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SARGA.CO – A unique phenomenon unfolded at the 2025 IHR–Indonesia Derby. It wasn’t just King Argentin’s historic Triple Crown victory that drew attention, but also the unexpected wave of viewers tuning in to Sarga.Co’s livestream — anime fans and Japanese pop culture enthusiasts, known as wibu.
Since the global release of Uma Musume: Pretty Derby — a horse-racing game featuring anime-style moe characters — the world of real-life horse racing has started to feel surprisingly familiar to the wibu community. Some even referred to the actual races in Indonesia as "live-action Uma Musume", and from that moment on, the live chat on Sarga.co was never the same.
Anime Comments, Fanart, and “Best Girl” Titles for Real Horses
During one of the final races of the 2025 Derby, when King Argentin raced against two formidable fillies — Princess Gavi and Romantic Spartan — anime fans instantly dubbed the rivals as “best girl.”
Comments included:
“Gavi gives off serious Daiwa Scarlet vibes!”
“Romantic Spartan is waifu material! Someone make her anime version, please!”
“Hashireee! Umajing Nusantaraaa!”
Soon after, memes and fan art began circulating, depicting Romantic Spartan and Princess Gavi in anime-styled racing outfits, complete with touches of traditional Indonesian culture. These artworks spread rapidly across TikTok, Twitter/X, and Instagram under hashtags like #UmaMusumeNusantara, #BestGirlDerby, and #UmazingIndonesia.
For years, horse racing in Indonesia was seen as a sport for the older generation or closely tied to certain regions. But this unexpected influx of attention from the wibu community opened a new window of opportunity: reviving horse racing through digital culture.
“If they want to watch because they feel a connection through Uma Musume, why not?” said an admin from a local horse racing fan group. “What matters is their interest — maybe someday they’ll show up at the track.”
Where Fandom Meets Traditional Sport
The merging of two worlds — anime fandom and a traditional sport — created an unexpected space for collaboration. In Japan, Uma Musume has successfully boosted the popularity of horse racing. Now in Indonesia, the seeds are being planted.
Some fans even floated wild ideas:
“How about an Uma Musume cosplay event at the racecourse?”
“Or a VR/AR game combining real racehorse data with anime characters?”
What started with a simple “Hashire!” (Run!) is slowly becoming a pivotal moment. A community once dismissed as just watching “for fun” has brought viral momentum and expanded the audience. In the digital age, a single fan art or comment can spark an entire shift in a sport’s ecosystem.
Horse racing is no longer just about speed on the track — it’s about who can win the hearts of the next generation. And in this case, the wibu — through Uma Musume — have unexpectedly paved the way.
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