The Starting Gate definitely had to be used. The closer every aspect of the practice race was to an official event, the better the results would naturally be.
Thus, amid the bickering of Gold Ship and Gold Artisan, the Horse Girls worked together to push the Starting Gate to its designated position at the start.
Every Horse Girl who came to help was highly experienced, and Kitasan Black was no rookie fresh out of debut either. The incident with moving the Starting Gate did not disrupt the paused warm-up.
One could even say that, having worked together, the Horse Girls seemed a little closer, and their condition improved when they resumed warming up. Before long, they had adjusted themselves to the point of being ready to race.
Noticing this, Anjing Zhen did not waste many words.
Once Kitasan Black and the others had entered the Starting Gate just as they would for an official race, he began the final checks.
"I've set the gate-opening time. I've got a thirty-second countdown on my end."
Holding a tablet in one hand and a stopwatch in the other, he looked at the Horse Girls inside the Starting Gate.
Seeing no response from them, their eyes all fixed straight ahead, he nodded to himself. Watching the time on the screen, he continued, "Then, practice race—2,400 meters, left-handed, woodchip track..."
"Start!"
The announcement of the race began at the same instant the Starting Gate opened. In the next second, Anjing Zhen's pupils contracted slightly.
It was extremely obvious: the practice race, with only six Horse Girls participating, instantly split into two groups.
Charging into the lead was Kitasan Black.
After bursting precisely and swiftly from the gate, dark-brown woodchips sprayed beneath the black haired girl's feet. The muscles in her bare arms beneath her athletic