Stud Stallion Choices for Next Year

After the race, there were the customary photos and interviews.

After taking photos with the heavy winner's trophy in his hands and Cloudstream Flying Shadow draped in the victory sash, Zhang Jun used a few stock phrases to get through the interviews and finally had some free time.

In the stable, Zhang Jun took out apple-flavored horse treats and fed them to Cloudstream Flying Shadow one by one.

"Thanks for your hard work today, champion girl."

Cloudstream Flying Shadow snorted and rubbed her head against him. Zhang Jun stroked her neck.

Lin Zhi walked in from outside the stable, his eyes red and his face still filled with excitement.

He gave Zhang Jun a deeply solemn bow.

"Thank you so much, Owner Zhang! I've been in this profession for more than twenty years. I've won plenty of Grade Two and Grade Three races, and I've even won two central Grade Two races."

"But I had never won a Grade One Race, whether a local CN1 or a central G1. My best result had only ever been third place. In Min Province, people even said that Lin Zhi could never win a Grade One Race."

He choked up twice. "From the day I entered the stablehand academy, I set myself the goal of winning a Grade One Race. Today, I finally achieved it. It's all thanks to you. Thank you for sending Cloudstream Flying Shadow to my stable."

He bowed again, and Zhang Jun hurriedly helped him up. "Not at all. We were able to win this race because you're an excellent trainer who considered every possible situation in advance."

Shan Yao also walked in and thanked Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun likewise helped her up and affirmed her abilities.

That night, Zhang Jun held a celebration banquet at a hotel in Mindu. Lin Zhi, Shan Yao, Zheng Shan, and the Luo father and son all attended, and both hosts and guests enjoyed themselves.

Two weeks had passed since the race. After staying at school for a few days of in-person classes, Zhang Jun and Luo Heng were summoned to the ranch by Luo Fei.

Zhang Jun and Luo Heng entered the meeting room together. Luo Fei sat at the head of the table, which was covered with all kinds of documents.

He looked seriously at the two of them. "You've been owners and breeders for half a year now. You should both know what December means in Huaxia."

Zhang Jun and Luo Heng exchanged a glance and replied, "In December, the major ranches and stud farms announce their breeding fees and quotas for the following year. Owners and breeders all need to prepare their breeding plans for the coming year."

"Correct." Luo Fei handed them two thick documents.

"You may have looked up some information on various websites, but none of it will be as comprehensive as these documents.

First, go through this list and pedigree chart of stallions in Min Province and several nearby provinces. Then, based on the pedigrees of the broodmares you have, choose the stallions you want to match them with.

Afterward, tell me your selections, and I'll help you evaluate them. You can take these home and look through them. Tell me your decisions next Sunday, four days from now."

Zhang Jun gratefully accepted the documents Luo Fei handed over, opened them, and began reading, committing this favor to heart.

The documents contained lists, pedigree charts, next year's breeding fees, and conditions for a total of 463 stallions from Min Province and the neighboring Yue Province, Zhejiang Province, Gang Province, Anhui Province, and Jiangsu Province.

The thick stack of documents made Zhang Jun's scalp tingle and left him drowsy. It took him three and a half days to finish reading them.

Afterward, based on the pedigrees of his five broodmares, Zhang Jun selected more than forty stallions from among the 463. They covered all kinds of prices and conditions.

Some required the breeding fee to be paid upon conception, some upon the foal's birth, and some required payment in advance.

The cheapest stallion cost only 5,000 yuan, while the most expensive cost 250,000. There were pricier ones, of course, but Zhang Jun still needed to save money to buy a ranch and could not afford such high fees.

That Sunday, Zhang Jun and Luo Heng sat in the meeting room while Luo Fei poured each of them a cup of tea.

"Go on, then. After spending four days looking through the pedigrees, which stallions did you choose?"

Luo Heng cleared his throat and spoke first. "After studying the stallions' pedigrees, I selected eighty-one stallions based on the pedigrees of my mares. Among them, Jian'an Flying Swallow could be matched with..."

Luo Fei listened quietly, nodding from time to time in approval. Zhang Jun also recorded Luo Heng's thoughts in his notebook for future reference.

Seeing Luo Fei nod in agreement with his views, Luo Heng grew more and more animated. He spoke for a full two hours before stopping.

Only after Luo Heng finished did Luo Fei speak. "Quite a few of your choices are correct. It's clear that you've been studying seriously during this time."

He first affirmed some of Luo Heng's views before offering his own opinions and suggested revisions. "But there are still some issues. For example, Jian'an Flying Swallow and..."

Zhang Jun wrote down Luo Fei's views and did not speak until all of Luo Heng's issues had been addressed.

"Uncle Luo, for Gentle Breeze Arrives, I selected ten stallions. First is our ranch's stallion, Jianzhou Senior General. Its fourth-generation sire and Gentle Breeze Arrives's fifth-generation damsire are both Gale Warrior, which can form a 4*5 pedigree cross. There's also Gentle Breeze Arrives's fourth-generation sire and Jianzhou Senior General's..."

Zhang Jun explained his breeding principles one by one. They could mainly be divided into three areas: pedigree matching, aptitude matching, and compensating for strengths and weaknesses.

Pedigree matching involved selecting stallions and mares with shared ancestors in their pedigree charts to reinforce the corresponding bloodline.

Aptitude matching involved selecting stallions and mares with the same track preference, distance preference, and running style to strengthen those traits in their offspring.

Compensating for strengths and weaknesses meant using a stallion's advantages to make up for a mare's flaws. For example, if one wanted a short-distance mare's offspring to run miles or middle distances, one would choose a long-distance stallion for breeding.

Naturally, these three breeding theories could also be used together. For example, one could select a stallion with matching pedigree, track preference, and distance preference, or choose a stallion with the same track preference and running style but a different distance preference.

Luo Fei nodded in satisfaction. After praising him, he also offered revisions. "First, the breeding theory for Gentle Breeze Arrives and Jianzhou Senior General..."

Zhang Jun took notes as he listened and occasionally raised questions, all of which Luo Fei answered one by one.

In the end, Zhang Jun carefully selected twelve stallions from the more than forty as next year's breeding options for his five mares. Five stallions were his first choices, while the remaining seven were backups.

Gentle Breeze Arrives would be matched with Standing Like a Mountain [progeny 6], a stallion from Eight Min Stud Farm famous for its iron legs. The breeding fee was 150,000 yuan, payable upon conception.

They could form a double pedigree and aptitude match of Gale Warrior 5*5 plus Mountainbreaker 4*5.

Drunken Flower Shade would be bred with West River Moon from Jianzhou Ranch. The original breeding fee was 400,000 yuan, reduced to 200,000 yuan after the discount, likewise payable upon conception.

The pedigree match would be Dreamlike Ballad 4*4. At the same time, West River Moon's mile-sprint aptitude could shorten Drunken Flower Shade's distance aptitude, producing a versatile racehorse suited for Min Province's mile-sprint races.

River Snow would be bred with Zhehai Flying Dragon [progeny 6], a stallion from northern Zhejiang Province. While forming a Fishing Alone in the Cold River 4*5 pedigree match, Zhehai Flying Dragon's explosive style could make up for River Snow's lack of a closing kick.

The breeding fee was 120,000 yuan, half payable upon conception and half upon birth.

Quiet Night Thoughts would be bred with White-Haired Swordsman [progeny 7], forming an Azure Lotus Sword Immortal 5*6 plus Night Divine Dragon 4*5 pedigree match while strengthening the offspring's instant acceleration.

The breeding fee was 150,000 yuan, payable upon conception.

Shangcheng Heroine had no inheritable traits, so Zhang Jun chose Mindu Gentleman [turf (silver foal), instant acceleration (bronze foal)], a stallion from Mindu Ranch, for her.

Their race distances and running styles were completely identical. Zhang Jun wanted to gamble on turf aptitude and instant acceleration.

The breeding fee was 180,000 yuan, payable upon conception.

The breeding fees alone came to 850,000 yuan. Fortunately, he had already won three Graded Stakes races and five class races this year and still had 3.6 million yuan on hand. Otherwise, once the breeding fees were paid, next year's dividends would be gone.