Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Taking an Unconventional Approach”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano returns to Mejiro Farm in Mitsuishi after visiting Tomikawa. The journey has been tiring and the freezing Hokkaido weather emphasizes the harsh conditions of winter.
• The staff gathers to hear about the Hong Kong Vase expedition. Kitano admits that preparations have been difficult, especially because Atalanta’s troublesome temperament and poor condition required extensive attention.
• With help from Saga trainers Majima Motonori and Majima Jiya, Atalanta has finally recovered enough to begin training, though the ranch remains cautious rather than confident about her chances overseas.
• The ranch completes its year-end weigh-ins and discovers that nearly every horse has gained weight, including the older horses and growing yearlings.
• Kitano is particularly shocked by Kikimaru’s enormous winter coat and apparent bulk. Although Kikimaru weighs only 439 kilograms, he looks like a tank.
• The next morning, Kitano announces that Kikimaru must lose weight. Ogawa Kanna immediately rejects the idea of aggressive exercise, explaining that Kikimaru is still a one-year-old undergoing critical skeletal development.
• Instead of reducing his overall weight, the staff decides to focus on lowering his body fat gradually. Kikimaru’s weak hooves and constant appetite make intensive training unsafe.
• Ogawa recommends slow-feeder nets to prevent Kikimaru—and another overeating horse—from consuming feed too quickly. Kitano accepts the unconventional solution.
• Because winter exercise is limited and Kitano is already exhausted from snow removal and ranch work, Kikimaru’s future weight-control plan depends largely on beginning twenty-four-hour turnout when conditions allow.
• The chapter ends with a vehicle arriving at the ranch and a news announcement revealing the final Arima Memorial fan-vote rankings: Mejiro Atalanta takes first place, followed by Meisho Gekkei and Mejiro Sakuya.

Character Developments

• Kitano Yuk: Returns exhausted but remains responsible and attentive to both the overseas racing campaign and the farm’s daily needs. He initially approaches Kikimaru’s weight problem directly, then accepts a more gradual and scientifically appropriate plan.
• Atalanta: Has not been easy to manage, but her condition has improved enough for training to begin. Her first-place fan-vote ranking shows that she has earned significant public support despite the uncertainty surrounding her Hong Kong Vase prospects.
• Kikimaru: Is revealed as a voracious eater with a thick winter coat and developing physical weaknesses, especially in his hooves. His care requires patience rather than forceful training.
• Ogawa Kanna: Demonstrates practical expertise and authority by correcting Kitano’s overly simplistic weight-loss plan. She emphasizes proper skeletal development and suggests the slow-feeder approach.
• The ranch staff: Remain supportive but realistic. They care more about the horses’ long-term health than forcing unrealistic victories, and they openly discuss the difficulties of overseas competition.

Significant Themes

• Health over victory: The ranch’s primary goal is keeping Atalanta healthy rather than burdening her with an absolute expectation to win abroad.
• Patience and proper development: Kikimaru’s situation shows that young horses cannot be treated according to simple weight-loss logic; growth, bone strength, and hoof health must come first.
• Science versus luck: The closing quotation presents breeding as a balance between careful planning and uncontrollable chance, a principle reflected in both racing success and animal development.
• Unconventional problem-solving: The slow-feeder net represents the chapter’s central approach: when traditional solutions are unsuitable, practical alternatives must be found.
• The hidden labor of horse racing: Winter chores, snow removal, conditioning, feeding, and stable inspections reveal the physical and emotional work behind competitive racing.

Character Interactions

• Kitano discusses the expedition with the ranch employees, who respond with concern but avoid creating excessive pressure around the Hong Kong Vase.
• Zepp and Asayama defend the horses’ weight gain by pointing out their age, growth, or limited winter activity.
• Kitano and Asayama inspect the stables together, where Kitano reacts humorously to Kikimaru’s oversized appearance.
• Kitano’s attempt to order Kikimaru’s weight loss is immediately challenged by Ogawa Kanna, who explains why aggressive exercise would be dangerous.
• Ogawa examines Kikimaru’s stall and collaborates with Kitano on a safer feeding strategy, while privately expressing frustration at the ranch’s unusually difficult horses.

Chapter Summary: “Accident and Instruction”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Professor Yano nearly causes a traffic accident on Hokkaido’s icy “black ice” roads after forgetting to switch to snow tires. Kitano recalls his own skidding accident during his first year in Hokkaido.
• Yano visits Mejiro Farm for fieldwork and reunites with Kitano, whom she previously instructed in physiology while he was a student. Her teasing reminds everyone that Kitano is a “famous” veterinary alumnus—though largely because of his notoriety in Professor Katagiri’s reproductive science department.
• Once inside the stable, Yano shifts from her playful demeanor into a serious professional mode and examines Anna, a recently retired racehorse transitioning toward broodmare life.
• She evaluates Anna’s hooves, muscles, injury history, feed, supplements, exercise, and medical reports. Anna’s hoof condition and muscle quality are good, and her joint condition and muscle enzyme levels are promising.
• Yano identifies Anna’s irregular estrous cycle as the main concern, likely connected to the effects of high-intensity racing. She recommends continued ultrasound monitoring and adjustments to Anna’s activity level.
• Yano advises continuing vitamin E and selenium, adding a small amount of flaxseed oil, maintaining grass hay as the base ration, and providing regular turnout with an additional thirty to forty minutes of hand-walking.
• She explains that retired racehorses should not simply be overfed and left inactive. Controlled movement improves circulation, helps muscles gradually adapt, reduces stress, and encourages social adjustment.
• Yano suggests that Anna would benefit from a large pasture with uneven terrain to rebuild her core muscles and reshape her body naturally. The staff realizes that Mejiro Farm already consists largely of such terrain.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates professional competence by answering Yano’s questions confidently and accurately, showing how far he has progressed from student to veterinarian. He also reveals concern for Anna’s physical and social adjustment.
• Yano is established as both teasing and highly knowledgeable. Her casual, humorous personality contrasts sharply with her focused authority during the examination.
• Anna appears gentle, healthy, and socially adaptable. She has adjusted quickly to farm life and seems to have earned the respect of the younger horses.
• The farm staff, including Kikuchi and the observing German employee, react with amusement to Kitano and Yano’s banter but take Yano’s medical guidance seriously.
• The chapter also suggests that Dober has influenced Huibin, though Yano reassures the group that mature horses generally retain their established temperaments and values.

Significant Themes

• Professional growth and mentorship: Kitano’s exchange with Yano shows the lasting impact of his education and the transition from student to capable practitioner.
• Adaptation after retirement: Anna’s move from athletic competition to broodmare life requires careful changes in diet, exercise, metabolism, and social environment.
• Balance rather than extremes: The chapter challenges the assumption that retired racehorses should be inactive and overfed, emphasizing controlled exercise and gradual adjustment.
• Animal psychology and socialization: Turnout with gentle companions can reduce stress, prevent behavioral problems, and help horses form healthy social relationships.
• Nature as rehabilitation: Uneven pasture terrain is presented as a natural way to rebuild strength and reshape muscles more effectively than specialized race training.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Yano exchange familiar teasing, with Yano joking about his reputation and Kitano responding in a deferential but increasingly professional manner.
• Kikuchi and the German employee observe their conversation, reacting with embarrassment and amusement.
• Yano conducts a detailed consultation with Kitano and the farm employees, questioning them about Anna’s care and explaining the reasoning behind each recommendation.
• Yano’s gentle interaction with Anna—touching her, examining her, and stroking her head—contrasts with her direct technical discussion with the staff.
• The group’s final shared reaction to the “uneven terrain” recommendation provides a humorous ending: Mejiro Farm’s naturally hilly environment already meets Yano’s ideal conditions.

Summary: “Taking the Day Off”

• Plot points/events: The narrator has caught a mild cold and decides to take the day off to rest and recover.
• Character development: The narrator demonstrates self-awareness by recognizing the need to pause rather than continue with normal responsibilities. The use of “meow” gives the character a playful or cat-like personality.
• Themes: Rest, self-care, and acknowledging one’s physical limits are the central themes.
• Character interactions: No other characters are mentioned, so the chapter focuses entirely on the narrator’s condition and decision.

Plot points and events

• On Hong Kong International Races Day, Atalanta’s team remains anxious about how she will cope with the unfamiliar surroundings. Travel, quarantine restrictions, separation from familiar companions, and difficulty settling into training have all tested her.
• With help from her trainer and the presence of experienced horses, Atalanta gradually becomes calmer and more willing to train. Her appetite is good, and a stuffed toy offers some comfort in the stable.
• Before the Hong Kong Vase, Sasagawa is told to stop the race if anything seems wrong. The team accepts that Atalanta’s progress matters more than the result.
• Atalanta receives a warm welcome from the crowd and unexpectedly wins the Best-Looking Horse Award.
• Once mounted, she is briefly unsettled by the unfamiliar turf but follows the lead horse toward the gates. She makes a somewhat messy start, then responds to Sasagawa’s reins and settles into a light stride. The race begins, with Mejiro Eiyu leading at the first pass of the finish line.

Character development and interactions

• Atalanta shows significant mental growth: despite her sensitivity to change, she adapts to the Hong Kong environment, handles the crowd, and regains composure after the start.
• Sasagawa remains concerned but steady, reassuring Atalanta and carefully controlling her pace. He takes the warning about her welfare seriously.
• Trainer Majima supports Atalanta through the difficult adjustment and reports on her improving condition. Kitano watches anxiously from outside the stables, relying on the trainer’s and jockey’s accounts.
• Okisawa and Majima help comfort Atalanta with familiar handling and lead ropes. The team’s encouragement reflects their close, practical care for her.
• The crowd’s cheers and the local fans’ amulet-like gifts offer the team public support, even as they remain cautious.

Significant themes

• Growth through change: Atalanta’s progress is measured not just by racing results, but by her ability to adapt.
• Care over competition: The team prioritizes her safety, with instructions to stop if she shows signs of trouble.
• Trust and support: Atalanta relies on experienced horses and familiar people to navigate an unfamiliar setting.
• Uncertainty and hope: The team’s anxiety persists, but her calmness on race day suggests that their efforts may be paying off.

Chapter Summary: “Winter in Hibernation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sasagawa guides Atalanta into a favorable position near the rail after she breaks well and takes the lead in the Hong Kong Vase.
• He hesitates over whether to increase the pace. Atalanta is not especially strong in a late sprint, but changing tactics too early could expose her to greater danger. Remembering the owner’s encouragement, Sasagawa chooses to trust her stamina and maintain the strategy.
• Atalanta sets a controlled but slightly quick pace as the field stretches out. Yutaka Take, riding Golden Soul, deliberately stays near the rear after accurately judging the race’s tempo.
• On the backstretch, Kawada begins advancing Starsea Bond, creating a direct contest with Atalanta. The two horses duel as they approach the final turn.
• Atalanta enters the straight with the lead and appears capable of holding off the field. However, Starsea Bond overtakes her after Kawada applies repeated pressure.
• The race changes dramatically in the final 300 meters. Golden Soul launches a powerful outside charge, while Mejiro Eiyu pushes through on the inside. Starsea Bond quickly loses momentum.
• Atalanta also fights back from the innermost lane, displaying remarkable determination despite having been passed. Three horses cross the finish close together:
  1. Christmas Day
  2. Golden Soul
  3. Mejiro Atalanta
  4. Starsea Bond
• Christmas Day wins the Hong Kong Vase, while Atalanta finishes third—matching her pre-race popularity ranking.
• Although Kitano and Atalanta’s team are disappointed, they recognize the overseas campaign as a success, particularly because of Atalanta’s visible mental growth.
• Post-race reports praise Christmas Day’s victory and announce that Atalanta will likely continue focusing on turf races the following year.

Character Developments

• Sasagawa shows improved composure and trust in Atalanta. Although he briefly panics when Starsea Bond overtakes her, he never loses faith in his partner and remains focused through the finish.
• Atalanta demonstrates exceptional stamina, competitiveness, and mental resilience. Rather than collapsing after losing the lead, she continues fighting and produces a strong late effort from the inside.
• Kitano moves beyond immediate disappointment and evaluates the broader value of the campaign. He becomes optimistic about Atalanta’s future development and wonders what kind of horse she will become by the following spring.
• Yutaka Take displays his experience by reading the pace correctly and conserving Golden Soul at the rear before launching a late attack.
• Kawada executes an aggressive tactical move, advancing Starsea Bond at the backstretch and briefly taking the lead, though the horse ultimately lacks the stamina to finish strongly.
• The racing fans become emotionally invested in Atalanta, whose distinctive appearance, small stature, and determined running style earn her widespread support.

Significant Themes

• Trust and partnership: Sasagawa’s decision to rely on Atalanta rather than make a risky tactical change reflects the bond between jockey and horse.
• Perseverance despite defeat: Atalanta loses the lead but continues fighting, showing that effort and resilience can be as meaningful as victory.
• Growth through experience: The overseas campaign fulfills its purpose by strengthening Atalanta’s mental state and giving the team valuable experience.
• Strategy and timing: The race emphasizes how pace management, positioning, and the timing of attacks can determine the result.
• Looking beyond the immediate outcome: Kitano recognizes that third place is disappointing, but the horse’s development and future potential matter more than a single result.

Character Interactions

• Sasagawa internally recalls the owner’s advice and uses it to commit to a bold, trusting race strategy.
• Atalanta and Starsea Bond engage in a prolonged tactical duel, with each horse responding to the other’s advances.
• Kawada’s pressure forces Sasagawa and Atalanta into a difficult battle for the lead.
• Yutaka Take’s patient approach contrasts with Kawada’s aggressive mid-race acceleration.
• Kitano and the wider team share disappointment after the loss but ultimately interpret Atalanta’s performance positively.
• The official comments from Trainer Majima Daisuke confirm that Atalanta achieved the campaign’s primary goals and will continue developing on turf.

Key plot points and events

• Meisho Gekkei wins the Year-End Grand Prix in a dramatic finish, while the Mejiro horses do not appear in the race.
• A week after the Nagoya Grand Prix, Mejiro Tenma’s second-place finish is celebrated as a surprise, especially since he beat one of the JRA entrants. His jockey, Ishikawa, now finds Pegasus easy to handle—a sharp contrast with his complaints the year before.
• The farm closes out the year by tending to its horses and facilities: winter shelters and fences are built, yearlings’ weight and hoof growth are monitored, slow-feeder nets are installed, and pregnant mare Dazzling Move is moved early to Coolmore’s foaling barn.
• Planning begins for future breeding. The staff strongly object to Kitano’s decision to mate Thorpedo Anna with Golden Horn, but he stands by the Advisory Team’s recommendation. Dazzling Move is still expected to go to Prolific Maestro.
• On New Year’s Eve, Kitano visits Nishiken Farm and talks with Ogawa and Kanna. Sakuya’s performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic has kept her atop the year-end world rankings, with a rating of 132.

Character developments

• Kitano reflects with satisfaction on a year filled with work and new experiences. He remains confident in the farm’s plans despite his employees’ objections.
• Ishikawa’s view of Pegasus has changed: a horse he once found frustrating now seems remarkably manageable.
• The farm staff continue to develop their expertise, applying lessons from foaling care and carefully managing the horses’ winter needs.
• Sakuya’s achievements cement her status as a world-class champion, even as she is now largely retired.

Character interactions

• Kitano and the farm staff disagree over Thorpedo Anna’s breeding plan; their protests range from practical suggestions to teasing criticism, but Kitano does not waver.
• Kitano credits his success to the people who helped him, including A-Sheng’s team, while Kanna dismisses A-Sheng as trouble-prone.
• Ogawa welcomes Kitano warmly, and their visit offers a quiet, reflective contrast to the chapter’s high-energy race opening.

Significant themes

• Success as a shared effort: Major victories and rankings are presented as the result of many people’s work, not just one horse or owner.
• Care and long-term responsibility: Winter maintenance, feeding, hoof management, and pregnancy care show the steady labor behind racing.
• Conviction versus consensus: Kitano’s breeding decision tests his willingness to follow expert advice despite widespread disagreement.
• Reflection and renewal: The year’s end provides a pause to take stock of accomplishments and prepare for the next season.

Chapter Summary: “Goffs”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The new year begins without the renewal or calm the protagonist had hoped for. Ongoing snowfall makes ranch preparations difficult, while preparations for the Winter JS Broodmare Sale add to the workload.
• The protagonist assesses the upcoming Japanese broodmare auction but finds no especially attractive prospects. Since successful breeders rarely sell their best mares, he expects the search to yield little.
• Ranch operations continue according to an established plan, though practical implementation creates disagreements and complications. Yearlings are managed individually, with turnout, training, breaking, and stable-entry schedules adjusted according to their growth and physical condition.
• The protagonist continues educating himself, reading industry papers and studying French so he can follow European racing research.
• Anna, the ranch’s newest broodmare, gradually loses some of her pronounced muscular definition and begins moving toward a more suitable breeding condition. Her progress is promising but remains uncertain.
• As the Eclipse Awards approach, the protagonist travels to Florida and reunites with Kimura, Arayama, and others. Kimura and Arayama’s matching cowboy outfits create an awkward, humorous atmosphere.
• At the ceremony, the protagonist meets John, an American acquaintance who enthusiastically congratulates him on his mare and asks whether he plans to spend heavily at Keeneland. The protagonist explains that he will take a more conservative approach this year because of limits on ranch and stable capacity.
• Kimura proposes that they travel together to the United Kingdom to inspect the upcoming Goffs January Sale in Doncaster. Both men are inexperienced with the sale, but the protagonist becomes interested in its selection of European-bred mares and foals.
• After considering the value of European bloodlines—especially while observing Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien—the protagonist decides to visit the United Kingdom. The Eclipse Awards banquet then begins.

Character Developments

• The protagonist: Becomes increasingly cautious and strategic in his breeding investments. Rather than expanding aggressively, he prioritizes capacity management and considers broodmares selectively. His commitment to professional development also deepens through veterinary research, racing studies, and French-language learning.
• Anna: Shows physical transformation from an overly muscular mare toward a softer, rounder condition more appropriate for breeding. Her development becomes an ongoing test case for the ranch’s management methods.
• Kimura: Emerges as a practical associate and potential travel companion. His suggestion to investigate the Goffs sale broadens the protagonist’s commercial outlook beyond Japan and North America.
• John: Remains energetic and physically forceful, greeting the protagonist enthusiastically while revealing strong interest in his spending and purchasing plans.
• Aidan O’Brien: Appears briefly but symbolizes the prestige and influence of European racing and bloodlines.

Significant Themes

• Practical management versus ideal plans: Even well-designed breeding and training programs require adjustment when confronted with differences in individual growth, weather, and available resources.
• Cautious expansion: The protagonist recognizes that rapid acquisition is not always wise and that ranch and stable capacity must guide investment decisions.
• Internationalization of the bloodstock business: The shift from Japanese and American sales toward Goffs reflects the growing importance of European bloodlines and global breeding networks.
• Continuous learning and adaptation: The protagonist’s study of scientific papers, racing knowledge, and French demonstrates his effort to remain effective while moving away from hands-on veterinary work.
• Breeding as long-term speculation: Anna’s gradual physical development and the search for suitable broodmares emphasize the uncertainty and patience required in producing valuable racehorses.

Character Interactions

• Ranch employees continue to voice complaints, reflecting the strain created by constant work and differing opinions over implementation.
• Kimura and Arayama’s coordinated cowboy attire provides comic relief but also highlights the uncomfortable mood surrounding the group.
• The protagonist and John maintain a friendly relationship despite the latter’s intense handshake and disappointment that the protagonist will spend less at Keeneland.
• Kimura and the protagonist discuss the limitations of the Japanese sale and agree to explore the Goffs January Sale together, marking a possible new stage in their international breeding strategy.

Chapter Summary: “Old Horses, New Horses”

Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens at the Eclipse Awards, where Mejiro Sakuya wins Horse of the Year for the second consecutive time after her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
• Arayama accepts the stable’s award for the previous year’s greatest racing moment, while Kitano gives a brief acceptance speech for Horse of the Year. His achievement fulfills two system objectives:
  • Owning a racehorse that wins Horse of the Year.
  • Having a racehorse not trained in the United States win the award.
• Kitano receives several Golden Omamori and a Rainbow Omamori as rewards.
• During dinner, the group discusses breeding philosophy, particularly how to balance bloodline planning, physical health, and racing ability. Kitano says he relies largely on instinct and prefers eliminating redundant elements in a horse’s pedigree to promote soundness.
• The discussion shifts to changing stables, a practice once considered taboo among older owners and breeders. The group compares Kitano’s approach to the more integrated model used by Juddmonte.
• Kigetsu is mentioned as a promising filly expected to leave Monbetsu and eventually prove herself on the central circuit.
• The major unresolved issue is Pegasus’s transfer to a central-circuit stable. His current trainer, Tanaka, supports the move and believes Pegasus can adapt to turf racing, but notes that the horse still needs improved cardiopulmonary function and greater muscular development.
• Pegasus’s difficult, increasingly headstrong temperament makes selecting a suitable new stable complicated.
• After dinner, Arayama unexpectedly suggests Uchida Hiroyuki as a possible trainer or destination for Pegasus.
• The chapter ends with news that Mejiro Sakuya has accepted an invitation to the Dubai World Cup. She will prepare in Japan before traveling to Dubai, with her participation dependent on her condition, and jockey Jin Meiqi scheduled to ride.

Character Developments

• Kitano achieves major recognition as an owner but remains modest and uncomfortable with public speaking. His short toast reflects both his humility and his awareness that his former dream has become reality.
• His breeding philosophy is revealed to be practical and health-focused, though it is secretly supported by the Advisory Team’s advanced guidance.
• Arayama continues to represent the stable publicly and demonstrates confidence in Mejiro Sakuya’s international future.
• Tanaka is shown to be a thoughtful and cooperative trainer. He gives a detailed, professional assessment of Pegasus rather than resisting the transfer.
• Pegasus has matured physically and competitively but has also become more difficult and unpredictable, creating new management challenges.
• Mejiro Sakuya has progressed from a celebrated champion to an international contender preparing for the Dubai World Cup.

Significant Themes

• Recognition versus genuine emotion: The awards are prestigious, but advance knowledge of the results makes the ceremony feel less exciting, showing how public honors can lose their emotional impact.
• Tradition versus modernization: Older beliefs about keeping horses with one stable conflict with newer, more flexible approaches focused on finding the best environment for each horse.
• Health and performance: The chapter emphasizes that soundness and physical development are prerequisites for speed, while acknowledging that balancing long-term health with competitive success is difficult.
• Individualized horse management: Pegasus’s transfer demonstrates that a horse’s temperament, body, training needs, and future potential must all be considered when choosing a stable.
• International ambition: Mejiro Sakuya’s planned Dubai campaign marks the stable’s growing presence beyond Japan and the United States.

Character Interactions

• Kitano, Kimura, and Ogawa Masaru debate breeding principles, with Ogawa teasing Kitano for his vague reliance on instinct.
• The dinner conversation broadens into a discussion of stable transfers and generational attitudes toward racing traditions.
• Kimura expresses optimism about Kigetsu’s future, unaware that the stable may have plans he does not yet understand.
• Tanaka and Kitano’s team have cooperated closely on Pegasus’s development, discussing everything from diet and hoof care to training methods and temperament.
• Arayama and Kitano later discuss Pegasus’s future, with Arayama proposing Uchida Hiroyuki as a possible solution to the stable-transfer problem.

Chapter Summary: “Racehorse Maniac”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist discovers that his system title has advanced to Level 3 and unlocks the title “Racehorse Maniac.”
  • The title moderately increases the popularity of horses racing domestically and slightly increases popularity for horses racing overseas.
  • It also makes auction prices for offspring bred at his farm more likely to deviate from their expected benchmark when he personally handles the sale.
• He equips the title, recognizing that its effects are likely beneficial.
• The recent Winter JS Broodmare Sale proves disappointing. Aside from a possible increase in his Pedigree Knowledge, he gains little because the mares offered were poor in both quality and value.
• He travels to the United Kingdom with Mr. Kimura to attend the Goffs January Sale. Their purpose is mainly exploratory and preparatory for the larger Aintree Boutique Sale in April.
• Ravide stays in Japan to handle farm business, including transferring Mejiro Tenma and other horses from the regional to the central racing circuit. The plan is to purchase the horses privately through installment payments under Nishiken Farm’s name.
• The farm’s ability to fund these transfers depends partly on a scheme involving selling Dazzling Move’s offspring back to themselves at favorable values.
• At Doncaster Racecourse, the protagonist and Kimura inspect the mixed-format auction grounds. The protagonist studies both the horses and the buyers’ reactions, noting that colts remain more popular than fillies and that British broodmares frequently possess traits such as Big Frame, Loose, and Steeplechase.
• He discovers a mare named Moon Shadow, a nine-year-old bay by Sea Capital Reflecting Moon out of a King’s Theatre mare. The system reveals that she is physically weak but has Competitive Grit and Speed.
• He also examines another mare by Rule the World, using Detector and finding only the Steeplechase trait. This reinforces his impression that the auction specializes in hunt and steeplechase horses rather than high-quality breeding prospects.

Character Developments

• The protagonist remains increasingly strategic and business-minded. Rather than being discouraged by the poor Japanese sale, he evaluates the British auction with cautious optimism.
• His system abilities and knowledge continue to shape his decisions, allowing him to identify hidden potential that ordinary buyers might overlook.
• He shows growing confidence in international horse markets, though he remains realistic about the difficulty of finding mares with valuable breeding traits.
• Mr. Kimura is portrayed as enthusiastic and curious, enjoying the chance to inspect unfamiliar horses and broaden his knowledge.
• Ravide’s practical importance to the farm is emphasized through his management of horse transfers and creative financial arrangements.

Significant Themes

• Hidden potential versus visible weakness: Moon Shadow’s physical weakness makes her an unattractive prospect, but her speed and determination suggest she may still be worth purchasing.
• The difficulty of breeding success: Valuable broodmares are rare regardless of country, and even large international auctions do not guarantee quality.
• Business strategy in horse racing: The farm’s survival and expansion depend not only on racing ability but also on financing, taxation, private transactions, and auction manipulation.
• International comparison: The protagonist compares Japanese and British breeding markets, observing differences in physical traits, popularity, and specialization.
• Perception and value: The new title and the auction system both emphasize how popularity, reputation, and pricing can be influenced rather than being determined solely by objective quality.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Ravide have an indirect but important partnership: Ravide proposes installment-based private purchases to transfer horses into Nishiken Farm.
• The protagonist and Mr. Kimura travel and inspect the sale together. Kimura reacts enthusiastically to promising pedigrees, while the protagonist focuses on system traits and commercial potential.
• A Coolmore staff member introduces Moon Shadow warmly, calling attention to her cuteness. The protagonist responds politely but privately uses the system to assess her true condition.
• The protagonist’s interaction with the British sellers and buyers remains observational, showing his growing ability to judge not only horses but also market sentiment.

Chapter Summary: “Marching Toward Hurdle Racing?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano and Kimura finish inspecting all forty-four broodmares at a British auction. Most have little breeding value, and Kitano finds only one realistic target: Moon Shadow.
• Moon Shadow’s low reserve price of £8,000 is explained by her weak breeding record: her first foal retired after one race due to injury, her second foal is apparently similarly unsuccessful, and she is not currently in foal.
• Kitano sees these disadvantages as an opportunity because his system and Advisory Team may help solve breeding problems. He decides Moon Shadow would complete Nishiken Farm’s current broodmare lineup and fit the farm’s strategy of buying mares with strong value for money.
• While considering whether to purchase additional horses, Kitano encounters Simon, the manager of Overbury Stud. Simon enthusiastically lectures him about selecting mares for hurdle racing, emphasizing athletic ability, coordination, and potential rather than merely staying bloodlines.
• Kitano escapes Simon’s prolonged explanation and joins Kimura at the Goffs auction venue. The auction atmosphere is quiet and inefficient, with many horses withdrawn or failing to sell.
• When Lot 142, Moon Shadow, enters the ring, Kitano opens the bidding at £5,000. With no other buyers showing interest, he asks Kimura to continue bidding on his behalf.
• The auction’s apparent conclusion, reflected in the attached Goffs post, indicates that Moon Shadow was purchased by Mejiro Farm for £8,000, despite a listed valuation of £17,000 in 2025.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates increasing confidence and strategic discipline as a breeder. Rather than chasing famous or expensive mares, he focuses on long-term value, limited stable capacity, and Nishiken Farm’s financial health.
• His possession of the system changes how he evaluates weaknesses: Moon Shadow’s lack of a current pregnancy and poor early offspring record become potential advantages rather than disqualifying flaws.
• Kitano also shows restraint, repeatedly resisting the temptation to buy more horses simply because attractive auction opportunities are available.
• Kimura acts as Kitano’s practical companion and representative. He is surprised by Kitano’s sudden bid and appears increasingly aware that Kitano’s decisions may be guided by information or instincts others do not understand.
• Simon is portrayed as knowledgeable but overly enthusiastic, unintentionally pressuring Kitano with his intense promotion of hurdle-racing bloodlines.

Significant Themes

• Value versus reputation: The chapter emphasizes finding hidden value in overlooked horses rather than purchasing prestigious bloodlines.
• The reinterpretation of weakness: Moon Shadow’s injury-prone offspring and empty covering record, normally serious liabilities, may be manageable through Kitano’s unusual resources.
• Financial discipline and long-term planning: Kitano balances his ambition with Nishiken Farm’s limited space and need to remain financially stable.
• Flat racing versus hurdle racing: Simon’s discussion introduces the idea that athletic coordination and adaptability may matter more for hurdle racing than traditional assumptions about stamina and staying ancestry.
• Cultural and professional differences: The British auction’s format, atmosphere, calling style, and low buyer turnout contrast with Kitano’s experiences in Japan and the United States.

Character Interactions

• Kimura initially accompanies Kitano during the inspection and later helps him bid, though he is visibly puzzled by Kitano’s sudden interest in Moon Shadow.
• Simon enthusiastically approaches Kitano and gives him an unsolicited explanation of hurdle-racing selection, creating a humorous contrast between Simon’s excitement and Kitano’s desire to avoid unnecessary information.
• Kitano and Kimura quietly observe the auction together, sharing jokes about unusual sale schedules and the livestream before becoming active participants in Moon Shadow’s purchase.

Chapter Summary: “Abridged, Abridged”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the ranch break room, the staff discuss the president’s recent purchase of Moon Shadow, a broodmare with two unsuccessful racehorse offspring. Kikuchi repeatedly sighs over the decision, while Rachel Ho, Zepp, and Ravide try to reassure him that the mare’s rare Cape Cross bloodline and low price make her worth the experiment.
• The staff then hold the official naming meeting for the two-year-old horses of the ranch’s “Kiki” generation before they enter training.
• The president unexpectedly changes the ranch’s usual mythology-based naming tradition to a French-themed naming scheme, partly to reflect her improving French.
• Names are proposed and debated for each horse:
  • Kikimaru receives the name Mejiro de l'Ian.
  • Kisei, whom the president sees as possessing hidden “dream” potential, is named Mejiro Juaruto, an abridged form of “Joyau Ultime” (“ultimate jewel”).
  • Kikyo becomes Mejiro Héritage, meaning something inherited from Mejiro, and is soon nicknamed “Eri-chan.”
  • Kigetsu is named Mejiro de la Ruse, intended to mean “Mejiro’s cunning stratagem,” though the staff misunderstand the nuance.
  • Huibin, known as a troublesome horse, is named Mejiro L'lan Vital, based on Bergson’s philosophical concept of vital force.
• The meeting ends in lively confusion, with the staff repeatedly shortening or modifying French names to fit the nine-character limit for Japanese racehorse names.

Character Developments

• The president demonstrates her confidence and unconventional judgment. Despite staff doubts about Moon Shadow and Kisei, she trusts her own instincts and sees potential others overlook.
• Kikuchi is revealed as anxious and skeptical about the Moon Shadow purchase, expressing his disapproval through exaggerated, prolonged sighs.
• Rachel Ho, Zepp, and Ravide each support the president in their own ways, offering practical, financial, or philosophical justifications for the purchase.
• Zepp emerges as the ranch’s strongest French speaker and becomes an important interpreter during the naming discussion.
• Ravide, despite claiming to be poor at French, contributes the sophisticated reference to “L’élan vital.”
• Kisei is characterized as an ordinary-looking gray filly with little obvious distinction, yet the president believes she possesses exceptional possibilities.
• Huibin is established as mischievous and difficult, having bitten and harassed staff members.

Significant Themes

• Trusting instinct over conventional evidence: The staff judge Moon Shadow by her unsuccessful offspring, while the president looks beyond immediate results and pedigree potential.
• Hidden potential and possibility: Kisei’s naming reflects the belief that greatness may exist beneath an ordinary appearance.
• Tradition versus change: The ranch abandons its established mythology theme in favor of French names, showing a willingness to experiment.
• Language and cultural misunderstanding: Much of the humor comes from imperfect French, mistranslations, pronunciation issues, and names being shortened to meet practical limits.
• Collective workplace camaraderie: Although the employees question the president’s decisions, their teasing, debates, and shared confusion reveal a close and lively team dynamic.

Character Interactions

• Kikuchi’s gloomy sighing prompts Rachel to comfort him, while Zepp and Ravide offer their own defenses of the Moon Shadow purchase.
• The staff collaboratively brainstorm names, with Zepp correcting French usage and others relying on translation software or guessing at meanings.
• The president’s proposal of “Joyau Ultime” silences the room because it reveals her unusually high expectations for Kisei.
• Employees repeatedly challenge or reinterpret the president’s and one another’s suggestions, but ultimately accept the chosen names.
• The chapter closes with the entire group united in a noisy, humorous naming process despite their differing opinions and language abilities.

Summary: “Options After Long Deliberation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano begins deciding on a breeding partner for Luna/Moon Shadow and consults the farm’s Advisory Team through LINE.
• To obtain advice quickly, he converts a Golden Omamori into Lower-Tier Green Omamori, suggesting that the supernatural breeding system remains an important part of his decision-making.
• Three stallions are proposed:
  • Justice: An excellent match for producing an early-maturing miler, with outstanding early maturity, speed, and fighting spirit. However, his $250,000 stud fee is far beyond the farm’s comfortable budget.
  • American Pharoah: A cheaper option capable of producing an all-surface horse suited to turf, dirt, and possibly steeplechasing. Nevertheless, his weaker inheritance prospects—especially regarding fragility—make him less attractive despite the $25,000 fee.
  • Maurice: A balanced match emphasizing fighting spirit, speed, turf ability, and reasonable maturity. His six-million-yen stud fee is affordable, though the pairing still carries concerns about fragility, health, and temperament.
• While Kitano deliberates, the farm employees joke about his tendency to overthink decisions. Rachel Ho casually suggests Nishino Daisy, a Japanese stallion with potentially useful bloodlines and no close inbreeding within five generations.
• Ravide seriously evaluates Nishino Daisy’s merits, briefly causing the staff to reconsider the suggestion.
• Kitano ultimately eliminates American Pharoah, rejects Justice as financially unrealistic, and selects Maurice as Moon Shadow’s breeding partner.
• The employees react with surprise but relief, since Kitano has made a practical rather than extravagant choice.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates careful, financially responsible decision-making. Although he recognizes Justice as the strongest theoretical match, he prioritizes the farm’s limited budget and chooses the most realistic option.
• Ravide continues to act as a calm, knowledgeable adviser. His surprise at Kitano’s choice reveals that he expected something more unconventional, but he ultimately acknowledges Maurice as a physically reasonable match.
• Kikuchi reinforces the practical perspective, noting that Maurice is “reasonable” specifically for the farm owner’s circumstances.
• Zepp, Asayama, and the other employees provide comic relief while also showing familiarity with Kitano’s habits and decision-making style.
• Rachel Ho contributes a seemingly casual idea that briefly becomes a serious breeding possibility, showing that even informal suggestions can influence the farm’s discussions.

Significant Themes

• Practicality versus idealism: Justice is the most appealing on paper, but its huge fee makes it unsuitable. The final choice reflects economic reality rather than maximum theoretical potential.
• Risk management: Fragility remains the central concern in evaluating every stallion. Kitano weighs inherited traits, health, physical risks, and overall ratings rather than focusing solely on speed or prestige.
• Financial limitations in horse breeding: The chapter emphasizes the disparity between a mare’s low monetary value and the cost of using a high-quality stallion.
• Collective decision-making: Although Kitano has the final authority, the Advisory Team and farm employees all contribute opinions, creating a mixture of expertise, humor, and debate.
• Expectations and restraint: The staff anticipate another shocking or extravagant decision from Kitano, making his conservative selection of Maurice unexpectedly reassuring.

Character Interactions

• Kitano consults the three advisors, Nagamine, Kappoki, and Mika, through the group chat.
• Zepp jokes with Asayama and Kikuchi about Kitano’s prolonged deliberation.
• Asayama calmly defends the idea that the final choice will be acceptable as long as the fee is manageable.
• Rachel Ho jokingly proposes Nishino Daisy, while Ravide treats the suggestion seriously and explains its potential benefits.
• The employees collectively react to Kitano’s final decision, expressing surprise at Maurice’s selection but ultimately recognizing it as a sensible compromise.

Summary

At 9:29 a.m. on a cold Sunday, the ranch staff finish their morning work and discuss the horses’ future plans. Ravide reports that negotiations with Shadai Farm went well, securing an early breeding slot for Maurice. While grooming Dober and feeding her and Anna, he and Rachel Ho discuss Noah’s upcoming race. Rather than entering the 1,750-meter Saga Wakakoma Stakes, the team plans to enter her in a stronger 1,400-meter JRA three-year-old exchange race. A good performance could lead to Noah being transferred to a higher-level circuit, such as Monbetsu, South Kanto, or Central Racing. This reflects the confidence of Hida and Hattori in Noah’s ability to keep improving through training and competition.
The conversation then turns to Anna’s reproductive prospects. Although her physical condition has improved, her hormonal imbalance means she will not be ready to become a broodmare this year. However, Overbury has offered to send Golden Horn to Japan for breeding before the official National Hunt season, provided the ranch covers the transport costs. Subsidies and Ravide’s willingness to contribute as a co-owner make the plan possible, but the financial burden casts a heavy mood over the ranch.
The first racing associate to visit that year is trainer Arayama, who comes to check on Sakuya. Because of Sakuya’s history of leg injuries, the stable has handled her conditioning and turnout very cautiously, making significant weight loss difficult. As a result, her weight has risen to an astonishing 524.49 kilograms. Arayama is stunned and jokes grimly about whether she is pregnant, while Sakuya innocently charms him by rubbing against his hand. The trainer admits that her condition has created a serious problem.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Ravide continues to serve as a careful, dedicated caretaker while also taking an active role in breeding decisions and helping shoulder the costs of Golden Horn’s transport.
• Rachel Ho remains energetic and supportive, admiring Hida and Hattori’s judgment and showing excitement over the possibility of Anna’s future breeding arrangement.
• Noah is recognized as a steadily improving horse with the potential to advance to higher-level racing.
• Anna faces a delay in becoming a broodmare because of her hormonal condition, though a possible pairing with Golden Horn offers hope.
• Sakuya remains endearing and carefree despite her severe weight problem, while Arayama reacts with a mixture of shock, concern, and humor.
• The staff’s discussion emphasizes the cooperation between the ranch, trainers, researchers, and racing professionals.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and upward progression: Noah’s potential move to stronger competition raises the chapter’s central question of whether the ranch’s improving results can lead to broader success.
• The financial and practical burdens of horse racing: Breeding, transport, training, and medical care all require difficult compromises and substantial expense.
• Care versus competition: The staff must balance ambition with the horses’ health, particularly in Sakuya’s careful conditioning and Anna’s reproductive treatment.
• Community and perseverance: The protagonist acknowledges that success has depended not only on the system’s assistance but also on the support of many dedicated people.
• Hope mixed with uncertainty: Noah’s future looks promising, Anna may still have a breeding opportunity, but Sakuya’s extreme weight introduces a new and immediate challenge.

Chapter Summary: The Last Blaze of Grit

Plot Points and Events

• Saga Racecourse hosts the Maya Mountain Special, a 1,400-meter dirt race for Kyushu-born three-year-old debutants.
• Noah, representing Saga and starting from gate six, is the fourth favorite and prepares for what will likely be her final race before transferring to a larger racing circuit.
• Trainer Hattori explains that Noah has improved physically during the winter, especially in her hindquarters and chest, but still lacks both finishing speed and reliable stamina.
• He also discusses the difficulties involved in transferring a racehorse to South Kanto or the central circuit, emphasizing the need to observe Noah’s behavior, race response, and suitability for different surfaces, distances, and courses.
• Kitano confirms that Noah will likely remain focused on shorter distances rather than being forced into mile-or-longer races simply because of the transfer.
• With approval from the trainer and owner, jockey Hida changes Noah’s usual tactics and sends her to the front immediately after the start.
• Noah maintains the lead through much of the race, but the centrally trained horse Manchi Kensho catches her in the stretch and wins.
• Noah cannot sustain her effort to the finish, but she fights stubbornly and finishes with considerable determination.
• Hida is visibly disappointed, while Noah appears equally unwilling to accept defeat. Kitano comforts both jockey and horse, praising their effort.
• The chapter ends with a brief news report announcing that Japan Cup winner Noda Power will target the Dubai Sheema Classic.

Character Development

• Noah: Shows clear physical growth and improved racing ability. Although her speed and stamina remain incomplete, she demonstrates courage and competitive spirit by holding the lead under pressure and resisting her pursuer for as long as possible.
• Hattori: Appears more experienced and confident as a trainer. He provides a careful, realistic assessment of Noah’s strengths and weaknesses and thoughtfully prepares Kitano for the challenges of transferring her.
• Kitano: Demonstrates a practical understanding of Noah’s needs. Rather than pursuing prestige by entering longer races, he recognizes that short-distance events are more suitable for her current abilities. He also responds graciously to the team’s disappointment.
• Hida: Takes a tactical risk by using a front-running strategy. Though he is frustrated by the narrow defeat and keeps dwelling on what might have happened, his partnership with Noah reveals strong emotional investment and determination.
• Majima Masahide and Majima Daisuke: Their conversation highlights differing feelings about Noah’s departure. Masahide regrets losing a promising local horse, while Daisuke accepts that remaining in Saga might limit her development, though he awkwardly describes the racecourse as a “backwater.”

Significant Themes

• Growth versus limitation: Noah has improved, but her remaining weaknesses show that development is gradual and incomplete.
• Ambition and opportunity: The transfer represents a chance for Noah to advance beyond Saga, even though the larger circuits will be more competitive and demanding.
• Local pride and inevitable departure: The Saga supporters are proud of Noah but regret losing a potential “secret weapon.” Her departure symbolizes both success and the limitations of her home circuit.
• Grit over victory: Noah loses the race, yet her refusal to give up gives the defeat emotional weight. The chapter emphasizes effort, resilience, and pride rather than simply winning.
• Practical judgment: The characters recognize that success depends on matching a horse’s abilities to suitable distances, surfaces, and racing conditions, not merely chasing prestigious opportunities.

Character Interactions

• Hattori gives Kitano detailed advice about Noah’s condition, racing aptitude, and the practical difficulties of transferring her.
• Kitano responds respectfully, showing trust in Hattori’s expertise while clarifying his own plans for Noah.
• Hida and Noah function as an emotionally connected racing pair, sharing the frustration of falling short.
• Kitano reassures Hida after the loss and praises Noah, turning the post-race scene from one of regret into one of mutual appreciation.
• The Majimas’ exchange captures the bittersweet tension between local attachment and the belief that Noah must leave Saga to reach her full potential.

Key plot points and events

• After Noah’s race, trainer Hattori estimates that she could reach a respectable sprint class on either the South Kanto or central circuit. The team decides to transfer her to Trainer Uchida’s stable in Miho, likely in March or April, so she can race and train somewhere better suited to her abilities.
• The owner, Hattori, and jockey Hida toast Noah’s future and health, and the owner thanks them for helping assess her potential.
• The owner stays at Sengetsu for a second meeting, this time with Trainer Majima, to plan Atalanta’s next season. They discuss the difficulty of finding suitable domestic races for a filly stepping up beyond a mile.
• Majima weighs the 2,500-meter Nikkei Sho, the 3,000-meter Hanshin Daishoten, and the 2,000-meter Osaka Cup. The Osaka Cup might offer a shorter-distance alternative, but a regional horse must first qualify through the Nakayama Kinen or Kinko Sho—making it less practical for Atalanta. Majima therefore favors the Hanshin Daishoten or Nikkei Sho.

Character developments and interactions

• Hattori is confident in Noah’s ability, but his unusually wistful tone suggests he feels the weight of sending her on to another stable. Hida regrets that Noah narrowly missed the win that might have allowed her to enter a higher class.
• The owner shows gratitude to the people who have worked to understand Noah’s limitations and prospects, then turns to planning Atalanta’s campaign with Majima.
• Majima is thorough and candid: he brings detailed race notes, considers several options, and admits that none is ideal. The owner contributes by raising the Osaka Cup as a possibility, prompting a discussion of its entry rules.

Significant themes

• Finding the right fit: Transfers and race choices are guided by each horse’s strengths, not simply by loyalty to a stable or a fixed plan.
• Collaborative care: Owners, trainers, and jockeys pool their observations to help horses realize their potential and remain healthy.
• Limits of the racing calendar: Domestic race schedules and qualification rules can constrain even promising horses, while overseas campaigns draw top competitors away.
• Gratitude and transition: The meal and toast mark both appreciation for past work and the beginning of new plans for Noah and Atalanta.

Key plot points and events

• In the winter breeding lull, the narrator juggles farm work and owner responsibilities. After considering several options, the team chooses the 2,500-meter Nikkei Sho at Nakayama for Atalanta, prioritizing a suitable distance and minimizing travel stress.
• In the United States, trainer Reed proposes entering Better Next Time in the Grade Three Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita as a learning opportunity for her and her new jockey, Ochiai. The narrator agrees and pays the entry fee.
• The narrator and Zepp drive through the cold and snow to Shadai Stallion Station for its 2028 stallion showcase, following an invitation sent with confirmation of their application to breed to Maurice.
• They watch several stallions, including Northern Cross and Maurice. The narrator notes Northern Cross’s high breeding fee and the financial risks it poses for smaller farms. Maurice’s unusually large frame raises concern that his foals may also be large.

Character developments and interactions

• The narrator shows a practical, welfare-minded approach to racing decisions, favoring suitable conditions and reduced travel strain over more ambitious routes. They also view Better Next Time’s race as useful experience rather than expecting a result.
• Zepp accompanies the narrator, urging them to get ready, chatting during the drive, and enthusiastically photographing the stallions despite the cold.
• The narrator exchanges observations with other breeders and listens to a farm representative discuss the economics of Northern Cross’s fee. The showcase prompts interest in possible breeding matches, though the narrator will wait for the Advisory Team’s guidance.

Significant themes

• Care and practicality: Race plans are shaped around each horse’s suitability and well-being.
• Breeding as both opportunity and risk: Stallion choice involves assessing conformation, likely offspring traits, fees, and the financial limits of smaller farms.
• The demands of farm life: Even during racing’s seasonal lull, the breeder’s workload leaves little room for rest.

Chapter Summary: “Bub Bub Bub”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist’s Horse-Sense Eye improves from B to B+, theoretically allowing him to judge a horse’s conformation accurately without the [Detector]. However, his past experience with conflicting evaluations of Kigetsu makes him cautious about relying on it completely.
• During a stallion parade, he overhears farm representatives discussing the different training and transfer systems used by major farms such as Northern Farm compared with smaller farms.
  • Large operations often manage nearly the entire process internally, from Hokkaido training to transfers near the racing centers, stable entry, gate testing, and conditioning.
  • Smaller farms depend more heavily on outside training farms and must coordinate closely with trainers, making communication and timing more difficult.
• The protagonist agrees that coordination among owners, farms, training facilities, and trainers is essential. His own horses—Mejiro Impulse, Mejiro Hozu, and Mejiro Treasure—are progressing well partly because of strong communication with their trainers.
• After the parade, the group travels to JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station. The protagonist receives the latest JBBA training-farm management guidelines, which include expanded material on newborn foal care.
• JBBA’s support has helped with the development of smaller farms and with the complicated procedures for bringing Golden Horn to Japan.
• Golden Horn cannot be openly introduced as a Japanese shuttle stallion because of his ownership arrangements and breeding rights. Japanese breeders would have to negotiate privately with the co-owners, making his use in Japan unlikely.
• At the quarantine stable, the protagonist visits Golden Horn, who has maintained good physical and mental condition after transport. The staff expect him to begin breeding work soon after quarantine.
• The visit is awkward because Golden Horn is difficult to approach, and the staff are doubtful that anyone will actually inquire about his breeding services. Just as the protagonist leaves, Golden Horn notices something and makes the distinctive “bub bub bub” sound.
• The chapter ends with a news report stating that Hokkaido jockey Ochiai Genta finished fifth aboard Better Next Time in the Thunder Road Stakes in the United States.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates increasing expertise in horse evaluation and farm management, but his reaction to the Horse-Sense Eye upgrade shows that he remains cautious and realistic rather than overconfident.
• He is becoming more deeply involved in the practical business side of racing, especially stable entry schedules, training-farm logistics, breeding arrangements, and owner-trainer relations.
• His relationships with trainers are proving valuable. Mejiro Impulse and Mejiro Treasure are progressing toward stable entry, while Mejiro Treasure is being given flexibility to develop gradually.
• The German companion remains comic and somewhat evasive, trying to avoid accompanying the protagonist to meet Golden Horn and becoming visibly relieved when allowed to stay behind.
• Golden Horn is portrayed as healthy but aloof and intimidating, reinforcing his reputation as a difficult stallion.

Significant Themes

• Expertise versus uncertainty: Even improved perception cannot replace firsthand knowledge, experience, and the judgment of professionals.
• Communication and coordination: Successful racehorse development depends on cooperation between owners, breeders, training farms, and trainers.
• Institutional inequality: Major farms possess integrated systems and resources that smaller farms must outsource, creating disadvantages and communication problems.
• The business complexity of breeding: International ownership, quarantine, breeding rights, and contractual arrangements can be as important as a stallion’s racing ability.
• Hokkaido’s role in racing: The chapter highlights Hokkaido’s farms, jockeys, and breeding infrastructure as central to the wider Japanese and international racing world.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist participates in a discussion with farm representatives and carefully gives a diplomatic answer when asked about trainer-farm coordination.
• He reflects on his own successful communication with the trainers of his horses.
• He exchanges an awkward but necessary introduction with JBBA staff while presenting himself as Golden Horn’s contact for breeding inquiries.
• The staff’s unease around Golden Horn contrasts with the stallion’s indifferent, “do not bother me” attitude.
• The German companion jokes and avoids the visit, adding humor to an otherwise formal and uncomfortable encounter.

Chapter Summary: “Madman Meets Madman”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kitano attends his third NAR Grand Prix awards ceremony as a regional racehorse owner and breeder, reflecting on the demanding travel and personal commitment required to run Nishiken Farm.
• While preparing to enter the ceremony, he receives a call from Ravide at the farm about Anna entering heat. Plans are made to breed her with Golden Horn once quarantine ends.
• However, both Golden Horn and the recently retired Anna may be unsettled by their new surroundings. Kitano decides to monitor them carefully before proceeding.
• At the hotel, Kitano meets fellow NAR owner Noda Yoshiki in the elevator. Noda asks about Golden Horn’s arrival in Japan and the traits he passes to his offspring.
• Kitano explains that Golden Horn tends to produce sturdy, sound offspring but also passes on an unstable temperament.
• Noda then proposes breeding Golden Horn with his own mare, creating a close 3×3 cross to the Sunday Silence line. Despite Kitano’s reservations about the risky degree of inbreeding, he agrees to arrange the mating.
• At the awards ceremony, Sakuya wins Champion Older Mare and the Special Award for Dirt Graded Races. Atalanta wins Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and Champion Turf Horse.
• Sakuya narrowly loses Horse of the Year, receiving nine votes to Atalanta’s six, making the result a favorable dilemma for the stable.
• Majima does not win the Distinguished Trainer award, despite rumors that he might become the youngest recipient, but he takes the result calmly.
• Afterward, Noda posts online that he met Kitano and hints that “something good” involving his beloved mare, Stellar Empress, may happen by the following year.

Character Developments

• Kitano continues to grow into his role as an owner-breeder. His extensive travel and hands-on involvement demonstrate his seriousness and ambition, especially his desire to raise a successful horse himself.
• He shows caution and responsibility regarding Anna and Golden Horn, refusing to rush the mating while both horses appear unsettled.
• Kitano also reveals increased confidence in evaluating bloodlines, balancing practical breeding knowledge with empathy for fellow owners.
• Noda Yoshiki is presented as another intensely committed, unconventional owner—like Kitano, a “madman” devoted to racing. His willingness to pursue a risky breeding strategy shows both desperation and determination.
• Majima handles missing out on the trainer award without apparent resentment, suggesting maturity and emotional stability.
• Sakuya and Atalanta are established as dominant stars whose achievements create a friendly but significant rivalry over Horse of the Year honors.

Significant Themes

• Dedication and obsession: Both Kitano and Noda have devoted enormous time, money, and effort to racing, blurring the line between passion and madness.
• Risk in breeding: Breeding decisions involve uncertainty, temperament problems, bloodline calculations, and potentially dangerous inbreeding.
• Responsibility versus ambition: Kitano’s desire to produce a champion is tempered by his concern for the horses’ well-being.
• Success and competition: The awards highlight the unstable nature of recognition, as even major champions must compete for limited honors.
• Hope for the future: Noda’s final post foreshadows a potentially important development involving Stellar Empress and Golden Horn’s future offspring.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Ravide discuss Anna’s heat cycle and the difficulties of safely pairing her with Golden Horn.
• Kitano and Noda form a professional connection in the elevator, discussing Golden Horn’s offspring and eventually agreeing to a breeding arrangement.
• Their interaction mirrors the chapter’s title: both are eccentric, highly committed owners willing to take unusual risks for the chance of producing an exceptional racehorse.
• The awards ceremony brings Kitano into contact with the wider racing community, while the results reinforce the achievements of his horses and stable.

Chapter Summary: “Mating Day”

Plot Points and Events

• After returning from Tokyo, the farm’s staff discuss breeding a mare whose rectal examination showed that her follicle was in excellent condition. They decide to breed her the following day.
• The staff review improvements made to the farm, including more spacious and better-ventilated pregnant mares’ stalls and dust-reducing hay bedding.
• Attention turns to pasture management. Because Mejiro Farm has limited land and an increasing number of horses, maintaining soil fertility and producing enough forage are becoming serious challenges.
• Kitano proposes purchasing a Cambridge roller, a tractor-drawn machine used to compact loosened soil, encourage root growth, and support pasture renewal. Although the equipment costs roughly 2.5 million yen, the expense will be shared with Nishiken Farm and Meiji Farm, leaving each farm to pay about 800,000 yen.
• Ravide, normally resistant to new spending, strongly supports the purchase, explaining that the farm needs to restore its pastures between foaling and breeding seasons. Rachel Ho remains unhappy about the cost, but the decision is effectively settled.
• On February 9, a weather report predicts freezing roads, prompting the staff to decide who will accompany Anna to Shizunai Stallion Station. Ravide volunteers, to everyone else’s relief.
• Anna initially seems calm but becomes tense when she sees the transport vehicle. The staff use reassurance, head pats, mint candies, and classical music to keep her manageable during the thirty-minute journey.
• At the stallion station, staff make extensive preparations, including extra padding, disinfectant, gloves, and a sedative, because Anna is a powerful, intimidating mare and Golden Horn is not an easy stallion.
• Anna is successfully bred to Golden Horn. During the tense wait, Kitano agrees by message to another proposed pairing: Deep Crimson Heart with Golden Horn. The chapter ends when a sweating staff member announces that Anna’s covering is complete.

Character Developments

• Kitano acts as a practical farm representative, balancing breeding decisions, pasture management, and financial concerns. He also shows openness to future breeding plans by agreeing to Mr. Sugiyama’s proposed pairing.
• Ravide demonstrates unexpected flexibility. Though usually opposed to expenses, he recognizes the necessity of investing in pasture equipment and volunteers to accompany Anna, taking responsibility for a difficult task.
• Rachel Ho remains financially cautious and voices the employees’ frustration over the cost of the Cambridge roller.
• Kikuchi reacts with confusion and reluctance toward the technical pasture discussion, providing a lighter contrast to Ravide’s methodical seriousness.
• Anna is portrayed as physically impressive, intimidating, and difficult to handle. Despite preparation and calming efforts, she becomes tense during transport, emphasizing the danger and complexity of breeding her.
• Mr. Sugiyama continues to be enthusiastic about bloodline planning, quickly seeking Kitano’s approval for Deep Crimson Heart’s mating.

Significant Themes

• Responsible farm management: Successful breeding depends not only on animals and bloodlines but also on ventilation, bedding, pasture health, forage production, and equipment.
• Financial sacrifice and long-term investment: The farm must spend heavily on machinery despite limited resources, demonstrating that maintaining a breeding operation requires strategic expenditures.
• Cooperation among farms: Sharing the Cambridge roller with neighboring farms allows smaller operations to access necessary equipment.
• Human control versus animal temperament: The staff can prepare carefully, but Anna’s reactions remain unpredictable, showing the limits of planning when dealing with powerful animals.
• Breeding as both science and risk: Veterinary examinations, hormonal management, environmental adjustments, and bloodline choices are combined with anxiety and uncertainty during the actual covering.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and the veterinary staff discuss Anna’s condition and confirm the breeding schedule.
• Kitano presents the Cambridge roller proposal, while Ravide explains its agricultural benefits and the others react to the expense.
• The employees silently pressure one another over who will accompany Anna; Ravide’s serious volunteerism earns everyone’s relief.
• Kitano and Ravide jointly lead Anna to the transport, while the attendant comments on her intimidating nature.
• The staff cooperate closely to calm Anna during the journey and prepare for the breeding.
• Kitano communicates with Mr. Sugiyama during the procedure, approving Deep Crimson Heart’s proposed pairing with Golden Horn.
• The chapter closes with the breeding-station staff confirming that Anna and Golden Horn’s mating has been completed.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the Friday before Valentine’s Day, Mejiro Farm receives several visitors, reflecting the increasing activity surrounding the farm and its racing connections.
• Trainer Matoba discusses Mejiro Treasure’s future entry into his stable and promises to take responsibility for the offspring of Idol of the Masses. The conversation also turns to the lack of adequate layup facilities, veterinary clinics, surgical resources, and manpower in Japan—especially in regional racing circuits.
• Trainer Arayama, jockey Jin Meiqi, and groom Ogawa Masaru arrive with serious news about Mejiro Sakuya. Her weight has become increasingly difficult to control, and her performance during training has declined from effortless to merely ordinary.
• The team realizes that Sakuya’s planned racing schedule must be reconsidered. Her projected weight by the Breeders’ Cup could exceed 530 kilograms, making participation dangerous despite her still-world-class ability.
• After consulting the breeding farm, the Ogawa family, and Kimura, the group debates whether Sakuya should retire immediately or continue racing.
• The three advisors assess Sakuya’s condition:
  • Nagamine believes her potential and adaptability remain exceptional.
  • Kappoki notes that increased muscle and fat have reduced her athletic efficiency, though she could still win in a weaker field.
  • Mika argues that her larger physique may be advantageous at 2,000 meters but burdensome over 2,400 meters.
• The group agrees that Sakuya will not run in this year’s Breeders’ Cup. Kitano then decides that her final planned race will instead be the Dubai World Cup, provided she can be prepared safely. He suggests moving up her departure date for an early inspection.
• A public update confirms that Dubai may be Sakuya’s retirement race, while emphasizing that retirement before the race remains possible if her preparation is insufficient.

Character Developments

• Kitano demonstrates a cautious but decisive leadership style. Although he values Sakuya’s remaining ability, he prioritizes her safety and refuses to enter her in the Breeders’ Cup under dangerous physical conditions.
• Sakuya is shown to be entering the final stage of her racing career. Her mental stability and adaptability have improved with age, but her increasing body weight and reduced condition now threaten her ability to compete safely.
• Trainer Arayama remains committed to Sakuya but accepts that her career may be nearing its end. He is surprised by Kitano’s decision to target Dubai as her final race.
• Jin Meiqi provides an important practical assessment of Sakuya’s declining condition and helps establish that the weight increase is affecting her training.
• Ogawa Kanna and the other advisors offer differing opinions based on their roles, but all ultimately contribute to a careful, collective decision.
• Matoba is characterized as sincere and responsible through his promise to care for Idol of the Masses’s offspring.

Significant Themes

• The limits of ambition: Sakuya may still possess the ability to compete at the highest level, but ability alone does not justify risking her health.
• Retirement and letting go: The chapter marks the emotional beginning of Sakuya’s retirement process, balancing the desire for one final achievement against the need to protect her future as a broodmare.
• Knowledge versus execution: The advisors understand what must be done to improve Sakuya’s condition, but controlling her weight and restoring her fitness are far more difficult in practice.
• Responsibility and collective decision-making: Sakuya’s future is determined through consultation among the farm, trainer, jockey, groom, breeding advisors, and owner rather than by one person alone.
• Institutional shortcomings: The discussion of insufficient clinics, layup centers, facilities, and manpower highlights structural problems in the racing industry, particularly outside major centers.
• Changing seasons and changing careers: The approaching spring parallels Sakuya’s transition from active competition toward retirement.

Character Interactions

• Kitano and Matoba discuss Mejiro Treasure, Idol of the Masses’s bloodline, and the broader problems facing injured and resting horses.
• Kitano, Arayama, Jin, and Ogawa Masaru confront Sakuya’s weight problem and begin reconsidering her racing plans.
• Kitano and the wider advisory group debate immediate retirement versus one more season of racing, ultimately rejecting the Breeders’ Cup.
• Kitano and Arayama share the decisive moment in which Dubai is selected as Sakuya’s possible final race, with Arayama visibly surprised by the choice.
• The advisors’ written reports provide contrasting but complementary evaluations of Sakuya’s physical condition, racing suitability, and possible jockey choices.