"Southern Township, number one, is currently leading the field, with Longxi Mad Shark, number four, half a length behind. Number six...
Jiahe Scenery, number seven, has now caught up with the mid-pack and is running at the rear of that group.
The favorite, number twelve Shadow Hunter, broke slowly and accordingly switched to a closing style, bringing up the rear half a length behind Jiahe Scenery.
From front to back, the entire field spans roughly seven to eight lengths."
"Good decision!" Lin Zhi exclaimed, pumping his fist.
Zhang Jun looked over in confusion, and Lin Zhi explained, "If a horse breaks slowly and wants to catch the field, it has to expend extra stamina accelerating early, then slow back down to cruise after catching up.
That acceleration and deceleration consume an enormous amount of stamina. Many horses that break slowly have no strength left for a final sprint by the end of the race.
But Shadow Hunter can use any running style, so Shan Yao directly switched to a closing style after the slow break. That lets Shadow Hunter conserve stamina early on, use that stamina to catch the field on the turns, and still save something for the finishing kick.
You could say she minimized the impact of the slow break."
Zhang Jun suddenly understood.
The field passed through the first turn. Because of the turn's wide arc, quite a few horses were flung toward the outside, making the whole field look like a broad loaf of bread.
"The first two hundred meters were covered in twelve-point-five seconds. That is an incredibly fast time on a heavy track. At this rate, will these horses still have enough stamina for the final straight?
Southern Township, number one, remains at the front of the field, followed by... and at the back is number twelve, Shadow Hunter."
Zhang Jun paid no attention to the commentator. Through his binoculars, his gaze remained fixed on Shadow Hunter.
Though it was currently at the rear of the field, Shadow Hunter did not seem anxious in the slightest. Its ears stood high, twitching lightly, and it looked utterly at ease.
With the dirt on the track softened by rainwater, the horses' hooves sank into the ground as they ran, requiring more force to pull free than on a good track.
[Japan uses sand tracks, where heavy going is actually faster; it is not the same kind of track as in this story.]
Therefore, heavy going was a burden for most racehorses. Their times would be much slower than usual, and they would visibly struggle while running, often beginning to pant heavily before even reaching halfway.
Yet Shadow Hunter's stride on the heavy track was exceptionally relaxed. Its limbs stretched freely, landing lightly before springing back up as though it were dancing in the rain.
"It likes heavy-track races." There was a trace of disbelief in Lin Zhi's voice.
"I previously tested Shadow Hunter's heavy-track adaptability by watering the track, but I never expected its aptitude for heavy going to be this good."
(￣ˇ￣)
The corner of his mouth suddenly curled to one side. "In that case, Shadow Hunter's victory is completely assured."
The field reached the second straight. After clearing the broad turn, Southern Township's jockey, Chen Wei, lowered his body close to Southern Township's back and began urging it on, gradually widening the gap from the stalking group behind.
Before the race, the trainer's words flashed through Chen Wei's mind.
"I specifically tested Southern Township's heavy-track suitability on rainy days. He can absolutely be called the god of heavy tracks in local racing, a racehorse specialized for heavy going.
Looking at today's conditions, it is certain to rain during the dirt race. When that happens, start making a big breakaway as soon as you enter the second straight and widen the distance from the field behind as much as possible.
They do not know Southern Township's aptitude for heavy going. They will definitely think he will burn out early and choose not to chase. Once they do that, victory will be in our grasp.
If they choose to chase, that is even better. On a heavy track, they will consume far more stamina than Southern Township. Increase the pace again and drain their stamina early."
After running half the straight, Chen Wei glanced back. Even Longxi Mad Shark, the horse closest to him, was three or four lengths away.
"Good! They are not chasing. Now, as long as I open up enough of a gap over the remaining two hundred meters of straight and the third and fourth turns, victory will be secured!"
Chen Wei could not stop the corners of his mouth from rising.
(￣ˇ￣)
"Eight hundred meters passed in exactly fifty-one seconds! What a fast time on a heavy track!"
The commentator cried out, "Southern Township has opened up a four-length lead! Is it going to make a big breakaway after entering the straight? Can Southern Township's stamina hold up?"
Shan Yao straightened up and looked ahead. The front-running and stalking groups were packed together, and she could not see the leader.
Shadow Hunter was currently thirteenth in the field, one length behind the stalking group.
Jiahe Scenery and number fifteen, Moon Appreciation, had adapted to the heavy track far worse than their trainers and jockeys had expected. They had gradually fallen behind on the turn and were now a length behind Shadow Hunter.
Shan Yao silently calculated the remaining stamina. "Shadow Hunter's aptitude for heavy going is better than expected. Running on a heavy track consumes about the same stamina as on a good track.
With Shadow Hunter's stamina, it has enough to cover eighteen hundred meters. In this sixteen-hundred-meter Two-Year-Old Championship, there is still some stamina available for extra expenditure.
And it is using a closing style this time, conserving even more stamina than before. Then let's accelerate from here!"
With that thought, Shan Yao pulled the reins, guided Shadow Hunter to the outside, leaned forward, tightened the reins in both hands, and gave Shadow Hunter a push along the neck.
Sensing the command, Shadow Hunter lowered its ears slightly and gradually increased its stride frequency.
"Shadow Hunter is beginning to move up!" The commentator's volume instantly rose, carrying a trace of disbelief.
"Is it going to decide the race here? The field has only just completed eight hundred meters! The leader, Southern Township, has only just entered the third turn!"
A wave of clamorous discussion erupted from the grandstands.
"Thirteenth! Twelfth! Eleventh! The horses in the stalking and front-running groups are all beginning to accelerate as well!"
The commentator's excitement steadily rose.
In the stands, the racing fans who had tossed their Shadow Hunter support tickets into the air hurriedly picked them up and began shouting.
Zhang Jun gripped his binoculars with both hands, his knuckles turning white.
"Southern Township enters the final straight! There are four hundred and twenty-eight meters remaining until victory! But the field behind is gradually closing in! They are only eight lengths behind Southern Township!"
"Can Southern Township hold on? Shadow Hunter has already moved up to seventh! Can it answer everyone's expectations?"
The commentator shouted himself hoarse. "Three hundred and fifty meters remaining! Shadow Hunter breaks free from the field! It is still six lengths behind Southern Township! Can Shadow Hunter catch it? The gap is closing rapidly!"
The raindrops overhead gradually disappeared. The dark clouds scattered, and sunlight slowly emerged through gaps in the clouds, shining down upon the earth.
"The final two hundred meters! Shadow Hunter! It has caught up! It has caught up! It tears through the curtain of rain above the racecourse! It tears through the shadow hanging over the racecourse! Shadow Hunter, charging into the sunlight, has passed Southern Township!"
Hearing the rapidly approaching hoofbeats, Chen Wei was shocked. "Damn it! A full nine lengths, and it caught up that fast!"
When he saw the blue-and-white silks in the corner of his eye, along with the black-and-yellow wave pattern on the rider's sleeves, Chen Wei felt relieved.
"So it is Shadow Hunter? Then the three great jockeys of Min Province local racing really have all been unhorsed by one little girl."
"No struggle at all! Shadow Hunter passes directly! This is it! The warrior chasing the shadows! Catching up to the gloom of a slow break! Tearing open the gloomy curtain of rain! Catching up to the brilliant sunlight! Shadow Hunter! Across the line!"