Unlucky Horse Owner and Flowing Cloud Flying Shadow

After feeding the carrots, Zhang Jun patted the Lightning Chaser Colt's neck and left the stable. He had originally planned to take a taxi back to his university dorm in Mindu, but as he passed the ranch's office area, he spotted Luo Fei.

He was standing in the open space outside the reception room, talking with two people. One of them was Luo Fei's second son, Luo An—twenty-four years old this year, leanly built. Unlike his older brother and younger brother, he had not chosen to work in the family ranch business, instead becoming a Central jockey.

He was now in his sixth year since debuting. With the help of the excellent horses and connections provided by his family, he had achieved outstanding results. He currently had 573 wins, with a career win rate of 13.5%. He was in exceptional form this year, with his win rate already exceeding 16% and eighty victories under his belt.

The other was a middle-aged man Zhang Jun did not know, around fifty years old. He wore a slightly tight suit, and his face was filled with anxiety.

The conversation between the three did not seem to be going well. The middle-aged man was saying something emotionally, gesturing constantly with both hands, while Luo Fei wore a troubled expression, shaking or nodding his head from time to time. Luo An stood behind Luo Fei, his brows tightly furrowed as well.

Zhang Jun was about to leave when their discussion happened to end on bad terms. The middle-aged man left with a worried face, while Luo Fei shook his head and sighed. When he turned around, he happened to see Zhang Jun and waved him over.

Zhang Jun walked over. Luo Fei said, "Come sit with me in the tea room and have a cup of tea. I happen to have time today, so I'll talk with you about the knowledge in that notebook and see how well you've mastered it."

The three entered the tea room. Luo Fei picked out some of the points recorded near the beginning of the notebook and questioned Zhang Jun about them. Zhang Jun answered each one, then asked Luo Fei about some things he did not quite understand. Luo Fei patiently answered them one by one, while Luo An also explained some of the unspoken rules and knowledge of Central racing to Zhang Jun.

Once the questions were over, Luo Fei nodded in satisfaction and smiled warmly. "Ajun, you've mastered the knowledge in the notebook very well, and you're highly perceptive too. You understand anything you don't know after I explain it just a little. You'll definitely be able to grow your own ranch into something great in the future."

Zhang Jun modestly replied, "It's all because Uncle Luo's notes are so detailed and your explanations are so thorough. You truly deserve to be called an excellent teacher."

Luo Fei and Luo An both laughed heartily. Zhang Jun asked curiously, "Uncle Luo, what was that uncle doing here just now? You all looked so worried."

Luo Fei sighed. "He's an old customer of our ranch. His name is Li Jianming, and he works in building materials. He entered horse racing ten years ago and registered as a Central owner, but his luck has never been very good. The horses he bought have basically never achieved much."

"Since he bought quite a few horses from our ranch, I recommended one of our good horses to him the year before last. It achieved decent results, and he felt our ranch was very fair. That's why he comes here whenever he has spare time or something comes up."

"He came this time because a filly he bought for 800,000 at an auction in another province has performed poorly. It has been a year since its debut. Aside from winning a maiden race and a Class 1 race, it has lost every other race."

Zhang Jun was surprised. "800,000? Was it bought at the Select Sale? Horses from the Select Sale shouldn't be this bad. Did the Select Sale staff happen to misjudge it?"

"Maybe. In any case, its current record is two wins from ten starts. It finished seventh in its most recent open race, and he completely lost his nerve on the spot. According to the rules of the Huaxia racing world, when owners want to sell horses in their hands, they usually ask the ranch that bred the horse to help."

"But the small ranch that bred that horse went bankrupt after its owner failed an investment and fell heavily into debt. The ranch was sold to someone else, and its broodmares were sold off by the owner to repay the debts. There's no breeding ranch to contact for help."

Luo Fei shook his head, looking utterly helpless. "With no other choice, he came to our ranch and asked us to help contact other owners to see if anyone would take it over. Normally, ranches do not accept brokerage work for horses bred by other ranches, but... Sigh."

He sighed, and Luo An took over. "Because Father recommended him a good horse before, I've ridden the horses he owns for the past two years. He's also an old family customer who has spent several million here at the ranch, and he has also bought quite a few fractional ownership shares in horses through the club."

"Besides, that horse is also boarded here for turnout. Father couldn't bring himself to refuse, so he had him leave the information and said we would see whether we could find an owner willing to buy it. To be honest, that horse's pedigree is quite good. Its sire has ranked near the top of Huaxia's annual stallion rankings, while its dam is a black-type mare with a Grade 2 win."

Luo Fei smiled bitterly. "If it were a two-year-old, it would be easier to sell. But it's a three-year-old filly with such poor results. Who would want it? Unless the price is extremely low—low enough that it could earn the money back just by picking up a little prize money in one or two local races. But the price he set isn't that low."

"I can only try to help him look. If that doesn't work, our ranch can only buy it ourselves. That would both retain a major customer and add another female line to the ranch. After all, that horse's pedigree is pretty good."

Luo Fei shook his head, looking deeply helpless.

Something stirred in Zhang Jun's heart, and he asked Luo Fei, "What's the lowest price he set?"

Luo Fei glanced at Zhang Jun. "Ajun, don't tell me you're thinking..."

Zhang Jun smiled. "You know I'm preparing to establish my own ranch. I plan to collect some broodmares first for the Lightning Chaser Colt to marry in the future. Didn't you say that filly has a good pedigree? If the price isn't too high and I get a good feeling from it, I plan to buy it."

Luo Fei pondered for a moment. "A horse with those results would probably only fetch between 50,000 and 100,000 at a secondhand horse auction. But he hasn't given up. He told me he wanted at least 200,000, otherwise he would rather keep it and continue trying his luck. Still, he's eager to sell it, so I estimate his bottom line should be around 160,000 or 170,000."

Zhang Jun calculated silently. He had spent 450,000 buying the two yearlings. After setting aside this year's boarding fees and money to buy mares at the broodmare auction, he still had 800,000 available. He could go look at the horse first. If the attributes it showed were decent, he could buy it and give it a try.

With that in mind, Zhang Jun said, "Can I go take a look at that horse? If it feels all right, I'll buy it and try it in local racing."

Luo Fei and Luo An exchanged looks, somewhat surprised. Remembering what their eldest son Luo Yong had said—that Zhang Jun had an unusually strong instinct for horses' abilities—Luo Fei decided to take Zhang Jun to see it, even though that instinct had yet to be verified. What if it was true?

That way, Zhang Jun could obtain a good horse, Li Jianming could sell the horse he wanted to offload, and Luo Fei would be doing Li Jianming a favor by helping him sell it. One stone, three birds—everyone won.

As for what would happen if the horse ran well afterward, Luo Fei figured that was Li Jianming's problem. He had chosen to sell it himself. Even if he regretted it, he would have to swallow that regret.

Luo Fei stood up. "Then come with me. That horse happens to be out in the pasture right now."

Zhang Jun followed Luo Fei to a paddock in the ranch's turnout area. Three fillies were running inside it. Luo Fei pointed at one of them. "That's the one. Her name is Flowing Cloud Flying Shadow."

Zhang Jun followed Luo Fei's gesture. It was a bay horse, its coat reddish-brown, with a black tail, mane, and legs. Its right foreleg wore a snow-white sock.

[Horse Name: Flowing Cloud Flying Shadow

Age/Sex: Three-year-old filly

Coat Color: Bay

Racing Attributes:

Speed: D

Surface Aptitude: Turf ◎, Dirt X

Growth Type: Late Maturer

Breeding Attributes:

Offspring: 7]

Zhang Jun raised his brows, delighted. This was another excellent prospect to become a foundation mare. Its Speed attribute was even D; as long as its other attributes were not especially dreadful, winning a CN2 would not be a problem. Most importantly, its Growth Type was Late Maturer, which meant Flowing Cloud Flying Shadow's speed still had room to improve.

He immediately said, "I think this girl has the makings of a good turf runner, and she probably isn't much slower than the Lightning Chaser Colt. How did she end up with only two wins from ten races?"

Luo Fei and Luo An exchanged looks. Luo An spoke awkwardly. "Uh... Flowing Cloud Flying Shadow has raced exclusively on dirt in the Central circuit. She did try turf once over 1,200 meters and finished sixth."

"Maybe they just haven't found the right distance." Zhang Jun did not seem bothered. "I plan to buy her and send her to trainer Lin Zhi to try local turf races. Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Luo, but please contact Owner Li for me—and help negotiate the price down while you're at it."

Luo Fei tried to persuade him a few times, but seeing that Zhang Jun had made up his mind, he took out his phone and contacted Li Jianming. He helped Zhang Jun press the price down to 160,000. Once he could not lower it any further, Luo Fei looked to Zhang Jun, who nodded to indicate it was acceptable. Luo Fei then told Li Jianming to come over and sign the contract.

Ten minutes later, Li Jianming drove to Jianzhou Ranch, his face full of delight. When he saw how young Zhang Jun was, however, he hesitated and tried to dissuade him a few times. Zhang Jun brushed off his advice by saying he had a feeling she was suited for turf, then signed the contract with Li Jianming.