It finally happened. For years, if you followed the Japanese horse racing scene or spent any time in the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby fandom, there was one name that felt like a forbidden myth. Almond Eye. The nine-time G1 champion. The horse that broke records like they were glass. Fans waited. They speculated. They grew cynical. But Cygames finally pulled the trigger, and honestly, the arrival of Almond Eye in the Uma Musume universe is doing more than just adding a new character to the roster; it’s shifting how the entire game handles the "Modern Era" of racing.
People are obsessed.
Why? Because Almond Eye wasn't just a fast horse. She was a cultural phenomenon in Japan, a mare that defied the traditional logic of distance and surface. Bringing that kind of legacy into a mobile game carries a weight that most gacha characters just can't match.
The Silk Racing Barrier and Why It Took So Long
If you’re wondering why it took until now to see an Almond Eye Uma Musume design, you have to look at the boring stuff: licensing. Cygames has had a complicated relationship with certain stables and owners. For the longest time, horses owned by Silk Racing—which includes Almond Eye—were notably absent.
It’s a business thing.
The Uma Musume project relies on the goodwill of real-world owners. Some owners love the publicity. Others are a bit more protective of their horse’s "image." When the Silk Racing "seal" finally broke, it wasn't just Almond Eye that fans were looking for, but she was definitely the crown jewel. Her inclusion signals a massive turning point where we might start seeing other superstars like Equinox or Gentildonna more frequently.
It’s basically the "Avengers: Endgame" moment for horse racing nerds.
What Makes the Almond Eye Uma Musume Design Work?
Cygames usually nails the character design by baking in tiny, obsessive details about the real horse. With Almond Eye, the "Triple Tiara" winner, the design had to reflect elegance but also that terrifying, raw power she showed in the 2018 Japan Cup.
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The color palette is a direct nod to the Silk Racing silks—light blue with red dots and dark blue sleeves. You’ll notice the character often has a sophisticated, almost "top-tier student" vibe, which fits the real horse’s nickname, "The Girl with the Almond Eyes." She was known for being incredibly intelligent and composed in the paddock, only to turn into a literal jet engine once she hit the final straight.
Breaking Down the Stats (The Nerd Stuff)
In the game, Almond Eye is built to be a monster at Medium and Long distances. But honestly, her real strength lies in her Training Scenarios.
- Turf Proficiency: Maxed out, obviously.
- Strategy: Ideally suited for Sashi (Betwixt) or Senko (Leader) roles, mimicking her real-life ability to sit behind the pack and then explode with a 33-second final 600m spurt.
- Unique Skill: Usually triggers in the final corner or straight, giving a massive speed boost that reflects her world-record-breaking 2:20.6 time in the Japan Cup.
If you're playing her, you're essentially trying to recreate the most dominant era of Japanese racing. It’s hard. The game reflects that pressure. You aren't just racing; you're trying to maintain a legacy that literally changed the history of the sport.
The Real-World Legacy: 9 G1 Wins is No Joke
To understand the hype, you have to look at the dirt and grass. Almond Eye won nine Grade 1 races. That’s a number that puts her in the stratosphere of legends like Deep Impact and Vodka.
She didn't just win in Japan, either. She went to Dubai and embarrassed the international field in the Dubai Turf. She was versatile. Most horses have a "sweet spot"—maybe 1600m, maybe 2400m. Almond Eye? She just didn't care. She won the Oka Sho (1600m) and the Japan Cup (2400m). That kind of range is rare.
In Uma Musume, this translates to a character who is incredibly "stat-hungry." You can’t just focus on Speed. You need the Stamina to survive the long haul and the Guts to push through the final uphill climb at Tokyo Racecourse.
Why Fans Are Actually Crying Over This
There is a deep emotional connection here. For many younger fans in Japan, Almond Eye was their horse. She was the one they watched during a time when the sport was transitioning into a new era of global competitiveness.
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When her character trailer dropped, the "almond eye uma musume" search terms spiked because people wanted to see if the game would respect her rivalry with Contrail and Daring Tact. The 2020 Japan Cup—the "Three Triple Crown Winners" race—is considered by many to be the greatest race in the history of the sport.
Seeing those three interact in the game’s story mode is pure fanservice, but the good kind. It’s the kind that makes you go back and watch the actual race footage on YouTube at 2:00 AM.
Common Misconceptions About Almond Eye
I see a lot of people saying she’s "overpowered" in the current meta.
Well, yeah. She was overpowered in real life.
But it’s more nuanced than that. In the game, she has specific "debuffs" or challenges in her story mode that reflect her real-life struggle with the heat or specific track conditions. She wasn't invincible. Remember the 2019 Arima Kinen? She finished 9th. It was shocking. The game builds these moments in, making her feel human (or, well, "horse-girl-human"). It’s not just a win-button. It’s a journey of managing a superstar who has her own quirks and limits.
How to Maximize Your Almond Eye Runs
If you’ve pulled her and you’re struggling to get that "UG" or "UF" rank, you're probably ignoring her Intellect stat. Almond Eye was a tactical runner. In the game, higher Intellect helps her trigger that game-breaking unique skill exactly when the "Final Spurt" kicks in.
Don't just stack Speed cards. You need a balanced deck that includes high-level Stamina support, especially if you’re aiming for the Tenno Sho (Autumn) or Japan Cup scenarios.
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Also, pay attention to her unique traits. She often gets bonuses for racing at Tokyo Racecourse. It's her home turf. Literally.
The Cultural Shift in Uma Musume
The inclusion of Almond Eye proves that Cygames is no longer afraid to tackle the "modern legends." For a while, the game was stuck in the 90s and early 2000s—the "Golden Age." But by bringing in Almond Eye, the developers are signaling that the 2010s and 2020s are now fair game.
This opens the door for:
- Equinox: Her successor and arguably the best horse in the world recently.
- Gran Alegria: The sprinting queen who had legendary battles with the top milers.
- Panthalassa: The "escape" runner that everyone wants to see in anime form.
Almond Eye is the bridge. She’s the one who made it okay for the new guard to stand alongside the old icons like Special Week and Tokai Teio.
Final Practical Takeaways for Players
If you want to stay ahead of the curve with Almond Eye, focus on these three things. First, save your support points for "Intelligence" cards that offer the "Inner Path" or "Straight Speed" buffs. She needs them to replicate her real-life positioning. Second, don't skip her story beats. The developers hidden-stat bonuses are often buried in the dialogue choices that reflect her real-world personality—composed, sharp, and competitive. Third, use her in the Champions Meeting. Her base stats are high enough that she can act as a "gatekeeper" for other players' compositions.
The "Almond Eye Era" isn't just a phase in the game; it’s the new standard. Whether you’re a hardcore gambler on the real-life tracks or just a casual gamer who likes the character designs, you can't ignore the impact she’s had. She’s the queen for a reason.
Next Steps for Your Training:
- Check your current Support Card pool for SSR Kitasan Black or SSR Super Creek; Almond Eye needs the high-tier Stamina and Speed boosts these provide to handle Long-distance G1s.
- Review the 2018 and 2020 Japan Cup race replays to understand her "Sashi" timing, which will help you decide which skills to prioritize in the Skill Point menu.
- Focus your training on the Tokyo Racecourse specialty buffs, as Almond Eye receives hidden performance modifiers on this specific track in most game scenarios.