You're staring at the screen, your TP is full, and you’ve got a stable of girls ready to conquer the dirt tracks. But then you see it on the schedule. The Uma Musume Negishi Stakes. It’s a GIII. Some players overlook it because it isn't a flashy GI like the Arima Kinen or the Japan Cup, but skipping it is a massive mistake. Honestly, if you’re trying to build a top-tier dirt specialist, this race is your golden ticket to the February Stakes.
It’s a 1400m sprint. Dirt. Tokyo Racecourse. It sounds simple, right? Wrong.
The 1400m distance in Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a weird middle ground. It sits right on the edge of "Short" and "Mile" ratings, which means your choice of character and their specific distance aptitudes will completely dictate whether you cross the finish line first or get buried in the dust of the backstretch. Most players realize too late that their "Mile" girl is actually struggling because her "Short" rating is a C or D, and the Negishi Stakes punishes that lack of versatility.
The Brutal Reality of the Tokyo 1400m
Tokyo is known for that long, agonizing uphill stretch. In the Uma Musume Negishi Stakes, the stamina drain is more real than you'd expect for a race that's over in a flash. You aren't just fighting the other racers; you're fighting the physics of the Tokyo dirt.
Dirt surfaces in the game already have a higher power requirement than turf. If your Power stat isn't sitting at a comfortable B+ or higher by the time you hit this race in Senior Year, you're going to see your girl struggle to find a lane. She'll get boxed in. The AI loves to cluster in dirt races, and without that raw strength to push through the pack, you're basically toast.
Think about Haru Urara. We all love her, but taking her into the Negishi Stakes without significant factor inheritance for Mile and some serious Power training is a recipe for heartbreak. You've probably seen it happen: she enters the final corner, looks like she’s got a chance, and then just... fades. It’s not just about speed. It’s about that grit.
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Who Actually Wins the Negishi Stakes?
Not every girl is built for this.
Agnes Digital is a monster here. Because she’s a "Hybrid" queen—meaning she can handle both turf and dirt—her versatility is unmatched. If you’re running Digital, the Negishi Stakes is basically a mandatory stop on her way to becoming a legend. Her unique skill often triggers perfectly on the final straight of Tokyo, allowing her to weave through the competition like they're standing still.
Then you have Oguri Cap. Is there anything she can't do? If you’ve bumped her Dirt aptitude up to an A through inheritance, she treats the Negishi Stakes like a light morning jog. The 1400m distance is actually quite favorable for her "Gourmet" recovery skills if the race gets particularly grueling, though you usually want to focus on raw acceleration for this specific sprint.
- Smart Falcon: The "Digital Idol" of the dirt. If she’s in the lead, she’s hard to catch.
- Copano Rickey: She thrives on the specific buffs you get from having multiple green "Condition" skills.
- Wonder Acute: A solid choice for those who prefer a more tactical, "Between the Lines" style of racing.
Don't sleep on Inari One either. While she’s often thought of as a long-distance runner because of her real-life Arima Kinen win, her Uma Musume version can be a terrifying dirt chaser if you build her right. Seeing her explode from the back of the pack in the final 200 meters of the Negishi Stakes is one of the most satisfying things in the game.
The Strategy Nobody Talks About: "Between" Skills
Most guides tell you to stack Speed. Sure, Speed is great. You need Speed. But in the Uma Musume Negishi Stakes, the "Accel" (Acceleration) stat and specific "Dirt" skills are what actually separate the winners from the losers.
"Dirt Deftness" and "Frontrunning" skills are vital. Because the race is a 1400m sprint, there is very little time to recover from a bad start. If your girl stumbles out of the gate (the dreaded "Late Start" debuff), her chances of winning the Negishi Stakes drop by about 70% unless she has an absurdly high Power stat to make up the ground.
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You should also look for skills that activate on "Left Turns" or "Sunny Weather," as the Negishi Stakes historically takes place in late January/early February. In the game’s rotation, these environmental buffs are cheap to buy and provide a flat boost that can compensate for slightly lower core stats.
The February Stakes Connection
Why does everyone obsess over this GIII? It's the "Prior Race" bonus.
Winning the Uma Musume Negishi Stakes gives you a significant momentum boost and often triggers specific training events that give you extra stats before the GI February Stakes. In the "Grand Live" or "U.A.F." training scenarios, maximizing your race schedule is the difference between an S-rank and a U-rank character.
If you win the Negishi, your girl enters the February Stakes with high spirits. More importantly, you get those precious skill points. Dirt skills are notoriously harder to come by than turf skills in certain support card decks, so the rewards from winning this specific race are essential for rounding out your build.
Common Pitfalls: Don't Let These Ruin Your Run
I've seen so many players bring a girl with an S-rank in Speed but a D-rank in Power into the Tokyo dirt. It's painful to watch. The dirt "weight" slows you down. If you don't have the Power to rotate those legs through the sand, that Speed stat is effectively capped.
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Another issue? Stamina. You might think "It's only 1400m, I can ignore Stamina."
Wrong.
The Tokyo uphill climb at the end of the Negishi Stakes acts like an extra 200m of flat track. If your Stamina is below 300, or you don't have at least one recovery skill, your girl will "hit the wall" right when the crowd starts cheering. She’ll do that heartbreaking animation where she slows down and looks side-to-side while everyone else zooms past.
Practical Steps for Your Next Training Session
Stop treating the Negishi Stakes as an optional race. It is a foundational piece of a Dirt Champion's career. To dominate it, you need to be intentional from Year 1.
- Check Aptitudes Early: Ensure your chosen girl has at least a B in Dirt and a B in Mile/Short. If she's at a C, use your inheritance factors to bump those up before you even start the run.
- Prioritize Power: During the Summer Training camp in Year 2, go heavy on Power and Guts. You'll need that "oomph" to handle the Tokyo sand.
- Grab "Dirt" Specific Skills: If your support cards offer "Dirt Mastery" or "Dry Track," take them. These are often cheaper than generic speed skills and provide a better ROI for this specific race.
- The "Pre-Race" Check: Before the race starts, check the weather. If it's "Heavy" or "Muddy" dirt, the stamina drain increases even more. If you have any remaining skill points, dump them into a recovery skill or a "Focus" skill to ensure a clean start.
- Watch the Replay: Don't just skip the race. Watch where your girl loses momentum. Is she getting stuck in the pack? (Needs more Power/Positioning). Is she leading but getting caught? (Needs more Stamina/End-game Speed).
Success in the Uma Musume Negishi Stakes isn't about luck; it's about respecting the specific demands of the Tokyo 1400m dirt track. Master this, and the February Stakes will be a cakewalk.
Go out there and turn your stable into a dirt-racing powerhouse. Focus on the Power stat, secure those positioning skills, and make sure your distance aptitudes are dialed in before the gates open. The trophy is waiting.