasted barely a second. The branch supporting their weight was not designed for sudden movements. With a dry crack, the wood gave way under their combined weight, sending the strategist and his pupil straight toward the garden floor.

---

Announcer: Norisuke Akasaka

—"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Kyoto Racecourse! The sun is shining down on the track, but the air is thick with tension. It's Tenno Sho (Spring) day! 3,200 meters that separate the legends from the mere runners."

—"In the number one position, it is our pleasure to present one of the favorites: Shirogane Orzel. This is her twenty-first professional race, and if she crosses the finish line in first place, she will claim her third G1 victory. Can the most tireless runner of this generation impose her pace and devour the distance in this Tenno Sho? The crowd roars at the presence of the 'Silver Eagle's'!"

—"In the number two position, we have..."

—"And jumping to the number four position... Listen to that ovation! It's Haru Urara! The runner from Kochi greets the entire crowd with a contagious enthusiasm that seems to ignore the pressure of the three kilometers ahead of her. Can Urara-chan's unyielding will pull off an upset on the Kyoto turf?"

—"In the position number..."

---

—Susuki Shirogane—

As we enter our starting gates, I allow myself one last moment to review the strategy. In my previous races, I stayed true to a specific role, maintaining a constant speed that secured me a place on the podium, usually between second and third. It was a calculated sacrifice; I needed the rest of them to grow accustomed to that predictable rhythm.

I mentally scanned my rivals. They are all seasoned veterans, but the true threats are Special Week and Seiun Sky. Both know me all too well as my teammates at Tracen; they know how to read my movements. Then there is Haru Urara, but based on her historical performance, she shouldn't represent a real danger at this distance.

The plan I devised with Hana is simple on paper, but complicated in its execution. Officially, I have clocked an average speed high enough that, if I decide to give it my all from the starting gun, I could outpace my more talented peers by a narrow margin. However, I know they haven't fallen behind; the pressure I applied in my second race forced them to evolve. If I execute my usual strategy, they will simply stay in my slipstream and devour me with a burst of energy in the final stretch.

That is why the answer is as simple as it is risky: pushing myself beyond my limits.

My goal is to maintain a pace close to a final sprint for the entire duration of the race. I have trained until my feet screamed in pain. Thirty seconds, one minute, two minutes... that was my wall. No matter how much I practiced, after two minutes of maintaining that excessive pressure, my feet would begin to bleed from the effort.

But today, it doesn't matter. I have to win.

With the prize from this Tenno Sho, I can pay off the investment my family made in me and begin to give back everything they deserve. This victory would secure sponsorships, endorsement deals, and, most importantly, the turning point I seek: an opportunity in the Middle East. If the rumors are true and a new league with astronomical prizes is on the horizon, I need to be there.

There is no other option. There is no guarantee that an opportunity like this will arise again. I have set aside the entire next month for my recovery; today, there are no excuses not to leave every last bit of myself on the track.

---

—Haru Urara—

"All runners to your stations!" the shout echoed through the loudspeakers, making the racetrack air vibrate.

I centered my gaze forward. The world grew small, reduced only to the space between the bars of my starting gate.

BANG!

I shot out the moment the gates swung open. Almost instantly, Shiro-senpai dove for the inner rail and began to accelerate with a force I had never seen from her at the start.

Step 1: Follow Shiro-senpai.

I locked my attention onto her back and tucked in right behind her. I tried to copy her rhythm, but my legs felt strange; for some reason, they started to ache very early on—a sharp pain shooting up from my heels. I ignored it. It didn't matter. Trainer said this was the plan, and I was going to follow it.

Follow Shiro-senpai.
Follow Shiro-senpai.
Follow Shiro-senpai.

The wind lashed at my face, but I could only see that silver silhouette in front of me. My lungs began to protest the frantic pace, but I clung to her slipstream. I MUST FOLLOW THE PLAN.

FOLLOW SHIRO-SENPAI.
FOLLOW SHIRO-SENPAI.
FOLLOW SHIRO-SENPAI.

---

Announcer: Norisuke Akasaka

—"What on earth are we witnessing?! Eyes on the track! Shirogane Orzel has decided to throw all caution to the wind, accelerating with everything she's got right from the starting gun! Flaunting a level of stamina that defies logic, she takes the absolute lead and begins to set a suffocating pace! The rest of the pack looks bewildered, trying to settle into their usual strategies... but Orzel's rhythm is devastating!"

—"Wait! Are you seeing this? This is unbelievable! Haru Urara has launched a completely unexpected counter-strategy. She has latched onto Orzel's slipstream like a shadow. You can tell she's struggling to keep up with that hellish pace her movements are tense but she refuses to let go of second place!"

—"Attention to the split time! 1,000 meters in 58.8 seconds!"

—"This is unheard of! That's a sprint pace in the longest stayers' race on the calendar! Orzel has decided to bet it all on a single card: she has turned the Tenno Sho into a final stretch from the very first meter. The favorites, Special Week and Seiun Sky, seem trapped in their own caution—all except Haru Urara! The little runner from Kochi is the only one withstanding the 'Silver Eagle's' onslaught. Are we witnessing the birth of a legend?"

---

—Susuki Shirogane—

The plan is progressing exactly as we designed it. No one seems to have noticed the subtle but lethal increase in my base speed. My competitors are burning through their stamina reserves just trying to hold their positions, believing this is my usual pace. But I cannot lower my guard; if any of them deciphers the deception and adjusts their stride ahead of time, they could hunt me down on the final lap.

In part, Haru Urara's positioning has played in my favor. The rest of the pack knows her general level is limited; seeing her glued to my heels gives them a false sense of security. They must be thinking: "If Urara can maintain that pace, it must not be that fast." It's the perfect camouflage.

But... wait a moment.

If my pace truly is that of a sustained sprint... how the hell is she keeping up with me?

Calm down, Shirogane. Breathe. I should have seen it coming. All the signs pointed to this: Haru Urara was a "sleeper agent," a hidden card that Tracen was keeping low-profile. I got complacent. Surely that heavy breathing and those erratic movements are just an act—a lie to make me falter.

You almost fooled me, Urara. Now, along with Special Week and Seiun Sky, you've become a priority target. I won't allow any of the three of you to surprise me on the final stretch. Not after everything it cost me to get here.

---

—Seiun Sky—

"Shit, shit... damn it!"

I can feel my lungs burning, but that's not the worst part. My legs simply cannot go any faster; they've hit their cruising limit, and yet, the gap just keeps widening. This is impossible. Shirogane-san isn't that fast—or at least, she shouldn't be at this stage of the race. What the hell is going on at the front?

I've spent months analyzing her times, preparing to counter her stamina, calculating the exact moment to launch my attack... and none of it is working! The breach between the pack and the lead is opening up step by step like an abyss.

What makes even less sense isn't just Shirogane. It's seeing that pink silhouette, Haru Urara, withstanding the onslaught right behind her. If Urara is there, the pace should be manageable, right? But it isn't! My muscles are screaming.

---

—Special Week—

The air burns my throat and sweat blurs my vision, but the roar of the racecourse has faded away. All that's left is a dull thudding in my ears and a single idea pounding against my chest with every stride.

I have to win. I have to win.

It doesn't matter that the pace isn't what was expected. It doesn't matter that my legs feel like lead or that Shirogane-san seems unreachable up ahead. I made a promise.

I have to win for my two moms.

---

Announcer: Norisuke Akasaka

—"Ladies and gentlemen, what we are witnessing at Kyoto Racecourse defies every single forecast! We are entering the final turn, and I can speak for everyone when I say this race has unfolded like nothing we could have imagined! Shirogane Orzel has maintained a maniacal pace since the starting gun, and against all odds, she hasn't faltered for even a single second!"

—"But look at Haru Urara! She's still there, holding onto second place, even though it looks like her lungs might burst at any moment. Her endurance is a miracle of pure will! Meanwhile, the favorites are reacting! Special Week and Seiun Sky have awakened from their lethargy; they've realized Orzel's trap and are closing the gap like streaks of lightning! The pack is being stretched to its absolute limit!"

—"Attention! We are heading into the final curve! Orzel is hugging the inner rail even tighter, and instead of slowing down to catch her breath on the downhill, she's accelerating!"

—"Hana-san, please, tell me I'm not dreaming! Are we seeing what I think we're seeing?!"

---

—Haru Urara—

The final turn.

Step two...

What was it?

Right.

Step two: Overtake Shirogane-senpai.

My legs don't feel like my legs anymore.

It's not just about following her now. Now, I have to surpass her.

Overtake Shirogane-senpai. Overtake Shirogane-senpai. Overtake Shirogane-senpai.

I began to move toward the outside.

Overtake Shirogane-senpai! Overtake Shirogane-senpai! OVERTAKE SHIRO-SENPAI!

---

—Shirogane Orzel—

Everything was under my control. I used the momentum from the downhill on the final turn to gain a definitive boost, leaving my direct rivals with empty tanks. The Kyoto finish line stretched out before me, bathed in sunlight, claiming my victory.

Special Week and Seiun Sky began their final sprint, but their strides were heavy; they had burned too much energy falling for my strategy. They were finished. All that was left was to cross the line.

But... where was Urara?

The constant presence of that pink blur at my rear had become white noise—a sense of security that led me to make the gravest mistake of my career: letting my guard down. I flicked my ears frantically, searching for the echo of her footsteps behind me, but the sound wasn't coming from the back.

I turned my head, and my eyes registered an impossibility.

Urara hadn't stayed trapped in my wake. She had swung wide on the curve with a risky trajectory, and instead of faltering, she had accelerated once more. Her figure appeared at my flank, ignoring exhaustion, ignoring logic, driven by a will that my analysis could not have foreseen.

In the blink of an eye, she was neck and neck with me. I could see the glint of absolute determination on her face before...

She surpassed me.

It was barely half a length—a minimal distance, but enough to sink my heart. In that instant, a stunned silence fell over the racecourse: Haru Urara had just snatched first place from me.

---

—Haru Urara—

OVERTAKE SHIRO-SENPAI!
OVERTAKE SHIRO-SENPAI!
OVERTAKE SHIRO-SENPAI!

---

Announcer: Norisuke Akasaka

—"THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE! A turn of events that no one—absolutely no one—could have predicted! Haru Urara, the runner who arrived here as the long shot, has launched a final acceleration that seems to have the race in the bag! The crowd is in a state of shock, watching Kochi's 'Cinderella' prepare to claim the Tenno Sho crown!"

—"But wait! The drama isn't over yet! Special Week and Seiun Sky aren't giving up; they are squeezing out every last drop of strength for a desperate move from the outside. And in the eye of the storm... Orzel! Shirogane Orzel seems to have frozen in place! Urara's overtake has left her petrified—the psychological impact has been devastating!"

—"WAIT A SECOND! HOLD ON! WHAT AM I SEEING?!"

—"In a burst of pure competitive fury, Orzel is accelerating again! She hasn't said her last word! Ignoring every trace of fatigue, the 'Silver Eagle' finds her rhythm once more. Her eyes are bloodshot! She's charging back at Urara! The Kyoto home stretch has turned into a brutal battlefield between these two runners!"

---

—Susuki Shirogane—

It makes no sense. I had countermeasures for everyone except Urara. How is it possible for her to sustain this pace while Special Week and Seiun Sky are collapsing? Logic is crumbling. The gap is already a full length. This is my defeat. I grew careless... I've failed everyone.

Suddenly, the world stops. The roar of the crowd becomes a dull echo, and time seems to freeze.

"Shit. Is this a conspiracy of yours, Being X? Show your face! I'm not afraid of you!"

—"As much as I hate a bastard like that, it isn't him this time."

That voice... cold, authoritative, heavy with a veteran's weight that doesn't belong to this world of racing and applause.

—"Are you... Tanya Degurechaff?" I asked, observing the slowed-down surroundings. My vision of her was blurry—barely an outline recognizable by her blonde hair and the rigor of her military uniform.

—"The correct question would be: are you me? But I'll forgive you," my former life replied with a cutting calm. "I've come to give you the final push you need."

—"I can't go any faster..." I protested. "These are my absolute limits."

A low laugh, which soon became shrill and maniacal, escaped her silhouette.

—"Your limits? Don't make me laugh! It seems this era of peace has softened you. You call bleeding nails 'limits'? Where did our determination go? Remember: we were willing to implode at the rear just to reach our objective. Do not humiliate us by fearing such a trivial wound."

I remained silent. The weight of her words was more forceful than any physical training.

—"Susuki Shirogane... run! Run as if your life depended on it. Even if your nails tear off, run for those who trust you. I'm not asking you to seek death, but what is that small pain compared to your ambitions? What do you say, Shirogane?"

—"I'll do it..." my voice regained its edge. "I will run. I will win."

—"That's the spirit. But it looks like you need some extra motivation."

My former self adopted the stance I had used so many times in the past: arms behind the back, head held high, chin up. She barked at me in the tone that used to break the will of the toughest cadets:

—"Cadet Susuki Shirogane! You are to reach that finish line before anyone else! I want no excuses! Even if you have to crawl, you will finish first! No one gets there before you! IS THAT CLEAR?!"

—"YES, MA'AM! YES, MAJOR!"

—"THEN RUN, SUSUKI SHIROGANE, RUN!"

Time exploded back to normality. The finish line was the only thing left in my field of vision. I struck the turf with such inhuman force that the pressure finally overcame the resistance of my nails; I felt them tear away from the flesh, but the pain was nothing but fuel. I accelerated with an internal roar and pulled level with Urara.

She looked at me. I looked at her.

There were no words, only the sound of our breaths colliding. She picked up the pace again, and I did the same. It was just the two of us, one against the other. There could only be one winner.

---

Announcer: Norisuke Akasaka

—"I SEE IT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT! The two runners who have incinerated the stopwatch since the very first meter still have fire in their hearts! Who will take the glory? Who will etch their name into this Tenno Sho that has shattered every convention?!"

—"HARU URARA pulls ahead by what looks like a head! But SHIROGANE ORZEL reacts, she's clawing back the ground! It's a duel to the death!"

—"From behind, Special Week launches a desperate attack! She's coming with terrifying force, but the leaders' suicidal pace has taken its toll on her comeback! She's falling short by just a few lengths! Seiun Sky tries as well, but her legs have reached their breaking point! This battle belongs to only two!"

—"They're closing in on the line! Neither yields! Since they hit the stretch, they've done nothing but accelerate, defying everything and everyone! Who will win?! The Iron Eagle who refuses to fall, or the Hope of Kochi who doesn't know how to surrender?!"

—"Haru U...!"—"Shirogane O...!"—"Haru U...!"—"Shirogane O...!"

—"THEY'RE AT THE LINE! NECK AND NECK! THE WINNER IS...!"

Spoiler

Well, this is the end of this omake attempt. To be honest, I have no idea how it ended up being so long. If the author add it to the extras as canon, I'll finish it—MUAHAHA! No, just kidding, I'll finish it whenever I can. I don't even know at what point a "cute little moment" turned into 10 Word pages left to proofread and edit.(The initial plan was just a scene where, using Tanya, Haru would win a race and thank her effusively, and it just ended up turning into that.)

I'm very grateful to the author for creating such a lovely story. Truthfully, I read it often to purify myself from all the nonsensical atrocities I've had the misfortune of reading. Besides, it's one of the best Tanya fanfics out there, both because she's given a peaceful life and because they manage to integrate her into the universe without any major issues.

I guess this might be useful for others like me: if you want to download the UMA DERBY game, you'll need 10GB of storage. I wanted to try it out and play it to give this piece that extra "touch," but well, I need to buy a new phone first. So, if anything I wrote doesn't quite fit the canon or correct, I apologize!

 

[Argious]

Holy shit Haru Urara pulling a Rice Shower on the latter's "Holy Ground" but as the face is Peak.

 

[Darkwood]

demaniacal

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This did not translate right, was it going for demonic or maniacal?

Otherwise it was a pretty good omake, though is that Tanya appearing to talk to herself?

 

[0000000]

Holy shit Haru Urara pulling a Rice Shower on the latter's "Holy Ground" but as the face is Peak.

Click to shrink...

I don't understand, some reference to the game?

This did not translate right, was it going for demonic or maniacal?

Otherwise it was a pretty good omake, though is that Tanya appearing to talk to herself?

Click to shrink...

Corrected error.
It's Shirogane speaking with Tanya Degurechaff I wanted to include the 'first life' aspect(Salary man), but my brain just wouldn't come up with any interesting or logical dialogue for it, so I decided to cut that part out.

 

[ILoveAGothGirl]

She realized there was dirt under the field lets go my precious baby

 

[d s]

I wanted to try it out and play it to give this piece that extra "touch,"

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There is a website called umareader that documents all the characters stories etc

 

[Xenoxn]

I don't understand, some reference to the game?

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It's a reference to both the anime and the game, since Rice "stole" Bourbon's third crown like that.

I guess this might be useful for others like me: if you want to download the UMA DERBY game, you'll need 10GB of storage. I wanted to try it out and play it to give this piece that extra "touch," but well, I need to buy a new phone first. So, if anything I wrote doesn't quite fit the canon or correct, I apologize!

Click to shrink...

Eh, it was a fun little omake, even if it is extremely unlikely that something like this happens in the fic itself since Haru has a turf and long aptitude of G rank.

 

[0000000]

There is a website called umareader that documents all the characters stories etc

Click to shrink...

It's not working; I'll keep an eye out to see how it functions.

It's a reference to both the anime and the game, since Rice "stole" Bourbon's third crown like that.



Eh, it was a fun little omake, even if it is extremely unlikely that something like this happens in the fic itself since Haru has a turf and long aptitude of G rank.

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Thanks for the info.

Indeed, it would be improbable, but technically Shirogane's existence is already breaking everything established, isn't it?

Leaving that aside, well, technically not, how will the 'predestined' races that are supposed to happen work if our Shirogane is present?

 

[Xenoxn]

Leaving that aside, well, technically not, how will the 'predestined' races that are supposed to happen work if our Shirogane is present?

Click to shrink...

In-game, in races where your trainee's rival is supposed to win, they have high stats. For example, in Mayano Top Gun's career Narita Brian has very high stats in the Hanshin Daishoten, compared to her stats in the Tenno Sho (Spring) which takes place 2 turns after, where she has significantly weaker stats.

Another example would be Win Variation, where during the triple crown races Orfervre will ALWAYS have higher stats than her.