So I managed to pull Copano Rickey and started her campaign to understand her character a bit, and then the substory about the Dubai G1 came up. Hokko Tarumae is gunning for it to surpass Rickey, but also explains that it's a sort of revenge for her role model, Smart Falcon.

Falco got MOGGED. Her entire race was a bust from the start, and she didn't even get to hold the lead like she usually does. Seeing her role model not able to show her strengths and left in tears is why Tarumae wants to win it.

However, Copano Rickey's Feng Shui readings are pulling a major red flag (Tarumae traveled in the direction of the Five Ghosts to get to Dubai, which is the second most disastrous direction in Feng Shui to travel). But she doesn't say anything cause 1. Hokko Tarumae has a bit of a penchant against Feng Shui and thinks its superstition, and 2, Rickey wants to believe Tarumae can overcome it. But then a second red flag pops up, Hokko Tarumae goes completely radio silent.

Tarumae comes from a place not well known, so part of her racing drive is to advertise it on everyone's map. For her to not even say anything days before the race, even about her hometown, is suspect.

And then the race happens, and Tarumae gets 16th place. 

...I'm not the only person who thinks that maybe Dubai is rigging races or something to that effect, right? Its strange that Two Uma's go to an international G1 and don't get top half placing. 

Also, "There have also been reports that the water there doesn't quite agree with her" definitely sounded suspect.

But I don't know, am I making a mountain out of nothing, or is there something dark behind Dubai?

During Copano Rickey's Campaign, a G1 in Dubai comes up and it unnerves me that twice an Umamusume in Japan got disappointing results.