本命

ほんめい

Common word

noun, no-adjective

favorite (to win), favourite, likely winner

one's heart's desire, first choice(colloquialism)

本	book, present, main, origin, true, real, counter for long cylindrical things
命	fate, command, decree, destiny, life, appoint

ほんめい

たいこうば

せあ

かげ

、

かれ

ぎょふ

り

え

Since the favorite and his rival were running against each other a dark horse like him was able to pull out in front