The Headliner

"Alright, I hope for everyone's support for this year's Hokkaido Horse Sale, just as always."

At last, it looked like the sale was about to officially begin.

"However, before the first horse enters the sale ring, please allow me to introduce several racehorses sold through this year's sale that have achieved respectable results..."

So that had just been a feint.

"Maybe next year they'll bring Gastrique out again to serve as the face of the event."

Ogawa Masaru yawned boredly.

The last G1 horse to come from the Hokkaido Horse Sale had been Jinjiki in 2019.

[For milk blockage, apply a hot towel compress. If that doesn't work, use a teat cannula to drain the milk, then administer Shuangding Injection intramuscularly. Remember to strictly control the dosage according to body weight.]

[If cysts are widespread, try laying cushioning boards or padded cloth in hard areas that certain cattle herds frequently come into contact with.]

Tapping on his phone screen, Kitano opened his unread messages one by one.

"...And we would also like to thank those who have come from overseas, from the United States and Europe..."

Were there really people like that?

He raised his head.

Well, there really were.

Sure enough, he spotted a few scattered figures with blond hair around the venue.

"...The livestream is delayed by four to five seconds compared to the venue, so those participating online, please keep that in mind."

At last, all the notices had been read.

"Now then, sorry for the wait."

"Before today's Hokkaido Yearling Select Sale officially begins, please welcome Mr. Furukawa, director of the Hokkaido Market, to give the opening address."

With a slight bow, Director Furukawa accepted the microphone.

He was not particularly tall, and his hair had begun to turn gray, but his voice was full of energy.

"...As last year, this year's Hokkaido Horse Sale will last three days. The auction for the first group of selected foals will once again be held on the first day."

"I hope for everyone's support at this year's sale as well."

With that, Director Furukawa gave a slight bow.

Scattered applause rose around the venue.

The awards for last year's outstanding owners and trainers from the sale ended quickly amid an awkward atmosphere.

When Kitano heard that the major win had only been a G3, even he could not help pausing in surprise.

Then he sincerely admired the host for continuing the commentary without changing expression.

By the time the award ceremony ended, both the owners and trainers seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief.

The owner still holding his trophy in particular looked entirely ready to retire from horse ownership.

The five staff members seated on the raised platform marked "HOKKAIDO HORSE SALE" exchanged nods. Once they had confirmed that everything was ready, the female auctioneer in the middle announced, "The auction for yearlings on the first day of the 2025 Hokkaido Horse Sale will begin with Horse Number One."

After another rather long wait, Horse Number One finally entered the ring somewhat unwillingly, by which point even the professional smile on the auctioneer's face had grown a little stiff.

"Horse Number One, Magny Cours 2024. Colt, bay, foaled February 20. Sired by Kitasan Black, out of Magny Cours, whose pedigree carries a long-standing American dirt-racing bloodline."

"Bidding begins at twenty million yen. Twenty million—"

"Hey!"

An older owner directly behind Kitano raised his hand and shouted.

Was there really any need to shout that loudly?

Besides, the bidding had gone beyond his acceptable range from the very start.

Kitano decisively lowered his head and flipped through the catalog.

"Alright, twenty-one million—any higher bids? Twenty-one million—"

"Are there really no other bids at twenty-one million—twenty-two million!"

A strangely familiar sense of déjà vu suddenly rose within him.

"Hey!"

Another owner seated not far to his left made a bid.

"Twenty-three million—currently twenty-three million! Twenty-three million—"

Though it had been dressed up to look far more glamorous—

There was, in essence, no real difference from a local livestock auction.

Settling into a more comfortable position, Kitano watched the contest in the ring as a spectator.

The bay Horse Number One appeared to be the temperamental sort. Not only had he been difficult when entering the ring, but during the auction he showed several restless signs of wanting to kick out.

Though Kitano had no idea whether that would affect the bay colt's market value, the final price only reached thirty million yen.

The expressions on the staff members' faces made it clear that the price was still some distance from their expectations.

Still, to Kitano, that was an unreachable figure as well.

His ideal price range was six million yen—

His targets were the lower-ranked horses that fell somewhere between failing to sell and being sold at the reserve price.

Of course, it did not matter if he failed to find one.

He had not come to the sale with thoughts like, I have to buy a horse to prove my eye for horses, or, It would be such a waste not to make use of the Detector.

He would simply let things take their course.

"Are there truly no further bids at thirty million yen—this Kitasan Black offspring has inherited dirt blood from her dam's side. Thirty million yen, no objections—"

The auctioneer was still making one final effort.

But the price probably would not rise any further.

Even the older owner who had shouted out thirty million yen earlier seemed to be starting to regret it.

"Then thirty million yen from this guest will be the final hammer price."

At the crisp sound of the gavel, the sweat-soaked staff members finally let out long breaths and led the bay colt away.

Then came Horse Number Two, Number Three, Number Four... Even after Horse Number Twenty, Kitano still showed no intention of bidding.

"Mr. Kitano, you really know how to keep your composure."

Ogawa Joe was somewhat impressed by Kitano's restraint.

Among the first twenty horses of the day, several yearlings had appeared with excellent prices and physiques. Even he could not resist calling out a few unplanned bids.

Yet Kitano, a new owner who had only recently begun getting involved in horse racing, had not said a word so far.

"I just haven't found a target I like yet."

That was the more tactful way of putting it.

Put more bluntly, the starting prices alone for the earlier horses had exceeded his budget.

"Then please keep it up, Mr. Kitano!"

It sounded entirely like consolation.

Until the day's sale was nearly over, Kitano still had not called out a single bid.

Quite a few owners planning to compete for Equinox offspring, the finale of the day, had already secretly marked him as a formidable rival.

"Next is Horse Number One Hundred Thirty-Six, Ocean Fleet 2024. Filly, chestnut, foaled March 7. Sired by Kobayashi Rikki, out of Ocean Fleet, with a three-by-five Raise a Native cross in her pedigree."

The female auctioneer calmly introduced the day's second-to-last yearling.

Yet Ocean Fleet 2024 was nowhere to be seen on either side of the presentation lane.