The distance is 2,400 meters. That is the number that haunts every trainer in Uma Musume: Pretty Derby. When you’re staring down the Japanese Oaks—the second leg of the Triple Tiara—you aren't just racing against other girls. You’re racing against a massive spike in difficulty that has ruined more runs than I can count. Honestly, it’s brutal. One minute you’re breezing through the Oka Sho at 1,600 meters, thinking your speed-focused build is invincible, and the next, your girl is wheezing in the final straight at Tokyo Racecourse because you forgot that stamina actually matters.
The Yushun Himba, which is the real-world name for the Japanese Oaks, is basically the "Queens' Derby." In the game, it serves the exact same purpose. It’s a filter. It separates the sprinters who got lucky from the true long-distance legends. If you haven't prepped your stamina or grabbed the right recovery skills, the Tokyo 2400m will eat you alive.
The Reality of the Japanese Oaks Uma Musume Difficulty Spike
Why does everyone struggle here? It's simple math, really. Most of the early-game objectives leading up to the Japanese Oaks Uma Musume schedule focus on Mile or Short distances. You’ve been stacking Speed. Maybe some Intelligence. Then suddenly, the game demands you run 800 meters further than you ever have before. That’s a huge jump.
If you're training someone like Vodka or Daiwa Scarlet, the Oaks is the moment of truth. In real life, Vodka actually skipped the Oaks to run the Tokyo Yushun (the Derby) against the boys—and won. In the game, you often have to make a choice. Do you follow the historical path, or do you try to conquer the Triple Tiara? If you go for the Oaks, you need at least 300 to 350 Stamina, and that's being generous. If the weather is "Heavy" or "Bad," you’re going to need even more, or at least a gold recovery skill like Maestro of the Arc (Enko no Maestro).
People often underestimate the "Spurt" mechanic. In Uma Musume, your girl starts her final sprint based on how much energy she has left. If she enters the final corner of the Oaks with a red stamina bar, she won't spurt. She'll just fade into the pack while the crowd watches in silence. It’s heartbreaking. You’ve spent twenty minutes clicking through training screens just to see her finish 12th.
👉 See also: When Was Monopoly Invented: The Truth About Lizzie Magie and the Parker Brothers
Why Tokyo Racecourse is a Nightmare for Speed Demons
The Tokyo track is famous for its long straightaway. It's about 525 meters of pure desperation. There's also a slope. It’s not just a flat run; that incline drains your power.
If your girl has low Power, she’s going to struggle to climb that hill and maintain her top speed. This is why the Japanese Oaks Uma Musume builds require a balanced approach. You can't just "unga bunga" your way through with 600 Speed and 150 Stamina. The game's engine calculates the "Guts" stat here too. While Guts was a bit of a meme stat in the early days of the game's release, it now plays a vital role in how much stamina you consume during the final stretch.
Real Legends of the Oaks
Think about Air Groove. In 1996, she took the Oaks in a performance that cemented her as a powerhouse. In the game, her character reflects that "Empress" energy, but her training path is tricky because she has to balance that mid-to-long distance versatility. Then you have Mejiro Dober. Dober is the queen of the Oaks. Her kit is literally designed to thrive in these specific conditions. If you're playing her, the Oaks feels like a homecoming. For everyone else? It’s a gauntlet.
Then there is Rice Shower. Oh, Rice Shower. While she’s more famous for the Kikkasho and the Tenno Sho Spring, her journey through the Oaks in the game is often a major hurdle for players. She’s a "Stamina" girl in a "Speed" meta, which makes her feel weak early on, but the Oaks is where she finally starts to shine—if you’ve survived long enough to get there.
✨ Don't miss: Blox Fruit Current Stock: What Most People Get Wrong
Training Strategies That Actually Work
Stop ignoring the "Rest" button. Seriously. I see so many trainers trying to squeeze one last training session in with 20% health, hitting a failure, and then wondering why their stats are trash for the Oaks.
- Prioritize Blue Stamina Skills Early: You don't need "all the speed" in Year 1. Get Corner Recovery or Straight Recovery before you hit the June 1st deadline.
- The "Power" Secret: Power isn't just for overtaking. It helps with the uphill climb at Tokyo. Aim for at least a D+ or C rank in Power by the time the Oaks rolls around.
- Friend Cards Matter: If you aren't borrowing a Max Level Super Creek or Rice Shower (Power type) card, you're making life harder for yourself. Creek’s Maestro of the Arc is the single best skill for clearing the Oaks. It’s basically a cheat code.
It's also worth noting the "Mood" mechanic. If your girl is "Leery" or "Grumpy," her stats take a hidden 5-10% hit. In a race as tight as the Japanese Oaks Uma Musume event, that’s the difference between a podium finish and a "Better luck next time" screen. Always use a Turn to go to the Shrine or the Arcade if her mood drops before a big Grade 1 race.
The Psychological Gap: Mid-Distance vs. Long-Distance
The game classifies 2,400m as "Mid-Distance." This is technically true, but it’s at the absolute limit of the category. A lot of support cards give bonuses for Mid-Distance, but their skills might only trigger in the middle of the race. If you don't have something for the "Final Leg," you might get overtaken by a late-bloomer (Betwixt or Chaser) who has been saving their energy.
I've seen so many Gold Ship players laugh through the Oaks. Why? Because Gold Ship (the Chaser) doesn't care about the first 1,800 meters. She hangs back, lets everyone else tire themselves out, and then teleports to the front in the last 200 meters. It’s annoying to watch if you're running a Leading (Runner) girl like Silence Suzuka, but it’s a valid strategy. If you are running a Runner in the Oaks, you need massive Stamina. You are the windbreaker for the entire pack. You are doing the most work.
🔗 Read more: Why the Yakuza 0 Miracle in Maharaja Quest is the Peak of Sega Storytelling
Beyond the Game: The Cultural Weight of the Oaks
In Japan, the Yushun Himba is a big deal. It’s been running since 1938. When you play the Japanese Oaks Uma Musume mission, you’re engaging with a piece of history that defines the "classic" generation of fillies. The game does a great job of capturing the atmosphere—the tension of the paddock, the specific fanfare music that plays for G1 races at Tokyo, and the weight of the "Triple Tiara" dream.
Winning the Oka Sho (Cherry Blossom Sho), the Oaks, and the Shuka Sho is the ultimate flex. Only a handful of horses have ever done it in real life—legends like Gentildonna, Almond Eye, and Liberty Island. In the game, achieving this gives you a specific title and usually a massive fan boost. But the Oaks is always the "trap" race. It's the one that breaks the streak.
What to do if you keep losing
If you're stuck, look at your inheritance. Are you bringing in blue factors that favor Speed? Switch them to Stamina. Even if your girl has a natural "A" in Mid-Distance, she might have a "C" in Stamina growth. You have to compensate for that.
Also, check your tactics. Sometimes switching a girl from "Leader" to "Between" can save just enough energy to get her across the line. It’s not always about the raw numbers; sometimes it’s about the path she takes on the track.
Actionable Next Steps for Trainers
To stop failing the Oaks, you need a shift in your training loop. Tomorrow, when you start your next run, try this:
- Target 350 Stamina by May: Don't wait until the week of the race. Use the early "Junior" phase to build a base.
- Secure one Gold Recovery Skill: Prioritize Support Cards that offer Enko no Maestro or Cool Down.
- Test your Power: Ensure you aren't neglecting the Power stat; aim for 300+ to handle the Tokyo slope.
- Watch the Replay: Don't just skip the race. Look at your girl's icon. Is it flashing blue (recovery) or is she sweating (stamina depletion)? This tells you exactly what went wrong.
The Oaks isn't impossible. It's just a test. It asks you: "Did you actually prepare, or did you just hope for the best?" In the world of Uma Musume, hope doesn't win G1 races. Preparation does. Once you crack the code for the 2,400m, the rest of the Triple Tiara feels like a victory lap. Get that stamina up, pick your skills wisely, and go claim that tiara.