[Thanks to 873 for the tip, and thanks everyone for following, monthly passes, recommendation votes, and bookmarks. Work left me no time to write today (ノ_<,), so this is all for now. Please forgive me. A bow to you all <(._.)>]
"Clean break from the gates! The pre-race favorite, Lightning Knight, takes the lead! Is it choosing to front-run? Can its stamina hold up? In second is number five, Minnan Flying Tiger, with number seven on the outside..."
After leaving the gates, Ning Fei did not rush to urge his mount forward for position. Instead, he let Flying Cloud Colt maintain a steady rhythm and follow within the pack.
Up ahead, Lightning Knight set a blistering pace, opening up a two-length lead within mere dozens of meters.
"Lightning Knight is still accelerating! Is it going for a runaway lead? It broke from the gates and immediately surged ahead—can Lightning Knight's stamina really last until the end?"
There was a trace of surprise in the commentator's voice.
The field formed three groups. Lightning Knight ran alone at the very front. Two lengths behind came a forward group of nine horses, followed three-quarters of a length later by a stalking group of seven. At the very back was another lone horse in the closing group.
Flying Cloud Colt followed in the stalking group, sitting twelfth in the field.
Ning Fei raised his head and looked at the dark bay figure ahead, silently calculating the distance and speed.
"The first furlong was 11.6 to 11.7 seconds, with a lead of around three to four lengths. Still within a controllable range."
He withdrew his gaze and made no move, maintaining the rhythm.
Lightning Knight led the field into the first turn.
Behind it, several horses in the forward group were still fiercely contesting position.