Arrival in Japan

Zhang Jun froze as he stared at the words on the black display beside the big screen. Only after Zheng Xing had shaken him for a good while did he snap out of it.

He had never imagined that Lightning Chaser, despite her lower speed, could rely on a single inherited skill to defeat so many formidable opponents and win the East China Turf Stakes.

His eyes burned, and he nearly burst into tears.

Lightning Chaser had won. That little filly who was too shy to face anyone, who held no advantage in speed over the strongest horses her age, had proved herself in a heart-stopping race.

The victory dinner was held at a long-established restaurant near the racecourse.

Zheng Xing had booked a private room well in advance, and now everyone sat around the table, beaming. Ning Fei and his father, Ning Zhi, were especially delighted. Despite their best efforts to contain themselves, their faces kept twitching with the urge to laugh out loud.

"Come on! The first toast goes to Lightning Chaser!"

Zheng Xing raised his glass, grinning from ear to ear. "She really did us proud today! Her first G1 win, by a quarter of a length! I'll never forget this as long as I live!"

"To Lightning Chaser!"

Everyone raised their glasses.

Zhang Jun took a sip of his drink and turned to Ning Fei beside him.

Zheng Xing and Ning Zhi were plying the young jockey with drinks, and his cheeks were already flushed.

Ning Fei's positioning during the race had been textbook-perfect. He had threaded his way from the very back of the pack to the forward group without committing a single foul!

"Ning Fei, you really stole the show today!"

Zheng Xing clapped Ning Fei on the shoulder, unable to stop grinning.