Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Pegasus finishes his final race and is retired. Though he and jockey Ochiai were never close, Pegasus accepts a brief, affectionate farewell before moving away.
• The narrator attends a small celebration after the race, then joins a private meeting with breeders and racing figures to discuss Baozuo’s future as a stallion.
• The group confirms that Baozuo will be syndicated into seventy shares, while his breeding book will remain capped at seventy mares. The narrator explains that Baozuo’s first-half schedule next year is planned around the Hong Kong Sprint Triple Crown.
• The narrator’s strategy is to build Baozuo’s reputation as a speed stallion early, rather than simply maximize his racing opportunities or syndicate size.
• A published commentary reflects on Mejiro Hōso’s Hong Kong victory over Ka Ying Rising. It credits Hōso’s physical development, growing partnership with jockey Yutaka Take, and carefully timed arrival for his improved performance, while recognizing both horses as exceptional.

Character developments and interactions

• Ochiai shows tenderness toward Pegasus despite their strained partnership, and Pegasus reciprocates by allowing the farewell touch—an unusual moment of acceptance between them.
• The narrator is confident and deliberate in planning Baozuo’s breeding career, explaining his choices to interested guests.
• Katsumi Yoshida probes the narrator’s plans, while Shunsuke Yoshida appears curious about the large syndicate offering. Yan Zhu’an also confirms the breeding limit; the local Hidaka breeders seem unsurprised.
• The commentator revises his assessment of Mejiro Hōso, praising both the horse and Take’s patient, skilful riding, while acknowledging Ka Ying Rising’s strength.

Significant themes

• Retirement and farewell: Pegasus’s final race closes a chapter, marked by a rare moment of mutual understanding with Ochiai.
• Legacy beyond racing: The meeting turns attention from race results to Baozuo’s future influence as a sire.
• Partnership and growth: Hōso’s progress is presented as the result of maturation and deepening trust between horse and jockey.
• Time and uncertainty: The commentary frames time as both winner and loser: it enabled Hōso’s improvement, but retirement leaves Ka Ying Rising’s remaining potential unexplored.

Chapter Summary: “Raccoon Dogs on the Wasteland”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Zhu’an and Kitano discuss a proposed syndicate arrangement for Baozuo, with Yan’s consortium planning to acquire roughly five shares.
• In exchange for Kitano’s cooperation, Yan offers not only to purchase shares at a high price—at least €230,000 per share—but also to send two prestigious broodmares to Kitano’s farm. One is reportedly the half-sister of the previous year’s French Oaks winner.
• Kitano is reluctant to accept boarded mares because his farm already faces staffing and facility shortages, but the financial and breeding benefits may make the arrangement worthwhile.
• The meeting ends without firm progress. Baozuo’s only confirmed shares remain four permanent, non-transferable shares sold cheaply to friends in Hidaka.
• Kitano considers other possible investors, including Northern Farm, Shadai Farm, Darley Japan, and PacaPaca Farm.
• After the others leave, Katsumi asks about Baozuo’s upcoming campaign for Hong Kong’s Sprint Triple Crown. The horse will remain in Hong Kong through the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Cup and then return to Japan for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.
• The team recognizes the logistical and physical difficulties of keeping Baozuo in peak condition at Sha Tin, especially without normal turnout and with strict export, quarantine, and inspection regulations.
• The conversation shifts to Baozuo’s future as a stallion. Kitano predicts that Baozuo may not pass on striking physical traits but should reliably transmit speed.
• Impressed by Kitano’s assessment, Katsumi offers to purchase twenty shares in Baozuo for one billion yen.

Character Developments

• Kitano is shown balancing financial opportunity against practical concerns. He is cautious about expanding his farm’s responsibilities but is increasingly aware of Baozuo’s value both as a racehorse and future stallion.
• Yan Zhu’an emerges as a powerful and strategic investor, using both a high share price and access to elite broodmares to secure Kitano’s cooperation.
• Katsumi proves to be an observant and serious racing insider. Although initially unfamiliar with some syndicate details, he quickly recognizes Baozuo’s potential and makes a major investment proposal.
• Baozuo/Lian Dou is presented as an internationally competitive sprinter whose racing schedule is being planned around both performance and future stallion value.
• Trainer Yahagi is characterized as cautious and protective of the horse, opposing an unnecessarily risky overseas campaign despite recognizing Baozuo’s ability.

Significant Themes

• Commercialization and syndicate ownership: The chapter focuses on the complex financial arrangements behind elite racehorses, including share prices, consortiums, ownership rights, and breeding contracts.
• Racing ambition versus animal welfare: The team must weigh the prestige of pursuing an international title against the strain of keeping Baozuo abroad and competing in difficult conditions.
• Long-term breeding value: Baozuo’s future importance is not limited to his racing record; his potential ability to pass on speed greatly increases his market value.
• Practicality versus opportunity: Kitano’s farm lacks the resources to comfortably accept more mares, yet lucrative offers may force him to expand beyond his current limits.
• International complexity: Overseas racing involves quarantine rules, transportation, training conditions, and differences between racecourses, all of which complicate the campaign.

Character Interactions

• Yan Zhu’an and Kitano negotiate politely but strategically, with Yan offering financial incentives and elite breeding opportunities in return for Kitano’s support.
• Kitano and Katsumi share a quieter, more personal exchange after the formal meeting. Katsumi relies on Kitano’s expertise regarding Baozuo’s racing future and breeding potential.
• Katsumi and the absent training team are connected through the discussion of Baozuo’s campaign, while Kitano explains the differing views of Yoshida, Ikeda, and Yahagi.
• Katsumi’s final offer—twenty shares for one billion yen—turns his earlier curiosity into a concrete and significant commitment to Baozuo’s future.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist returns to Hokkaido on a red-eye flight after winning the Hong Kong Sprint. Despite the major victory, the ranch’s quiet Monday morning makes the achievement feel almost unreal.
• While eating breakfast, he checks the Advisory Team’s breeding recommendations for his broodmares. Most existing breeding plans remain unchanged, including Golden Horn for Anna and Moon Shadow.
• The recommendations for Clever Stratagem and Spirit Colt involve expensive or unusual stallions:
  • Crown Pride is suggested for Clever Stratagem, offering strong explosiveness and promising bloodline traits.
  • Military Mule is recommended for Spirit Colt as a potential dirt-running sire, despite his high stud fee.
• The protagonist discusses the recommendations with the ranch staff. Ravide agrees to use Military Mule for Leila, recognizing that the pairing would create a Seattle Slew cross.
• For Ruth, the protagonist proposes Crown Pride. Ravide is hesitant and asks whether he truly wants to pursue that cross.
• Ravide then shows him a Korean-language article explaining new Hong Kong Champion Horse Award eligibility rules. Beginning in the 2029/30 season, foreign horses can qualify for several awards if they finish in the top three in at least three Hong Kong International Group One races, including one victory. Their overseas records will not count toward judging.
• The revelation suggests that Crown Pride’s connection to Hong Kong racing and the changing award system may have important implications for the protagonist’s breeding and racing strategy.

Character Developments

• The protagonist remains focused on optimizing his breeding program, balancing genetic potential, racing goals, public criticism, and financial concerns. His reluctance toward European stallions reflects both personal preference and practical expense.
• He shows growing confidence in making breeding decisions, especially after Ravide accepts his choice of Military Mule for Leila. However, his confidence weakens when Ravide questions Crown Pride for Ruth.
• Ravide continues to act as a practical and experienced counterweight to the protagonist. He accepts unconventional decisions when he understands the reasoning, but carefully challenges choices that may have broader consequences.
• Mika and the Advisory Team are established as valuable sources of specialized breeding analysis, identifying crosses with strong explosiveness, dirt ability, and unusual genetic potential.
• The ranch staff, including Miura, Takahashi, Arian, and others, react collectively to the unchanged breeding plans, showing both investment in and concern about the ranch’s expensive future program.

Significant Themes

• Strategic breeding versus financial practicality: The protagonist must choose between genetically appealing stallions and the increasingly high cost of stud fees.
• Trust in specialized knowledge: The protagonist relies on the Advisory Team’s evaluations but still uses his own memories and judgment to make final decisions.
• Tradition versus experimentation: Crosses such as Crown Pride with Ruth and Military Mule with Leila involve unusual or strategically ambitious bloodline combinations.
• Internationalization of horse racing: The Hong Kong regulations signal a changing racing world in which foreign horses may gain formal recognition, but only through success in Hong Kong competition.
• The importance of long-term planning: Breeding choices are tied not only to producing fast horses but also to future racing opportunities, awards, reputation, and international eligibility.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and the ranch staff discuss the breeding recommendations in the previously silent lounge, gradually turning the morning into a collaborative strategy meeting.
• Ravide questions the protagonist’s reasoning regarding Leila’s proposed pairing with Military Mule, then ultimately agrees to the plan because of the intended Seattle Slew cross.
• When the protagonist suggests Crown Pride for Ruth, Ravide’s hesitation creates tension and signals that the decision may carry hidden risks or consequences.
• Ravide’s presentation of the Hong Kong Jockey Club announcement shifts the discussion from ordinary breeding costs to the larger implications of international racing policy.

Chapter Summary: “Domestic and Overseas”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The farm decides to send Ruth to South Korea for breeding with Military Mule, whose stud fee is twenty million won under live-foal terms. An April breeding slot is quickly secured.
• Crown Pride is also expected to receive a March or April slot, while Golden Horn will come to Japan in February for shuttle breeding. This creates an amusing reversal: a foreign stallion is coming to Japan while a Japanese mare is being sent overseas.
• During the difficult winter turnout, Dober rolls in the snow, while the energetic yearlings Little Light and Hibae run repeatedly through the paddock. Gozen appears exhausted by their antics.
• Health checks become a struggle:
  • Sakuya demands peppermint candy as payment and then tries to obtain more.
  • Chongli/Duraran remains on an intensive weight-loss program after the Japan Cup, with strict exercise and no snacks.
• The farm receives Ichiban Sakura, a dark bay mare from the closing Miyauchi Farm. She is timid but gentle and has a refined, elegant appearance.
• Ichiban Sakura’s unusually low racing weight had previously disadvantaged her, but pregnancy has brought her weight up to 429 kilograms.
• The manager examines possible breeding matches for her. The advisers’ recommendations are mostly poor, with limited explosive potential and weak overall ratings.
• One adviser suggests pairing her with Entry Point to create a specialized dirt-track horse, but the manager doubts the idea because Ichiban Sakura seems far too gentle and unsuited to becoming an “assassin.”

2. Character Developments

• The manager continues balancing practical breeding decisions with personal concern for the horses. He is skeptical of poor genetic recommendations but remains willing to explore options for Ichiban Sakura.
• Zepp remains outspoken and sarcastic, complaining about the overseas breeding arrangements and making blunt observations about Ichiban Sakura’s appearance. His comments continue to provoke the staff.
• Asayama is shown dealing with the exhausting realities of winter care, especially Dober’s deliberate rolling in the snow and the energetic yearlings.
• Sakuya displays her familiar appetite and manipulative cuteness, successfully extracting a peppermint candy before the health check.
• Chongli is portrayed as overweight and frustrated by his strict rehabilitation program. His attempt to act pitiful cannot soften the manager’s resolve.
• Ichiban Sakura is introduced as shy, delicate, and gentle. Her temperament contrasts sharply with the aggressive racing profile the advisers propose cultivating.

3. Significant Themes

• Breeding as an uncertain investment: The chapter emphasizes the difficulty of finding compatible pairings, especially when pedigree, traits, cost, and racing goals must all be considered.
• Domestic versus overseas racing industries: The contrasting movement of horses between Japan and South Korea highlights the international nature of modern breeding.
• The gap between theory and reality: Computer-generated pedigree projections and adviser recommendations provide numerical possibilities, but the manager must still consider each horse’s body, temperament, and history.
• Care and responsibility: Winter management, health checks, weight control, and rehabilitation show the demanding daily labor required to care for the horses.
• Individual identity versus breeding potential: Ichiban Sakura’s gentle personality does not fit the aggressive “dirt assassin” concept, suggesting that a horse cannot be understood solely through statistics or pedigree.

4. Character Interactions

• The manager, Ravide, Takahashi, and Zepp discuss the cost and logistics of sending Ruth abroad, with Zepp reacting uneasily to the arrangement.
• Asayama struggles to manage Dober and the retired horses during winter turnout.
• Little Light and Hibae treat the manager as a playmate, while Gozen silently observes their exhaustion-inducing energy.
• Sakuya uses affection and food demands to manipulate the manager during her examination, while he tries to enforce limits for the sake of her pregnancy.
• The manager firmly disciplines Chongli by denying him snacks and insisting on continued weight loss.
• Zepp’s comparison of Ichiban Sakura to Sakuya leads to immediate criticism from the staff.
• The manager patiently reassures the nervous Ichiban Sakura, then wrestles with whether the proposed breeding plans suit her true nature.

Chapter Summary: “Schnauzer”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After using a mysterious item and praying over it, the protagonist checks the projected breeding plans for the following year. No European stallions appear, but the remaining options—Crown Pride, Military Mule, and possibly Entry Point—are still problematic because of shipping costs, application uncertainty, or low stud fees.
• Little Sakura’s breeding application to Adina Springs Farm has not yet been approved. If rejected, she will be retired immediately as a broodmare and live as a companion horse within the breeding group.
• The advisers’ evaluations of Little Sakura’s breeding prospects are discouraging. Her overall rating may be as low as D-, and advisers even suggest reconsidering whether her female line should be preserved. The protagonist reflects that, unlike in a game, improving a horse’s breeding value cannot be done instantly.
• Winter has fully arrived in Hokkaido, bringing heavy snow and strong winds. Dober continues digging through the snow to eat grass, while the other mares linger in the windbreak shelter and resist being brought back inside.
• Atalanta, newly returned to the farm after retirement, joins the retired herd and closely follows Dober. Dober accepts her without resistance, and their relationship resembles that of a protective older sister and an eager younger follower.
• The chapter shifts into an interview-style account of Atalanta’s retirement life. Although she now appears calm and settled, she still eagerly runs when Dober leads the herd. She remains frightened of crows, but Dober reliably drives them away.
• The farm is considering commissioning a statue of Atalanta after Yoshida-sensei completes a statue of Mejiro Sakuya.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes increasingly anxious about Little Sakura’s future and the limitations of the breeding program. She recognizes that careful breeding decisions require time and cannot be manipulated as easily as game statistics.
• Little Sakura faces the possibility of being excluded from the breeding program and retiring directly into a companion role rather than becoming an important broodmare.
• Dober is shown as energetic, food-motivated, and socially dominant. Despite her lazy appearance during herd collection, she acts as a dependable leader and protector of the retired horses.
• Atalanta has transitioned smoothly from racehorse to retired herd member. Though she looks small and subdued, she retains her athletic energy when following Dober and still displays an old vulnerability toward crows.
• Kikuchi and Asayama, along with the other mares, are portrayed as sociable and reluctant to leave the shelter during the cold, emphasizing the herd’s comfortable relationships.

Significant Themes

• The difficulty of breeding decisions: The chapter emphasizes that bloodline improvement is complex, uncertain, and dependent on factors beyond simple selection or intention.
• Reality versus game-like control: The protagonist wishes breeding outcomes could be improved with a few clicks, but reality demands patience, judgment, and acceptance of disappointing results.
• Retirement and second lives: Atalanta’s successful adjustment shows that a racehorse’s identity can evolve after competition, though traces of past fears and habits remain.
• Companionship and protection: Dober’s acceptance of Atalanta and her defense against crows demonstrate the emotional bonds within the retired herd.
• Winter as a reflection of mood: The persistent snow and gray weather mirror the protagonist’s uncertainty and discouragement about Little Sakura’s prospects.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist observes Dober from a distance while Dober ignores her in favor of eating snow-covered grass.
• The mares gather in the shelter, chatting and refusing to return until the staff eventually manage to move them.
• Atalanta follows Dober closely, imitating her movements and staying beside her during turnout and herd collection.
• Dober tolerates Atalanta’s constant presence and protects her from crows, reinforcing their older-sister/younger-sister dynamic.
• The interview participants, including Mr. Kitano and the photographer, discuss Atalanta’s behavior and help document her new life after racing.

Chapter Summary: “Cheese Steamed Cake”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After returning from Hong Kong, Mejiro Farm receives a call from Adina Springs Farm in North America regarding Little Sakura’s proposed breeding to Entry Point.
• Adina Springs considers the pairing less than ideal and points out that international transportation would cost more than the stud fee, but the application is accepted. Because of Adina Springs’ staff shortage, the farm cannot even arrange airport transportation, leaving Mejiro Farm responsible for the logistics.
• Little Sakura is scheduled to begin pre-departure vaccinations and examinations, with her trip likely taking place in late January. Although it would be more practical and cheaper for her to travel with Leila as a companion horse, the farm has chosen an earlier breeding date based on the breeder’s personal hopes and ambitions.
• The narrator decides to accompany Little Sakura to Canada. Ravide offers to go instead, partly so he can visit Kentucky and inspect the February Winter Mixed Sale in Lexington. The farm also begins considering an expansion of the North Barn in preparation for increasing its broodmare herd.
• During the evening stable check, Atalanta rolls happily in her bedding. Kikuchi compares the clipped patches on her chestnut body to a Hokkaido cheese steamed cake, inspiring a discussion about having Grandma Miwako make some for afternoon tea.
• Sakuya joins the conversation in hopes of receiving extra food, but her request is denied because her diet and exercise are being carefully controlled during pregnancy. She sulks in her stall after being refused.
• The chapter concludes with a Mejiro Farm Station notice advertising Mejiro Tenma as a stallion and a farm newsletter discussing Mejiro Hōso’s outstanding Hong Kong victory, the beginning of the new breeding season, and upcoming North American bloodstock activities.

Character Developments

• The narrator/Mejiro Farm leadership: Continues to pursue ambitious breeding plans despite financial, logistical, and biological uncertainties. The decision to send Little Sakura early reflects personal determination rather than pure practicality.
• Ravide: Demonstrates initiative and practical judgment by volunteering to accompany Little Sakura and inspect potential purchases in Kentucky.
• Zepp: Focuses on the farm’s long-term expansion, recognizing that a larger broodmare herd will require enlarging the North Barn.
• Kikuchi and Rachel Ho: Participate in the relaxed, affectionate stable atmosphere, treating the horses as individuals with recognizable personalities.
• Atalanta: Appears content, playful, and spoiled, rolling around in her bedding.
• Sakuya: Retains her famously enormous appetite but must now submit to strict nutritional control because of her pregnancy. Her sulking emphasizes her expressive, almost childlike personality.
• Mejiro Hōso: Is presented as an exceptional young racehorse whose decisive Hong Kong victory has effectively secured Horse of the Year honors.

Significant Themes

• Breeding ambition versus practical limitations: The Little Sakura–Entry Point pairing is economically questionable and logistically difficult, yet the farm pursues it because of the breeder’s hopes.
• The continuing cycle of the racing industry: Even while the current racing season is ending, breeding applications, stallion selections, sales, and farm planning for the next year are already underway.
• Expansion and long-term planning: The farm is gradually developing from a racing operation into a larger breeding enterprise, requiring investment, planning, and international involvement.
• Affectionate care for animals: The chapter balances business decisions with small, intimate moments involving blankets, food, stable routines, and humorous observations about the horses.
• Human and animal personalities: The horses’ habits—Atalanta’s playfulness and Sakuya’s appetite—are treated as extensions of their individual characters.
• The grandeur of exceptional racing: The praise for Mejiro Hōso’s victory emphasizes the rare, almost historic nature of witnessing an extraordinary horse and race.

Character Interactions

• The Adina Springs representative, Johnny, speaks bluntly with the narrator about the unsuitable economics of the proposed breeding, establishing the practical obstacles facing the plan.
• The narrator and Ravide discuss who should accompany Little Sakura, with Ravide combining responsibility for the trip with his interest in visiting Kentucky.
• Zepp adds a business-oriented perspective by connecting the possible purchase of broodmares to the need for expanding the North Barn.
• Rachel Ho and Kikuchi share a lighthearted stable moment while caring for Atalanta, and the staff enthusiastically build on Kikuchi’s “cheese steamed cake” comparison.
• Sakuya attempts to participate in the snack conversation and solicit extra food, but the staff firmly refuse, highlighting both their familiarity with her behavior and their concern for her pregnancy.
• The closing newsletter shifts from the farm’s everyday humor to broader industry developments, linking Mejiro Farm’s private plans with international racing and breeding networks.

Summary: “Sawin’s First Run After Christmas”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sawin made his debut at Hanshin Racecourse on the Saturday after Christmas, in a two-year-old maiden race over 1,600 meters on dirt.
• His owner arrived early and prayed at Horsehead Kannon, reflecting on the importance of Sawin’s first race and the owner’s nervousness.
• Trainer Wada had deliberately used several different riders—including Duman Lai, Haruki, Kawada, Sakai, and Wada himself—during Sawin’s training. This was intended to prevent him from developing bad habits and to gather varied opinions about his abilities.
• The riders consistently praised Sawin, describing him as a naturally talented and well-balanced horse. He also handled the training hill smoothly, reminding the owner of the promising Sakuya.
• The owner encountered Yutaka Take, who was recovering from illness. Though still hoarse and wearing a mask, Take seemed mentally well and exchanged light conversation before leaving for the race-day stables.
• Before the race, the owner told Trainer Wada that winning was not essential. The priority was ensuring that Sawin did not develop a negative impression of racing. They specifically instructed jockey Duman Lai not to overuse the whip or push Sawin to peak performance.
• Sawin appeared slightly restless in the paddock and during the warm-up, but remained composed for a first-time starter.
• Contrary to expectations that he might start slowly, Sawin broke cleanly and immediately secured a position near the front, running third or fourth behind the leader.
• He maintained an effortless rhythm through the turns, moved into the lead entering the straight, and opened a decisive gap with minimal urging.
• Duman Lai never used the whip, and Sawin won by four and a half lengths in an impressive debut.

Character Developments

• Sawin: Demonstrated unexpected maturity, speed, and racing ability. He overcame concerns about his start, composure, and front legs, showing powerful acceleration and hindquarters while appearing to win with considerable ease.
• The owner: Began anxious and focused on Sawin’s long-term development rather than immediate victory. As the race progressed, the owner’s concern shifted to confidence and admiration as Sawin exceeded expectations.
• Trainer Wada: Revealed a careful, horse-centered approach. He prioritized Sawin’s mental well-being and long-term relationship with racing over forcing an overly aggressive debut.
• Duman Lai: Showed restraint and judgment, allowing Sawin to run naturally while opening enough of a lead to avoid a difficult finish. His comments after the race emphasize Sawin’s composure and overwhelming ability.
• Manon: As Sawin’s former caretaker and farm representative, she reacted with surprise and pride, recalling that she had warned Yan Zhu’an that selling the colt at auction was a mistake.
• Yutaka Take: Despite recently being ill, he maintained his familiar humorous and composed personality, suggesting that he had recovered emotionally even if he still needed physical rest.

Significant Themes

• Long-term development over immediate success: The owner and trainer value protecting Sawin’s future career more than forcing a win in his debut.
• Trust and patience in training: The stable’s use of multiple riders reflects an effort to understand Sawin objectively and develop him without imposing harmful habits.
• The psychological impact of racing: Trainer Wada emphasizes that a horse’s first race should not make it fear or resent competition.
• Hidden potential exceeding expectations: Sawin’s clean break, front-running position, and effortless victory reveal that his abilities may be greater than even his supporters realized.
• Care and responsibility toward animals: The humans around Sawin treat him not merely as a competitor but as a developing athlete whose confidence and well-being must be protected.

Character Interactions

• The owner and Yutaka Take share a brief, familiar exchange at Horsehead Kannon, combining concern for Take’s health with their usual lighthearted rapport.
• The owner, Trainer Wada, and Manon discuss Sawin’s debut and agree that the race should be approached with patience rather than desperation.
• Trainer Wada personally stays with Sawin until he enters the starting gate, demonstrating his investment in the horse’s emotional readiness.
• Duman Lai and Sawin work together tactically during the race: Sawin supplies the natural speed, while Lai avoids unnecessary pressure and controls the margin of victory.
• Manon’s reaction connects Sawin’s current success to his earlier life as a foal and reinforces the belief that selling him was a serious mistake.
• Post-race comments from Duman Lai and Ryusei Sakai confirm Sawin’s unusual strength, composure, and powerful hind legs.

Chapter Summary: “The Troubles of a Luxurious Time”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The narrator watches Sawin return from the race and worries about how much physical strain the victory caused, despite the horse appearing relatively fresh.
• Manon confidently declares that Sawin could handle major Classics such as the Two Thousand Guineas or the Derby. The narrator is more cautious, believing the Guineas may suit him but doubting whether he can manage the Derby.
• Sawin participates in a winner’s photograph using the modern European-style method, with the jockey or trainer holding the number cloth instead of saddling the horse again. The narrator explains that this avoids unnecessary mental and physical stress for the horse.
• The narrator considers Sawin’s next step: a short rest at a nearby training farm or a complete break in Hokkaido. The choice depends on whether he will race again soon.
• The group discusses whether Sawin should pursue the dirt route or focus on turf and possible Classic races. Although Sawin has shown surprising speed on dirt, his polished ability and instant response to Duman Lai’s instructions suggest he should eventually be tested on turf.
• Wada points out that using a trial race before a Classic would create a demanding schedule, especially because all potential options would require a quick turnaround. He begins suggesting the Kyodo News Cup over 1,800 meters on turf.
• The group travels to a French-style restaurant to celebrate Sawin’s successful final start of the year and discuss future plans.
• Their conversation also turns to Chongli, who is resting at the farm. The narrator believes Chongli must lose as much weight as possible before competing in races in the Middle East, Japan, or Hong Kong.
• Just as the discussion of Sawin’s next race becomes more serious, racing news interrupts the conversation. Mejiro Hōso, winner of the Hong Kong Sprint, is announced as accepting an invitation to compete in Hong Kong’s Speed Series, while receiving major racing awards.

Character Developments

• The narrator reveals a growing sense of responsibility as an owner. Instead of simply celebrating Sawin’s victory, they focus on his recovery, race scheduling, physical condition, and long-term career.
• Sawin is established as a highly capable and versatile racehorse. He has performed better than expected on dirt, possesses considerable speed, and responds immediately to Duman Lai’s commands. However, his suitability for the Derby and a demanding Classic preparation remains uncertain.
• Wada appears relieved after Sawin’s victory and demonstrates careful concern for the horse’s welfare. His hesitation about the schedule shows that he prioritizes Sawin’s physical condition, though his gentle treatment of horses is also identified as a possible weakness.
• Duman Lai is portrayed as an important racing partner whose judgment and riding ability contribute to Sawin’s success. His arrival temporarily interrupts the narrator and Wada’s planning discussion, and he later asks about the proposed Kyodo News Cup.
• Manon is optimistic and confident in Sawin’s potential, immediately suggesting that the horse is capable of competing in the highest-level Classics.
• Chongli remains absent but important to the planning. His weight and condition are presented as major concerns for his future international campaign.

Significant Themes

• Horse welfare versus competitive ambition: The characters must balance the desire to advance Sawin toward prestigious Classics with the need to protect him from fatigue, injury, and excessive scheduling.
• The burden of success: Sawin’s victory creates new opportunities, but it also brings difficult decisions about race selection, preparation, rest, and long-term goals.
• Luxury and responsibility: The narrator recognizes that worrying about which major race to enter is a privileged problem compared with the struggles of owners whose horses have not yet won a maiden race. Nevertheless, success brings its own pressures.
• Modern changes in racing culture: The explanation of European-style winner’s photographs reflects a broader shift toward treating racehorses with greater consideration and avoiding unnecessary post-race stress.
• International competition and ambition: References to Hong Kong, the Middle East, and major racing series emphasize the increasingly global scope of the characters’ plans.

Character Interactions

• The narrator and Wada jointly evaluate Sawin’s condition, possible rest period, and future race schedule, with Wada offering practical and cautious advice.
• Manon’s bold confidence contrasts with the narrator’s more measured judgment about Sawin’s ability to handle the Guineas and Derby.
• The narrator works alongside stable staff to photograph and care for Sawin, emphasizing the close relationship between owner, horse, and team.
• Wada and the narrator discuss Chongli’s weight, with Wada responding guiltily, suggesting that his lenient treatment may have contributed to the problem.
• Duman Lai joins the conversation before the race-planning discussion is settled, later questioning the proposed Kyodo News Cup.
• The chapter closes with external racing news about Mejiro Hōso, broadening the story from Sawin’s local victory to the larger national and international racing world.

Key plot points and events

• After Sawin’s maiden win, jockey Duman Lai reports that the horse’s hoof soles feel unusually soft and could be seriously damaged if a shoe comes off during a fast turf race.
• The team suspects frequent hoof-oil applications may be contributing. Trainer Wada agrees to reduce their frequency and carefully adjust Sawin’s training over the next two to four weeks, balancing recovery against the need to keep the horse fit.
• Sawin’s fragile hooves make the domestic classic route uncertain: entering races such as the Yayoi Sho or Aoba Sho may depend on earnings, a draw, or securing another start.
• While considering alternatives, the owner selects the British 2,000 Guineas Stakes from the race menu. The race’s Newmarket course presents a challenge for overseas horses, particularly its downhill-and-uphill finish.
• The owner reads three advisers’ assessments. They see potential in Sawin’s build and future development, but stress that the horse is still maturing and must not be overworked.
• When Duman laments that Sawin may miss the classics, the owner proposes sending him to the British Guineas. The chapter ends with the others turning to hear the suggestion.

Character developments and interactions

• The owner shifts from worrying about domestic qualification to considering an ambitious overseas campaign, while weighing the risks to Sawin’s health.
• Duman Lai provides the crucial warning about Sawin’s hooves and expresses disappointment at the possibility of missing the classics.
• Trainer Wada responds cautiously, supporting reduced hoof-oil use and a measured training plan.
• Manon, representing Nishiken Farm, joins the discussion and helps propose an overseas route.
• The advisers offer differing perspectives: Nagamine highlights Sawin’s physical promise and recommends William Buick; Kappoki notes the long gap before the Guineas and suggests Duman; Yumika emphasizes Sawin’s developing stride and warns against excessive training, recommending Ryan Moore.

Significant themes

• Ambition versus welfare: The team wants Sawin to reach major races but must protect vulnerable hooves.
• Uncertainty in racing: Even with knowledge of Sawin’s abilities, qualification, timing, and soundness remain difficult to predict.
• Potential and patience: Sawin has room to mature, so restraint now may be essential to realizing future strength.
• Risk-taking and opportunity: The British Guineas offers a way around uncertain domestic entry, but requires confronting a demanding course and an overseas campaign.

Chapter Summary: “A Childish War”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Trainer Wada and jockey Duman Lai discuss Sawin’s impressive potential after a training workout with City of All Souls, a four-year-old stablemate preparing for the graded Hanshin Cup.
• Sawin, despite having no race experience, comfortably outpaces City of All Souls during their five-furlong workout. His performance convinces several trainers that he may already be capable of competing for a Classic title.
• The stable begins the entry process for the British 2000 Guineas because of the overseas race’s entry deadline and expensive late fees. However, Sawin’s participation remains undecided and will depend on his hoof condition and overall fitness.
• Attention then shifts to Chongli, who has struggled to lose weight after returning to Nishiken Farm. He has adopted the lazy habits of retired horses, spending cold winter days sheltering from the wind instead of exercising.
• Matoba suggests placing Chongli near active horses so their energy might influence him. The plan works: watching Little Light and Dawn run inspires Chongli to join their playful races, which becomes known as a “childish war.” Although Chongli still stops after a limited amount of exercise, his activity level improves significantly.
• Trainer Wada proposes sending Chongli to race in the Middle East, possibly alongside Traveler in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Turf Handicap. The narrator rejects the idea of rushing him into a prestigious or high-purse event, especially after Chongli’s previous crushing defeat and long layoff.
• The narrator concludes that Chongli is not yet ready even for the New Future City Turf Cup.

Character Developments

• Sawin emerges as an exceptionally talented young horse. His effortless performance against an older graded-race contender raises expectations that he could compete internationally and challenge for a Classic.
• Trainer Wada remains cautious despite Sawin’s ability, emphasizing the need to resolve his hoof problems before committing to overseas racing. He also shows concern and some guilt over the difficulties caused by Chongli.
• Duman Lai strongly praises Sawin’s power and speed, comparing him to a Shinkansen, while describing City of All Souls as a modified Harley. His observations reinforce Sawin’s extraordinary potential.
• Chongli continues to resist discipline and exercise, quickly abandoning his brief attempt to behave like a model horse. However, contact with the younger active horses gradually reawakens his competitive instincts.
• The narrator demonstrates a protective, long-term approach toward Chongli, refusing to prioritize immediate victories or lucrative races over his recovery and future development.
• Matoba contributes a practical solution to Chongli’s inactivity by suggesting that active horses might motivate him.

Significant Themes

• Potential versus readiness: Sawin possesses the talent to compete at the highest level, but physical concerns—particularly his hoof—make immediate overseas competition uncertain.
• Patience and long-term planning: Chongli’s condition shows that returning from defeat and a long layoff cannot be rushed, even when major races offer substantial rewards.
• Competition as motivation: Chongli’s renewed activity comes not from formal training but from observing and competing playfully with younger horses.
• The persistence of instinct: Despite adapting to a retired lifestyle, Chongli still responds to challenges and rivalry, revealing that his competitive nature remains intact.
• The contrast between childishness and seriousness: The playful “war” among the horses appears immature, yet it produces meaningful physical and psychological progress.

Character Interactions

• Wada and Duman Lai discuss Sawin’s workout and agree that his performance suggests unusual ability.
• Sawin’s interaction with City of All Souls reverses the expected training dynamic: instead of following the older horse, Sawin maintains the lead and exposes the gap in their potential.
• Chongli watches Little Light and Dawn race, then joins them despite pretending to be uninterested. Little Light repeatedly challenges him, while Chongli stubbornly limits his participation.
• Matoba’s suggestion influences the farm staff’s treatment of Chongli and indirectly restores some of his competitive spirit.
• Wada apologizes for Chongli’s difficulties and suggests a Middle Eastern race, while the narrator responds cautiously and insists that Chongli’s recovery should take priority over immediate results.

Summary: “Mejiro’s New Year’s Eve”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the final day of December, the expectant and retired mares return from turnout at Mejiro Farm.
• The herd’s social hierarchy determines the order in which the horses leave the pasture. Dober expertly avoids the herd by slipping through a gap, demonstrating her long experience and social awareness; her devoted companion Atalanta imitates her.
• Little Light, now a fully grown young mare but still highly mischievous, eagerly waits to return to the stable. She has recently bitten Zepp’s arm during the morning rush, earning a stern reprimand from the staff and later another scolding from her mother, Anna.
• Little Light continues acting sulky after being disciplined, though she eventually drinks from the refreshed trough and runs normally with the other horses. The narrator emphasizes that playful biting between horses is natural, but biting humans cannot be tolerated.
• The evening becomes hectic rather than peaceful because the younger horses are unusually energetic. Dawn, despite initially appearing listless, repeatedly plays at entering and leaving the stable, while Little Light joins her after seemingly forgetting her earlier punishment.
• Dober returns to the pasture independently. The staff hope to take New Year’s photographs but discover that she now demands carrots or mints before cooperating. Atalanta has begun adopting the same habit.
• Dober and Atalanta share their “first carrots of the year,” creating a touching scene despite Dober’s occasional attempts to nip at the staff’s fingers.
• The chapter concludes with a collection of racing updates: Mejiro Traveler is invited to the Saudi Cup race day; Mejiro Heritage is named Timeform’s 2029 Horse of the Year; Mejiro Hōso and Yutaka Take win World Pool’s Moment of the Year; and several Mejiro horses appear in the Longines global rankings.

Character Developments

• Dober: Shown as experienced, socially intelligent, energetic, and increasingly demanding of treats. Her confidence and cleverness within the herd are emphasized.
• Atalanta: Remains closely devoted to Dober and learns to copy her movements and behavior, including requesting carrots.
• Little Light: Has matured physically into a striking young mare resembling her mother, but remains in a rebellious, troublesome phase. She tests boundaries by biting people, resists correction, and quickly returns to playful behavior.
• Dawn: Reveals a playful side despite her usually gloomy or listless appearance. Her sudden shifts between energetic and melancholy expressions suggest a comical, almost theatrical personality.
• Anna: Acts as Little Light’s mother and disciplinarian, reinforcing the staff’s lessons about acceptable behavior.
• The staff and narrator: Balance affection for the horses with the responsibility of maintaining safety and teaching proper boundaries.

Significant Themes

• Herd hierarchy and social intelligence: The horses’ movements reflect an established social order, with experienced animals like Dober knowing how to navigate it.
• Growing up and discipline: Little Light’s physical maturity contrasts with her immature behavior, highlighting the challenges of adolescence and the need for consistent correction.
• Animal individuality: Each horse has a distinct personality—Dober’s cunning, Atalanta’s devotion, Little Light’s mischief, and Dawn’s unexpected playfulness.
• Affection balanced with responsibility: The staff clearly cherish the horses but do not excuse dangerous behavior, especially biting humans.
• New beginnings and celebration: The sharing of the first carrots of the year and the racing achievements in the closing reports connect everyday farm life with the broader traditions and successes of the Mejiro stable.

Character Interactions

• Dober demonstrates her pasture-navigation technique while Atalanta follows her example.
• Little Light’s bite leads to confrontations with Zepp, the staff, Anna, and the narrator, revealing the adults’ united effort to correct her.
• Little Light and Dawn play together in the stable, creating concern that their excessive energy could cause injury.
• Dober and Atalanta share carrots in a warm, companionable ritual, though Dober’s playful finger-nipping keeps the scene characteristically mischievous.
• The race reports extend the chapter’s focus from the farm’s daily relationships to the Mejiro horses’ international achievements.

Plot points and events

• On New Year’s Day, the narrator finds the farm busier than hoped. Meisho Gekkei, newly retired from racing and now a club broodmare at Nishiken Farm, appears to be settling in well with her neighbors.
• The farm’s staff and visiting racing veterans debate a suitable stallion for Laurel. Because she belongs to the club, they must weigh pedigree and breeding prospects against the cost and the likelihood of selling shares in her foal.
• The group settles on North American leading sire Not Yet Time. John then secures a booking through an owner who has a breeding right, resolving the availability issue—though the private arrangement will be expensive.
• Later, Gozen receives an unexpected serving of fresh grass and eats eagerly, while a sleeping horse nearby misses the moment. Dober receives the year’s first good-luck amulet and plays with it, pleased with the attention.

Character development and interactions

• The narrator takes an active role in Laurel’s mating decision, balancing breeding advice with the club’s practical concerns.
• The retired jockey Yokoyama, trainer Matoba, and other visitors contribute different considerations, turning the choice into a collaborative discussion.
• Gekkei’s calm adjustment suggests she is adapting readily to farm life.
• Dober’s playful pride in the amulet contrasts with the narrator’s practical worry that the growing collection will make the annual burning ceremony harder.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and compromise: Breeding decisions must serve both the horses’ prospects and the club’s financial realities.
• Community and continuity: Retired racing figures, farm workers, owners, and club directors remain connected through the care and future planning of the horses.
• Everyday care and affection: New Year rituals, treats, and small interactions show the ongoing bond between people and horses.
• A busy new beginning: The narrator’s wish for a quieter year is immediately overtaken by work and decisions, while the farm’s routines carry on even during the holiday.

Summary: “Taking a Day Off”

• Plot and events: The narrator spends the day organizing an outline, describing this activity as “taking the day off.”
• Character development: The narrator appears organized and task-oriented, but may also be humorously redefining work as rest.
• Themes: The passage highlights the contrast between work and leisure, as well as the subjective nature of productivity and relaxation.
• Character interactions: No interactions with other characters are presented; the focus remains on the narrator’s personal activity and perspective.

Key plot points and events

• The narrator, farm manager Eri, spends the evening with Ravide, Zepp, and Mrs. Ravide, reviewing the racing awards. Baozuo dominates the voting, while Light’s Wedge receives only six votes for Best Three-Year-Old Colt.
• A television bulletin abruptly issues an emergency earthquake warning for southern Hokkaido. Eri immediately activates the farm’s emergency procedures: staff evacuate the horses, fire hazards are addressed, and people gather supplies and medical equipment.
• Eri worries about local hazards, especially the possibility of a tsunami, though she judges flooding unlikely because it is winter and the river is low.
• Before the group can reach safety, the farm is shaken by the earthquake. The lights go out and objects crash around them. Eri and Zepp help Mrs. Ravide to the designated open ground.
• Ravide reports that the horses were quickly separated by sex and moved into nearby pastures. Eri checks that everyone—people and horses alike—is safe. With power out and aftershocks or a tsunami still possible, she tells the group to remain together rather than investigate the generator.

Character developments and interactions

• Eri shifts from casually browsing award results to taking decisive command during the emergency. Her training and familiarity with disaster drills help keep the group organized, and she remains attentive to both people and animals.
• Ravide responds promptly to Eri’s instructions, evacuates the stable, and manages the horses under pressure.
• Zepp is concerned about the farm’s trophies and saddles and later wants to check the generator, but Eri redirects him toward immediate safety.
• Kikuchi, Miura, Takahashi, and Rachel follow Eri’s assignments to help at the stables or pastures; Kikuchi also quickly unplugs appliances.
• Eri and Zepp support Mrs. Ravide as they move to safety, showing the group’s cooperation during the crisis.

Significant themes

• Preparedness and leadership: Familiar drills and clear decisions help the farm avoid panic.
• Care and responsibility: The characters prioritize the safety of workers and horses over possessions.
• Uncertainty and danger: The earthquake has struck, but darkness, possible aftershocks, and a potential tsunami mean the emergency is not over.

Chapter Summary: “March Under the Starlight”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the earthquake and ongoing blackout, the staff enter the pastures with flashlights to inspect the horses.
• The mares are largely safe:
  • Atalanta has only minor scrapes and stays close to the older mare Dober for reassurance.
  • Dober unusually accepts the staff’s attention and calms the herd with soft snorts.
  • Sakuya remains remarkably composed, eating grass beneath the snow and happily accepting mint candy.
  • M-chan repeatedly calls toward the neighboring pasture until she sees her frightened foal, Dawn, return safely.
  • Little Light is terrified and bites Anna’s tail while being led along. Anna patiently drags and reassures her instead of scolding her.
• The stallions are also mostly unharmed. Dawn eventually regains enough courage to return to the herd with encouragement from her mother and the older horses.
• Ravide explains that Pegasus played a crucial role during the evacuation. Pegasus alerted the horses with a loud cry and led them out of the stables, though he injured his forehead by striking a swinging gate.
• The wider situation becomes clear:
  • The entire Hidaka region has lost power.
  • Water availability varies, though some areas retain water through independent systems.
  • Emergency generators are functioning, preventing an even more dangerous night in the cold.
  • The southern stables have sustained greater damage, and the farm lacks enough usable stalls for all its horses.
• Because both horse trailers remain usable, the staff decide to send several horses to Honshu. Traveler, Poetic Banquet, Chongli, and Sawin are selected for transfer, with staff divided into transport teams.
• Their racing and training plans become uncertain. Traveler may go to Tracen or even leave early for the Middle East, while Poetic Banquet’s planned Classic campaign and Mainichi Cup target are now doubtful. Chongli and Sawin’s schedules are also affected by the devastation in Hokkaido.
• The chapter ends by hinting at a particular horse whose lack of off-season self-discipline is about to create another concern.

Character Developments

• Atalanta shows how deeply shaken she is by remaining dependent on Dober for comfort, despite being physically safe.
• Dober reveals a gentler, more protective side by soothing Atalanta and the other mares rather than rejecting human attention.
• Sakuya remains cheerful and resilient, treating the mint candy almost as a festive reward.
• M-chan’s concern for Dawn becomes clear; her anxiety disappears only after confirming her foal is safe.
• Anna demonstrates unusual tenderness and patience toward Little Light, prioritizing the foal’s fear over her own discomfort.
• Little Light gradually regains courage through Anna’s repeated reassurance.
• Pegasus proves his natural leadership and courage by guiding the other horses during the evacuation, though his impulsiveness results in a forehead injury.
• The human staff, especially Ravide and the narrator, shift from immediate rescue and inspection to difficult logistical decisions about shelter, transport, and future racing plans.

Significant Themes

• Care and solidarity during disaster: Horses and humans protect, reassure, and guide one another through fear and uncertainty.
• Leadership: Pegasus’s instinctive guidance and Dober’s calming presence show different forms of leadership within the herds.
• Resilience and composure: Some horses remain calm amid the crisis, while others slowly recover through companionship.
• The fragility of plans: Carefully prepared racing schedules become meaningless when infrastructure and regional stability collapse.
• Responsibility versus ambition: The staff must prioritize safety and shelter over training and competition, even when major races are approaching.

Important Character Interactions

• Atalanta stays close to Dober, relying on the older mare’s calming presence.
• Dober comforts the mares and accepts thanks from the staff.
• M-chan watches and calls for Dawn until Ravide helps reunite them.
• Little Light clings to Anna’s tail, while Anna gently encourages her forward.
• Dawn is supported by both her mother and the older stallions before returning to the herd.
• Ravide praises Pegasus for leading the evacuation and explains the horse’s actions to the staff.
• The staff coordinate with Ravide, Zepp, Miura, Kikuchi, and Takahashi to organize emergency transportation and relocation.

Chapter Summary: “Beneath the Hidaka Mountains, the Seasons Turn”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After sending four people to Honshu, the narrator settles in the northern stable with the remaining staff following the earthquake. Several horses are still distressed, and pregnant mare Starlit World is brought in from the pasture because the shock appears to have triggered early labor.
• Dober, an elderly retired mare, suddenly collapses in her stall and repeatedly attempts—but fails—to stand. Her continued struggling causes further wounds and hoof injuries.
• Recognizing that Dober’s advanced age, physical decline, and inability to rise will likely lead to fatal internal complications, the narrator decides euthanasia is the most humane option. Rachel Ho protests emotionally but ultimately helps accept the medical supplies.
• The narrator administers the euthanasia injection. Dober gives one final bite to the narrator’s hand before dying, leaving the narrator emotionally stunned and unable to openly grieve.
• Starlit World’s labor progresses soon afterward. The narrator monitors the delivery, checking that the foal’s front legs and head are correctly positioned and that no emergency intervention is needed.
• At 2:19 a.m. on January 15, 2030, Starlit World gives birth to a dark bay colt with a distinctive droplet-shaped blaze. The foal initially struggles to breathe, but the narrator clears his airways and revives him.
• The mare safely delivers the placenta, confirming that both mother and foal have survived. The chapter ends with news that Nogimi Maeda, a horse connected to the Wilderness bloodline, may have been seriously injured in the earthquake.

Character Developments

• The narrator is forced to confront the responsibilities of a breeder and former veterinarian. Though deeply attached to Dober, they suppress personal grief to make a difficult medical decision and care for the remaining animals. The successful birth afterward provides emotional relief but does not erase the loss.
• Dober is portrayed as courageous and determined to the very end. Her repeated attempts to stand reveal the same fighting spirit she possessed during her racing life.
• Rachel Ho shows intense emotional attachment to Dober, initially rejecting euthanasia but remaining present and useful despite her grief.
• Starlit World moves from nervous agitation to enduring labor and safely giving birth, demonstrating both vulnerability and strength.
• The newborn colt represents the continuation of life and bloodlines despite catastrophe and death.

Significant Themes

• Life and death existing side by side: Dober dies just before Starlit World gives birth, creating a direct contrast between farewell and renewal.
• Humane responsibility: The chapter explores whether euthanasia can be an act of compassion when an animal is suffering and can no longer recover.
• Duty versus grief: The narrator must act professionally even while emotionally affected, prioritizing the animals’ needs over personal sorrow.
• Resilience after disaster: The earthquake has damaged the community and frightened the horses, yet the people continue caring for them and helping new life arrive.
• Continuity and legacy: The colt’s birth and the reference to the Wilderness bloodline suggest that breeding preserves memory, history, and hope across generations.

Character Interactions

• Rachel calls urgently for help when Dober collapses, drawing the narrator into the crisis. She argues against euthanasia but ultimately cooperates with the procedure.
• The narrator communicates with the stable staff throughout Starlit World’s labor, instructing them to remain quiet and assisting with the birth.
• The narrator speaks gently to both Dober and Starlit World, offering reassurance even when unsure whether the words are meant for the horses, the staff, or themself.
• Dober’s final bite becomes her last physical interaction with the narrator, symbolizing her enduring spirit and bond with the person caring for her.
• The closing message broadens the chapter’s focus from the immediate stable to the wider earthquake-stricken horse-producing region, emphasizing that many lives remain at risk.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After an earthquake and blackout, the narrator returns to the stable and helps oversee the birth of Star’s foal, later named Viserys.
• Ravide weighs the newborn at 49 kilograms. Although small, the dark bay foal is healthy and shows strong limbs and vitality.
• The narrator and the others inspect the farm in darkness, confirming that the horses, water supply, and generator are still functioning. The earthquake has shattered barn windows and damaged office furniture and equipment.
• The farm is also dealing with the death of Dober, whose cremation and the rearrangement of the herd become part of the exhausting post-disaster work.
• Despite severe fatigue, the narrator keeps working to avoid thinking about the disaster and its emotional consequences.
• At dawn, Viserys manages to stand and take his first steps. However, Star becomes defensive and repeatedly threatens to kick him, suggesting she does not recognize or accept him as her foal.
• Because the foal cannot safely nurse, the narrator bottle-feeds him with colostrum, emphasizing how essential the first eighteen hours are for developing immunity.
• The staff perform a foal-recognition procedure: Star is sedated, treated with prostaglandin, and the foal is covered with mucus and excrement to recreate the conditions of birth.
• Star eventually accepts Viserys, allowing him to nurse normally. Relieved but overwhelmed by exhaustion, the narrator names the foal Viserys.

Character Development

• The narrator remains calm, practical, and responsible despite exhaustion, disaster, and grief. Their determination to care for the animals also reveals an effort to suppress painful thoughts.
• Ravide proves dependable and hardworking, assisting with inspections, repairs, feeding preparations, and the foal-recognition process. His quiet comment about the beauty of the post-blackout sky suggests emotional sensitivity beneath his tired exterior.
• Rachel Ho shows compassion and attentiveness. Though sent to rest, she returns to check on the foal and helps hold Star during the feeding and recognition process.
• Star shifts from a seemingly ordinary mother to a tense, defensive mare who initially rejects her own foal. Her eventual acceptance restores the natural bond between mother and child.
• Viserys demonstrates resilience from birth, struggling to stand, learning to walk, and continuing to feed despite weakness and his mother’s rejection.

Significant Themes

• Resilience after catastrophe: The farm survives the earthquake through cooperation, improvisation, and persistence.
• Life amid death and destruction: Viserys’s birth occurs alongside Dober’s death and the devastation caused by the earthquake, contrasting renewal with loss.
• The burden of responsibility: Caring for vulnerable animals requires immediate action even when the humans are exhausted and emotionally strained.
• Nature and human intervention: While the foal’s instincts are strong, human assistance becomes essential when Star fails to recognize him.
• Hope and renewal: The foal’s first steps and eventual nursing offer a small but meaningful sign that life can continue despite disaster.

Character Interactions

• The narrator, Ravide, and Rachel work together as a cooperative team during the birth and its aftermath.
• Ravide and the narrator share a quiet moment appreciating the night sky after the blackout, providing a brief pause amid the crisis.
• Rachel supports both the narrator and Star, helping manage the dangerous early feeding.
• The narrator takes primary responsibility for Viserys, bottle-feeding him and guiding him through the recognition process.
• Star’s initial rejection creates the central conflict, while her eventual acceptance resolves it and allows the foal to nurse safely.

Key plot points and events

• The morning after the disaster, the farm’s remaining staff and residents perform their New Year custom of burning their amulets. The ritual offers a brief moment of calm and solidarity amid the crisis.
• The narrator learns that earthquake damage across Niikappu and Hidaka Honcho is severe, with even young horses at Monbetsu Racecourse among the casualties. Work and disaster response take priority while the narrator waits anxiously for what comes next.
• Roads near the farm remain usable, allowing a horse transport to cross Minowa Bridge. With help from neighboring farms, the staff complete the day’s emergency work and cremate Dober’s remains before sunset.
• Dober’s ashes are placed temporarily in two prepared urns in the stable storeroom. Phone service returns after a nearby signal tower is repaired.
• Trainer Yoshida, Dober’s former jockey, video-calls from Hong Kong. Overcome with grief and regret that he cannot attend in person, he asks to be told when Dober’s interment ceremony will take place.
• The narrator receives offers from Trainers Wada and Ikee to take horses into their stables. Still, the farm’s racing plans will need revision. The narrator considers Chongli’s next race, first selecting the New Future City Turf Cup and then turning attention to the Osaka Cup.

Character developments

• The narrator struggles to keep working through grief, frustration, and uncertainty. The amulet-burning ritual and handling Dober’s ashes bring the loss into sharper focus, while the narrator continues making practical decisions for the horses.
• Trainer Yoshida, usually reserved, openly breaks down over Dober’s death. He cannot travel to Hokkaido, but his request to attend the interment shows his resolve to honor Dober.
• Rachel Ho shows concern for the narrator during the ritual, reflecting the quiet care among those remaining at the farm.

Character interactions

• The farm’s people share the amulet-burning ceremony and exchange bows, reaffirming their mutual support.
• The narrator and Ravide walk together toward the stables after the ritual.
• The narrator and Yoshida share a tearful video call: Yoshida apologizes for being unable to help, and the narrator shows him Dober’s ashes.
• Trainers Wada and Ikee offer practical assistance by making space in their stables.

Significant themes

• Grief and remembrance: Dober’s cremation, ashes, and planned interment give the survivors ways to honor the dead.
• Community and mutual aid: The farm’s staff and neighboring farms work together, while trainers elsewhere offer help.
• Duty amid disaster: The narrator must continue caring for the horses and adjusting race plans despite emotional strain.
• Uncertainty and resilience: The damage is immense and recovery will be slow, but the characters take the next necessary steps and look toward the future.

Chapter Summary: A Horse That Could Read Newspapers

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist receives LINE messages from three advisors evaluating his racehorse Chongli/Duraran after winter training.
• Advisor Nagamine praises Chongli’s improved physique, noting that he is now more compact, toned, and well suited to Hanshin’s 2,000-meter turf course. However, maintaining his current condition and reducing excess weight remain priorities. Ryan Moore is recommended as jockey.
• Advisor Kappoki focuses on Chongli’s improved movement, responsiveness, and controlled rhythm. He believes the horse could perform very well in domestic spring races if his sharpness is preserved. Yutaka Take is recommended.
• Advisor Yumika observes that Chongli retains considerable muscle and some excess belly fat, but has developed a stronger, sturdier frame suited to explosive finishes and potentially heavy turf. She recommends using the Kyoto Kinen as a preparatory race before the Osaka Cup, especially because Chongli is returning from a long layoff. Moreira is recommended.
• The protagonist agrees with Yumika’s strategy and messages Trainer Wada, asking whether Chongli can run in the Kyoto Kinen before targeting the Osaka Cup. Wada quickly confirms that the stable will prepare accordingly, with Haruki Wada remaining Chongli’s jockey.
• The protagonist reflects on the damage caused by the earthquake throughout the racing industry. Since Chongli is among the first horses to return from Hokkaido and begin training, he may gain a relative advantage despite the widespread disruption.
• He plans to visit Tracen and continue overseeing domestic and international race entries, breeding mares, and stallions, recognizing that the winter will be especially difficult for everyone involved in horse racing.
• A racing news report confirms Chongli’s planned route: Kyoto Kinen → Osaka Cup. Another report states that Sawin, a promising two-year-old winner, will skip domestic preparation and travel early to Britain for the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, with Duman Lai as jockey.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates careful, analytical management of his horses. He weighs the advisors’ differing opinions, prioritizes Chongli’s physical condition, and makes a practical decision to use the Kyoto Kinen as a tune-up race.
• He also shows growing responsibility and concern for the broader racing community, not merely his own stable, as he considers the earthquake’s effects on trainers, farms, horses, and staff.
• Chongli/Duraran has improved substantially since the disastrous Japan Cup. His body is more toned, his muscles stronger, his movement sharper, and his frame more mature, though he remains overweight and not yet fully race-ready.
• Trainer Wada responds promptly and cooperatively, agreeing to the protagonist’s plan and maintaining Haruki as Chongli’s rider.
• Haruki Wada continues as Chongli’s jockey, despite the advisors suggesting several internationally famous alternatives.
• Sawin is presented as another rising horse, whose preparation and overseas campaign indicate high expectations for his future.

Significant Themes

• Conditioning and preparation: The chapter emphasizes that physical condition, weight management, and race readiness are more important than reputation or pedigree.
• Adaptation after failure: Chongli’s recovery from his poor Japan Cup performance shows the importance of careful reassessment and gradual rebuilding.
• Strategic planning: The Kyoto Kinen is chosen not simply as a target but as a controlled test and warm-up for the more important Osaka Cup.
• Resilience amid disaster: The earthquake has disrupted the entire racing world, yet the characters continue working to restore normal operations and find opportunities within the chaos.
• Human and animal interdependence: The success of the horses depends on cooperation among owners, trainers, jockeys, advisors, farms, and racing facilities.
• Domestic versus international ambition: Chongli’s campaign remains focused on Japan, while Sawin’s direct move toward the British 2,000 Guineas highlights the stable’s broader international ambitions.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist studies and compares the three advisors’ reports, recognizing that all agree Chongli needs careful conditioning, though Yumika is the most candid about using a preparatory race.
• He communicates directly with Trainer Wada, who accepts the proposed Kyoto Kinen plan without hesitation.
• Although the advisors recommend different jockeys—Ryan Moore, Yutaka Take, and Moreira—the stable chooses to retain Haruki Wada, reinforcing the established partnership between horse and rider.
• The news reports extend the chapter’s perspective beyond Chongli, contrasting his cautious comeback with Sawin’s ambitious overseas campaign.

Summary of “Taking a Day Off”

• Plot points and events: The narrator suspects they may have taken too much gout medication over the past few days. Feeling unwell with a slight fever and a cold, they decide to take the day off and rest.
• Character development: The narrator shows self-awareness by connecting their symptoms to their recent medication use and demonstrates self-care by choosing not to work while sick.
• Themes: The chapter touches on illness, rest, personal health, and the importance of recognizing when to pause. It also has a light, playful tone, emphasized by the narrator’s closing “meow.”
• Character interactions: No other characters appear or interact with the narrator; the focus remains on the narrator’s physical condition and decision to rest.