In a moment that should’ve been all about the thundering hooves and victory cheers, the 2025 Indonesia Derby turned into something far more unexpected: an explosion of anime memes, waifu fan art, and “Uma Musume” catchphrases flooding the internet.

Meet King Argentine, the racehorse that just did the unthinkable—sweeping the Indonesian Triple Crown and becoming the first stallion ever to dominate all three Grade 1 races in a single season. The win, held at the Sultan Agung Racetrack in Bantul last Sunday (July 27), was a landmark moment in Indonesian horse racing.

But instead of headlines focusing solely on the victory, something...weirder happened.

Anime Fans Took Over
The real chaos started online. Across YouTube comment sections, Twitter (X) threads, and even Reddit, fans of the Japanese multimedia franchise Uma Musume: Pretty Derby began flooding posts about King Argentine with shouts of “Umazing!”, “Umantap!”, and “Kudahsyat!” — anime-styled expressions of admiration blending Indonesian slang with the Uma Musume universe.

For the uninitiated, Uma Musume is an anime and game series that reimagines legendary racehorses as idol-style horse girls, complete with tails, ears, and energetic personalities. The concept: These girls are the reincarnations of real racehorses, trained to run in elite races while also serving as pop idols. Yes, it’s wild. Yes, it’s weird. And yes, it’s massively popular.

Now imagine that fandom suddenly decides: "What if King Argentine was one of them?"

From Racetrack to Fan Art
Fan artists didn’t waste time. Popular anime illustrators like FuzzyBrain and Habz Chibicon JKT quickly began uploading fan-made designs of King Argentine as a stylized Uma Musume character—think high ponytail, competitive glare, and racing gear inspired by Indonesian motifs.

Even the official race organizer, Sarga.Co, decided to lean into the chaos, playfully responding to the anime-styled comments and welcoming fan art submissions. In a surprising move for such a traditional sport, they even hinted at openness to a possible Uma Musume-style tribute.

A Viral Crossover No One Saw Coming
Soon, the moment went global. A Reddit thread titled “King Argentine is officially Uma Musume canon now?” racked up hundreds of upvotes and enthusiastic responses from the international fandom. With the global release of the Uma Musume: Pretty Derby mobile game just a day before King Argentine’s win, the timing couldn’t have been better for the perfect meme storm.

“It’s the crossover I never knew I needed,” wrote one user. “Horse racing’s never been this exciting!”

Another fan quipped: “King Argentine arc when?”

The Bigger Picture
Beyond the memes and waifu jokes, this moment reflects something bigger: how youth culture and pop fandom are transforming how we experience even the most traditional sports. Horse racing, often associated with older audiences, suddenly found new life—and a younger, wildly enthusiastic fanbase—through an unexpected anime connection.

And with the anime/game hybrid gaining traction globally, it might not be long before more Southeast Asian racehorses get the Uma Musume treatment.

So here’s the million-dollar question: Should King Argentine join the Uma Musume universe? Based on fan reaction, it’s a resounding yes.

After all, what’s more “Umazing” than rewriting racing history and becoming a fan-favorite anime girl at the same time?