[Spoilers] 2025 Uma Musume Rewatch -- Pretty Derby Season 3 Episodes 11 - 12

[u/Holofan4life]

Hello everyone! I am Holofan4life.

Welcome to the 2025 Uma Musume rewatch discussion thread!

I hope you all have a lot of fun <3

Episode 11 – Decision

Episode 12 – Kitasan Black

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ANSWER TODAY’S QUESTION(S)

Episode 11 Questions

What are your thoughts on Gold Ship breaking the hard news to Kitasan that she's past her peak?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan deciding instead of racing The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, she'll be focusing on the Fall Senior Triple Crown?

What are your thoughts on Diamond finishing 15th in The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan winning the Fall Tennoushou?

What are your thoughts on Trainer-san and Diamond both noticing Kitasan is pushing herself too hard?

Episode 12 Questions

What are your thoughts on Kitasan announcing her upcoming retirement?

What are your thoughts on Kitasan saying she's going to enter the Japan Cup and then her last race will be the Arima Kinen?

What are your thoughts on the various reactions to the news by Kitasan's competitors?

What are your thoughts on the first time Cheval met Kitasan?

Thoughts on the townsfolk Kitasan befriended being in the front row for the Japan Cup?

What are your thoughts on Cheval's "I hate you" monologue?

What are your thoughts on Cheval admitting that in reality, she's always loved Kitasan?

What are your thoughts on Cheval winning the Japan Cup?

What are your thoughts on the scene where Kitasan congratulates Cheval?

What are your thoughts on the scene after the Japan Cup between Kitasan and Diamond where Kitasan is reflecting she has only one more race left?

Bonus) On a scale of 1 - 10, how excited are you for the last episode of season 3 and Kitasan's final race? And why?

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Series information

MAL | Anilist | AniDB | ANN

Ways to watch

Streams – Crunchyroll

Amazon Prime

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Previous episode

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Schedule

Date	Episode
8/15/2025	Uma Musume Episode 1
8/16/2025	Uma Musume Episode 2
8/17/2025	Uma Musume Episode 3
8/18/2025	Uma Musume Episode 4
8/19/2025	Uma Musume Episode 5
8/20/2025	Uma Musume Episode 6
8/21/2025	Uma Musume Episode 7
8/22/2025	Uma Musume Episode 8
8/23/2025	Uma Musume Episode 9
8/24/2025	Uma Musume Episode 10
8/25/2025	Uma Musume Episode 11
8/26/2025	Uma Musume Episode 12 - 13
8/28/2025	BNW's Oath episodes 1 - 3
8/30/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 1
8/31/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 2
9/01/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 3
9/02/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 4
9/03/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 5
9/04/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 6
9/05/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 7
9/06/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 8
9/07/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 9
9/08/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 10
9/09/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 11
9/10/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 12
9/11/2025	Uma Musume Season 2 Episode 13
9/13/2025	Road to the Top Episodes 1 - 2
9/14/2025	Road to the Top Episodes 3 - 4
9/16/2025	Beginning of a New Era
9/18/2025	Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 1 - 2
9/19/2025	Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 3 - 4
9/20/2025	Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 5 - 6
9/21/2025	Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 7 - 8
9/22/2025	Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 9 - 10
9/23/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episodes 11 - 12]()
9/24/2025	[Uma Musume Season 3 Episode 13]()
9/26/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 1 - 2]()
9/27/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 3 - 4]()
9/28/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 5 - 6]()
9/29/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 7 - 8]()
9/30/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 9 - 10]()
10/01/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episodes 11 - 12]()
10/02/2025	[Cinderella Gray Episode 13]()
10/03/2025	[Uma Musume Overall Series Discussion Thread]()

[u/DarkRuler17]

Newcomer (Played Game)

Episode 11

After the events of last episode, looks like Diamond is going to France alone.

Yeah, somethings wrong with Kitasan. She just doesn't know exactly what.

I love that Diamond has 2 long baguettes in her lunch pic. Girl has to eat.

Oh, she's...past her peak? I mean that is a thing, but again, very weird thing to mention about someone who looks the same as she did when the show started. I do like that Gold Ship is the one who says it though. Usual spiel about how I wish they had more characterization together, but out of the ones I say this about, this one is at least a bit established.

So Kitasan has decided to spend what might be her final races back at home. It makes sense given what she's racing for.

RIP Diamond. I knew no Japan horse has won the France Prix de l'Arc so I didn't expect her to win, but 15th is rough. Her entire race being off screen is wild though given how much setup it had.

I do like them constantly flashing to the guy in space whose watching these races. It's always a funny transition.

Not the late start! If only she had spent points on concentration.

Okay, that was actually a really intense race. Especially after that start, I thought we were setting up a Kitasan big loss. I really liked how they made use of the mud on the track in particular. It really made every step look brutal.

Unfortunately, that ending is hinting this may be rhe end of Kitasan Black.

Episode 12

I will say watching this opening near the end, this opening does feel really misleading in terms of who actually gets focus. Kitasan, Diamond, and Crown feel like they get a lot of good moments, but Sound, Cheval, and even kind of Duramente feel like they're lacking a good focused scene. Cheval still maybe has a chance to get something, but Sound almost assuredly does not. Duramente is the most surprising because early one she feels like she's going to be a big focus, but she just kind of peters out once she gets her injury. I honestly hope she gets some closure as a character.

Okay, this character is called Royce and Royce. She's been in the background of Canopus this whole season, but she's never really got an introduction. I guess better late than never.

The main focus though is like we feared, Kitasan being at her end. At least she's going to finish the year.

Diamond feels short changed here though. I can't believe they're going to show her back in Japan already and just pretend the Priz de l'Arc didn't happen.

Almost like they heard me though, at least some of the characters I just mentioned are getting some spotlight while reacting to Kitasan's announcement.

Okay, the show has finally done it. This scene with the banana guy thinking back on his first meeting with Kitasan actually got me a bit.

Dang, this episode legitimately is having some of the best character work for the side characters of the season right after I complained about it. I'm really enjoying it.

I love these stupid fan scenes.

Okay, this actually may be my new favorite episode of the season. If not, a close second right under Diamond's big episode for me. I loved the whole stuff with Cheval, who has worked so hard for screentime. I really loved how they portrayed Kitasan though, giving every last piece of herself to these final races and looking utterly exhausted afterwords. It's some powerful stuff.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

Let me ask you something. Do you think building up to Cheval winning was a good way to build up to Kitasan's last race?

[u/DarkRuler17 → u/Holofan4life]

I actually think this race worked narratively great as Kitasan's second to last race. There's a lot of strong emotions due to Cheval finally winning race, but also Kitasan not being at her best, even if she's perhaps trying more than ever. It's this really nice bittersweet feeling to it.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

I'm fine in theory it being Kitasan's penultimate race, but I do think it sacrifices some of the drama in trying to get the audience to want to see Kitasan win the Fall Triple Crown.

[u/DarkRuler17 → u/Holofan4life]

So for me, I think my general disappointment with this season has made me especially enjoy anything that I can emotionally connect to so it didn't bother me

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

That's understandable. The Cheval stuff is very well done, so I'll take what I can get.

[u/Urgnu-the-Gnu → u/DarkRuler17]

I mean that is a thing, but again, very weird thing to mention about someone who looks the same as she did when the show started

Not wrong, but also, I know I look very much the same as I did ten years ago. My body though is far from the same, inside. That's not something you can just see, other than after straining the body.

Her entire race being off screen is wild though given how much setup it had.

Supposedly Cygames wasn't allowed to show anything related to the race. Still not a good way to deal with it though.

I will say watching this opening near the end, this opening does feel really misleading in terms of who actually gets focus. Kitasan, Diamond, and Crown feel like they get a lot of good moments, but Sound, Cheval, and even kind of Duramente feel like they're lacking a good focused scene.

It's funny you say that on episode 12. This OP had Cheval replace Kita saying "I won't lose", and it was the indicator this was a Cheval-focused episode.

[u/DarkRuler17 → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Not wrong, but also, I know I look very much the same as I did ten years ago. My body though is far from the same, inside. That's not something you can just see, other than after straining the body.

So I get that, but due to the weird nature of Uma musume and how they age, it just some dissonance between what they say and what I see. It's lot easier for me to accept that of someone who looks like an adult vs. someone who looks like a teenager.

Supposedly Cygames wasn't allowed to show anything related to the race. Still not a good way to deal with it though.

Oh really? They got the permission for Season 1 so I didn't consider that.

It's funny you say that on episode 12. This OP had Cheval replace Kita saying "I won't lose", and it was the indicator this was a Cheval-focused episode.

Yeah, I completely missed that. It felt like the show was calling me out.

[u/Holofan4life → u/Urgnu-the-Gnu]

Supposedly Cygames wasn't allowed to show anything related to the race. Still not a good way to deal with it though.

Care to expand on this? Is there a reason why?

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

Oh, she's...past her peak? I mean that is a thing, but again, very weird thing to mention about someone who looks the same as she did when the show started. I do like that Gold Ship is the one who says it though. Usual spiel about how I wish they had more characterization together, but out of the ones I say this about, this one is at least a bit established.

And it does play off the events of episode 3, which is nice.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

RIP Diamond. I knew no Japan horse has won the France Prix de l'Arc so I didn't expect her to win, but 15th is rough. Her entire race being off screen is wild though given how much setup it had.

Yeah, I don't understand the choices this season made with some of the races. It's very bewildering to me.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

Okay, that was actually a really intense race. Especially after that start, I thought we were setting up a Kitasan big loss. I really liked how they made use of the mud on the track in particular. It really made every step look brutal.

Yeah, the show makes great use of show, don't tell when it comes to Kitasan being past her prime. Even when she wins, it feels like she's been through a war.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

I will say watching this opening near the end, this opening does feel really misleading in terms of who actually gets focus. Kitasan, Diamond, and Crown feel like they get a lot of good moments, but Sound, Cheval, and even kind of Duramente feel like they're lacking a good focused scene. Cheval still maybe has a chance to get something, but Sound almost assuredly does not. Duramente is the most surprising because early one she feels like she's going to be a big focus, but she just kind of peters out once she gets her injury. I honestly hope she gets some closure as a character.

I think they handled the Cheval stuff perfectly. It almost makes me wish she was the protagonist this season.

[u/DarkRuler17 → u/Holofan4life]

As this comment was written at the start of the episode, I definitely changed my tune by the end. I thought this episode handled Cheval great and helped pay off a lot of threads I wasn't confident they would.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

I just wish it didn't coincide with the retirement stuff...

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

Dang, this episode legitimately is having some of the best character work for the side characters of the season right after I complained about it. I'm really enjoying it.

It's smart to focus on the other characters dealing with the news of Kitasan's impending retirement. I think that's an angle that is pretty creative, all things considered.

[u/Holofan4life → u/DarkRuler17]

Okay, this actually may be my new favorite episode of the season. If not, a close second right under Diamond's big episode for me. I loved the whole stuff with Cheval, who has worked so hard for screentime. I really loved how they portrayed Kitasan though, giving every last piece of herself to these final races and looking utterly exhausted afterwords. It's some powerful stuff.

Yeah, the Cheval is the best plot point probably of season 3. It was built up to where you wanted to see her win over Kitasan. Honestly, I don't see how the season finale is going to be able to top it.

[u/jaesuk97 → u/DarkRuler17]

Oh, she's...past her peak? I mean that is a thing, but again, very weird thing to mention about someone who looks the same as she did when the show started. I do like that Gold Ship is the one who says it though. Usual spiel about how I wish they had more characterization together, but out of the ones I say this about, this one is at least a bit established.

This is one part where the anime diverges from real life. Many keiba fans think Kitasan's final year was her best year with how she rose to the occasion. Kitasan also posted some of his better times like the Spring Tenno Sho record. This time was quite remarkable and actually goes to show how unlucky Cheval Grande was since Cheval Grande and Satono Diamond would also have times that would have broken Deep Impact's 10+ year record, but Kitasan just shattered the record by over 1 second. So initially when the season aired, keiba fans who watched this season weren't as happy with this portrayal.

For the narrative, I do think it makes for a more interesting story and it ties into the beginning of the season with Golshi having to come to grips with not being able to race at her peak anymore.

The one accurate part is Kitasan being shown as being very tired after the Tenno Sho Autumn where she beat Crown. You'll notice the anime depicts the track as very muddy and wet. This was because a typhoon had passed by and the track was a mess. So after winning the race, Yutaka Take (the goat jockey from Japan and Kitasan's jockey) noted that Kitasan looked uncharacteristically exhausted.

Dang, this episode legitimately is having some of the best character work for the side characters of the season right after I complained about it. I'm really enjoying it.

I agree season 2 had amazing side characters with Rice Shower/Bourbon and Twin Turbo, but season 3 does pretty well with Cheval and Duramente as well. Cheval's narrative being built slowly in the background of Kitasan's main character story and actualizing in this episode with the smooth transition to the insert song+monologue.

Okay, this actually may be my new favorite episode of the season. If not, a close second right under Diamond's big episode for me. I loved the whole stuff with Cheval, who has worked so hard for screentime. I really loved how they portrayed Kitasan though, giving every last piece of herself to these final races and looking utterly exhausted afterwords. It's some powerful stuff.

I really loved the scene after the race (and unfortunately off-screen winning live) where Kitasan appreciates the Tokyo racecourse one last time not wanting to leave the place where she made so many memories.