Cloudstream Flying Shadow's Stakes Race

Thursday of the fourth week of September, Jian'an Racetrack.

By four thirty in the afternoon, Zhang Jun had already arrived at the racetrack.

Today was Cloudstream Flying Shadow's first local race, her first attempt at a stakes race, and Zhang Jun's first stakes race as an owner—the CN3 Jian'an Fillies' Championship.

The setting sun painted the sky orange-red, while a few wisps of cloud were scattered by the evening breeze.

The temperature was pleasant. Though it had briefly risen above thirty degrees at noon, it had now dropped to around twenty-four or twenty-five degrees—perfect racing weather.

Zhang Jun passed through the racetrack gates and presented his owner credentials at the entrance.

After the staff verified them, they let him through. Rather than heading straight for the owners' seats, Zhang Jun first detoured toward the stabling area inside the racetrack.

Since it was a weekday, the racetrack was not particularly crowded. Only a handful of racing reporters and veteran fans had arrived early, gathering in small groups to discuss the day's races. More fans had chosen to sneak a look at this Graded Stakes during breaks at work.

Zhang Jun followed the familiar passage into the stabling area. He had already become familiar with the location of the stalls Lin Zhi rented at the racetrack during Shadow Hunter's previous race, and found the place with ease.

Before he even got close, he heard Lin Zhi's booming voice.

"Yes, yes. The leg wraps need to be snug, but not too tight. Leave room for her legs to move."

"Have you checked the horseshoes? They were only changed yesterday afternoon, so there shouldn't be a problem."

"How is Cloudstream Flying Shadow feeling today?"

As Zhang Jun rounded the corner, he saw Lin Zhi standing outside Cloudstream Flying Shadow's stall, directing Zheng Shan and several assistants through the pre-race preparations.

Cloudstream Flying Shadow had already been led out of her stall and stood in the middle of the aisle. She looked full of energy today, her dark brown eyes bright and alert, her ears twitching nimbly as she occasionally surveyed her surroundings.

Her coat gleamed healthily beneath the lights—her reddish-brown hair was as smooth as silk, while her black mane and tail had been neatly groomed. The white "sock" on her right forehoof was especially eye-catching, like a battle boot she had deliberately put on.

Lin Zhi and Zheng Shan greeted Zhang Jun when they saw him, then continued checking Cloudstream Flying Shadow's condition.

Zhang Jun walked over to Cloudstream Flying Shadow and stroked her neck. She lowered her head on her own initiative and gently rubbed her muzzle against his palm.

"She seems to know she's racing today," Zhang Jun said with a smile.

"Racehorses are very intelligent animals." Lin Zhi nodded.

"Especially one like Cloudstream Flying Shadow, who's sensitive to changes in her environment. Ever since she was brought to the racetrack yesterday, she's been more excited than usual."

Cloudstream Flying Shadow snorted, as if responding.

Staff stood at the entrance to the racetrack stables, calling for the horses to come out.

Zhang Jun did not disturb them further. He patted Cloudstream Flying Shadow's neck. "Good luck. Prove yourself." Then he nodded to Lin Zhi and Zheng Shan before turning toward the owners' seats.

A few minutes later, Cloudstream Flying Shadow emerged from the passage as the announcer introduced her. Because she had performed poorly in her previous central races, and had only finished sixth in her first attempt at a turf race, Cloudstream Flying Shadow was not highly favored. Among the fifteen runners, she ranked ninth in popularity.

After circling the parade ring for several minutes, the jockeys appeared. Shan Yao bowed, then jogged toward Cloudstream Flying Shadow and mounted with Lin Zhi's help.

"After the race begins, don't rush to fight for position in the first eight hundred meters." Lin Zhi looked at Shan Yao.

"Cloudstream Flying Shadow isn't especially quick from the gate, but she accelerates well and is suited to a stalking, closing style. However, Jian'an's home straight is too short, which isn't favorable for late closers. So in this race, we'll stay at the rear of the forward group. Your job is to get her out of the gate steadily, then find a position in the front half of the pack, roughly between sixth and eighth."

"You know the characteristics of Jian'an Racetrack," Lin Zhi continued.

"The final turn is entirely uphill. Many horses burn through a great deal of stamina there. But Cloudstream Flying Shadow has enough endurance to run two thousand meters, with plenty left for an uphill acceleration."

"Once you enter the third turn, start gradually moving up. Make sure you're in the top five by the first half of the fourth turn, and find a lane to make your run."

Shan Yao nodded repeatedly. Lin Zhi had already said all this during the post-race meeting last night, but he was repeating it now because he was afraid Shan Yao might forget after riding several races in a row.

The field circled in front of the gates, then entered them one after another a few minutes later.

Zhang Jun sat in the front row of the owners' seats. Because of the racetrack's design and layout, this position faced the finish line directly and offered an excellent view. Lin Zhi sat to his left, while the owners and trainers of several other entrants sat to his right. They nodded greetings to one another, and the atmosphere was polite and restrained.

"Nervous?" Luo Yong, seated beside him, asked kindly when he saw Zhang Jun repeatedly pick up and put down his water bottle. Jian'an Club, affiliated with Jianzhou Ranch, also had a runner in this Graded Stakes race, and Luo Yong had come to watch as the club's legal representative.

"A little," Zhang Jun admitted honestly.

"Although I have faith in Cloudstream Flying Shadow, this is still her first Graded Stakes race, and my first Graded Stakes race too."

Luo Heng smiled. "That's perfectly normal. I've watched every Graded Stakes race run by the club's horses as the club's legal representative since my freshman year of university. It's been nine years now, and I'm still nervous before every race. But that's the charm of horse racing—until the moment they cross the line, no one knows the result."

He shared some experience with Zhang Jun, telling him to take deep breaths or write the character for "person" on his hand and swallow it.

As number fifteen in the outermost gate entered the stalls, the announcer's voice came over the broadcast. "Ladies and gentlemen, coming up is today's ninth race, a restricted event for fillies and mares aged three and up: the CN3 Jian'an Fillies' Championship."

"It's about to start." Lin Zhi handed Zhang Jun a pair of binoculars, while holding another pair himself. Once the race entered the straight opposite the stands, it was too far away to see clearly. Veteran fans, trainers, and owners all brought binoculars to watch the race.

"One thousand six hundred meters on turf, right-handed, going good. Now number fifteen, Jian'an Yellow Sand, in the outermost gate, is entering the stalls. The race... begins!"

The instant the gates sprang open, ten horses shot forward like arrows loosed from a bow.

"A clean break!" the announcer's voice rang through the entire venue. "No horse was slow from the gate—an excellent start!"

Zhang Jun's gaze locked tightly onto number seven, Cloudstream Flying Shadow.

Just as Lin Zhi had said, Cloudstream Flying Shadow was not among the quickest starters. After breaking from the gate, she sat in the middle of the pack, around seventh. Shan Yao did not rush to urge her forward for position, instead allowing her to maintain her own rhythm.

"Number one Dawnlight Dancer currently leads, with number eight Island Breeze half a length behind. Number four Canary is on the outside. The front of the field is fiercely contested!"

Because Jian'an Racetrack's turf course was only fourteen hundred meters long, the race started at the one-hundred-meter mark of the home straight. They would run down the home straight twice and pass the finish line twice.

The first two hundred and thirty meters of the race were straight, and the horses established their initial running order during this stage.

Under Shan Yao's control, Cloudstream Flying Shadow steadily followed in the rear half of the pack. Her stride was smooth and coordinated, and she appeared to be running with ease.

Zhang Jun relaxed slightly. The start had gone smoothly, and nothing unexpected had happened.