Manhattan Cafe

Overview

Manhattan Cafe is a character from the multimedia franchise Uma Musume Pretty Derby. A high school student residing in the Miho Dormitory at Tracen Academy, she is a reserved and enigmatic horse girl who pursues the elusive phantom of an unseen friend across the racing track. Though frequently regarded as eerie or strange by those around her due to her low-toned, distant demeanor and spiritual perception, she is fundamentally a considerate, deeply loyal individual. She is also a passionate coffee enthusiast who enjoys crafting her own brews.

Appearance

Manhattan Cafe is defined by her straight, dark bay hair that extends down to her waist, featuring a single white cowlick curving backward near the crown of her head. Her golden eyes lack bright highlights and possess small pupils, framed by long bangs swept toward the left side. On her right ear, she wears a stick earring, complemented by a thin choker around her neck. Her signature racing attire consists of a dark double-breasted chesterfield coat and blazer accented by a metallic golden tie and belt, paired with wrist-length black gloves and specialized footwear designed with an iron bridge horseshoe motif.

Personality

Manhattan Cafe is a quiet, soft-spoken girl with a low, calm voice. Because she frequently perceives spiritual phenomena that others cannot, she has grown accustomed to being viewed as eccentric or eerie, leading her to keep a gentle distance from those around her. Beneath her detached exterior, however, she is highly sensible, compassionate, and attentive to others, often offering thoughtful guidance to her rooming partner and younger peers. She is a dedicated coffee lover who takes great pride in her knowledge of brewing, though she drinks it slowly to avoid stomach discomfort, and harbors a clear distaste for black tea. She also enjoys mountain climbing, finding peace on high peaks where she feels closer to her unseen companion.

Abilities

On the turf, Manhattan Cafe excels in long-distance events, relying on a patient strategy to unleash a formidable closing burst of speed along the final stretch. Due to her delicate, fragile hooves that split easily, she requires specialized footwear patterned after bridge horseshoes for protection. Beyond her athleticism, she possesses an extraordinary spiritual perception that allows her to communicate with unseen entities and her mysterious friend, through whom she learns historical knowledge. Off the track, she demonstrates exceptional skill in brewing custom coffee blends and knows various techniques to disrupt dubious scientific experiments.

Background

Since childhood, Manhattan Cafe struggled with isolation due to her ability to sense things others could not perceive. Her life changed when she witnessed a mysterious, lightning-fast friend running ahead of her, an encounter that sparked her passion for running and led her out of her solitary shell. Driven by the desire to catch and eventually surpass this phantom figure, she enrolled at Tracen Academy. Entering the competitive world of the Twinkle Series, she channels her quiet determination into long-distance races, seeking a sense of fulfillment she cannot find anywhere else.

Relationships

Manhattan Cafe shares a complex dynamic with her classmate Agnes Tachyon, frequently being pulled into the latter's bizarre scientific trials while acting as a calming influence who puts a stop to her dangerous experiments. In the Miho Dormitory, she enjoys a warm, peaceful relationship with her roommate Yukino Bijin, who remains unfazed by the strange events around Cafe and receives brewing advice and city-style recommendations from her. Additionally, she harbors deep trust and affection for her Trainer, who understands her unique nature and meticulously manages her physical health.

Trivia

The real-life racehorse that inspired Manhattan Cafe was a famous dark-coated stayer who captured the Kikuka Sho, Arima Kinen, and Tenno Sho (Spring). Her signature outfit's black and gold color scheme is derived from the corporate colors of Times, a car rental service operated by her real-world owner's company. Her fragile hooves and specialized footwear design reflect the historical horse's delicate hoof structure, which required custom iron bridge horseshoes during its racing career.