The Saturday of the Mainichi Cup and Queen Cup.
With the ranch busy that day and a trip to Beijing scheduled for the next day, they unusually decided not to go to Fuchu in person and watched the races from the ranch instead.
At three in the morning that day, everyone at the ranch got up earlier than usual and began preparing for the season's most important event.
—Though delayed by the earthquake, Golden Horn still arrived safely at the JBBA stallion station in Shizunai in early February and began work for this year's Japanese breeding season.
Perhaps because the earthquake had disrupted breeding stallion plans, coupled with his low stud fee, they unexpectedly received around thirty breeding applications from small and medium-sized ranches in Hidaka this year.
However—
Even with Little Light as an example, and with the market outlook seeming far more optimistic than in previous years, the employees still wore doubtful expressions that seemed to say, "Can this really work?"
"Normally, it's often obvious at a glance when a horse can't run. But when they can run, you usually can't tell at this stage, when they're foals or yearlings..."
Even as they set off for Shizunai Stallion Station, Zepp continued muttering from the driver's seat.
"But unless they're blind, they should be able to see Little Light's ability!"
Before anyone else could speak, Rachel Ho had already leaned her head out from the back seat.
After all, even trainer Yahagi had said that Little Light was a horse "certain to make it on the track"—
Faced with Rachel Ho's rapid-fire complaints, Zepp, who had been wearing a doubtful expression, could only nod in agreement.
"Then, let's go."
Though this was her second breeding, Anna was still the only one heading to the stallion station this time.
Normally,