Pre-Race Meeting

Jian'an was still bitterly cold in March.

The three members of Cloudstream Flying Shadow's team sat around the large round table in the hotel's private dining room.

Lin Zhi opened the materials before him and began explaining.

"The Jiahe Stakes is a central G3, run over 1,800 meters on turf, right-handed, with a total purse of 3.6 million yuan.

"It will be held on the Saturday of the fourth week of March at Eight Min Central Racecourse."

He paused before continuing.

"Eight Min Central Racecourse is located on the outskirts of Mindu City. It is one of Huaxia's thirty-one central racecourses and hosts three G1 races every year.

"The track is a regular oval, two thousand meters per lap. The turf course is twenty-five meters wide, and the final straight is five hundred and five meters long—seventy meters longer than the straight at Mindu Local Racecourse."

"That benefits Cloudstream Flying Shadow," Shan Yao could not help interrupting. "Cloudstream Flying Shadow's finishing kick is her greatest weapon. The longer the straight, the better."

Lin Zhi nodded. "That's right. But the issue isn't the course. It's the opponents."

He turned a page and pointed at the list on the document. "Based on the information currently released, at least sixteen horses will enter the Jiahe Stakes. Reaching the maximum field of eighteen is only a matter of time.

"Cloudstream Flying Shadow's biggest opponents in this race are these two."

Zhang Jun followed his finger.

The first was River City Song, a five-year-old colt. In sixteen central starts, he had won seven times, including two G3 victories. In his previous race, another Grade Three event over the same distance, he had finished third as the sixth favorite. In Lin Zhi's estimation, he was the second favorite for this race.

River City Song excelled at front-running tactics. His rider was Wu Feng, Huaxia's number-one jockey and the absolute pinnacle of Huaxia's front-running style.

The second was Jiangnan Spring Colors, a five-year-old mare. She had four wins from eighteen central starts, including one G3 victory, and had won a G3 over the same distance last year.

However, Jiangnan Spring Colors' previous race had been a Grade One event—the year-end Eight Min Grand Stakes—where she had finished third as the fifteenth favorite. That made her the favorite for this race.

She excelled at stalking, and her jockey was Zhou Lin, one of Huaxia's four great female jockeys.

Zhang Jun pondered silently. *River City Song has two G3 wins, but every time he's entered a Grade One, he's finished outside the top ten. His speed is probably only around D-rank. Nothing to fear.

But Jiangnan Spring Colors... third as the fifteenth favorite. She might have simply lucked into it, and it wasn't part of the Founding Celebration Series, so her speed may only be D+. But there's no ruling out C-rank...

At that thought, Zhang Jun spoke. "Based on their records, Jiangnan Spring Colors should be Cloudstream Flying Shadow's biggest opponent in this race, right?"

"Correct."

Lin Zhi looked grave. "While we can't rule out the possibility that Jiangnan Spring Colors simply had an exceptional run, it's more likely that she's a late-maturing horse.

"Look—although she only won one Grade Three race last year, she placed in all five of her remaining races. Her strength cannot be underestimated."

After analyzing the key opponents they needed to watch, Lin Zhi began explaining the planned race tactics to Shan Yao.

"For this race, our strategy is to stalk." Lin Zhi pointed at the track diagram and took out a pencil to sketch on it.

"In an 1,800-meter race, you'll only pass through three turns. The field will start from the chute between the first and second turns. After running seventy-five meters along the chute, they'll enter the two-hundred-and-twenty-meter second turn directly.

"After the turn comes a five-hundred-and-sixty-meter backstretch, followed by the combined third and fourth turns, which total four hundred and forty meters. Then you'll enter the five-hundred-and-five-meter final straight for the final sprint."

Lin Zhi turned to Shan Yao. "Compared with the other horses in this race, Cloudstream Flying Shadow's gate speed isn't particularly fast.

"So don't rush to fight for position after the start. Follow Cloudstream Flying Shadow's rhythm. As long as you can keep her in the stalking group, that will be enough."

Shan Yao nodded to show she understood.

"For the first eight hundred meters, all you need to do is stay with the field.

"You have no experience in central races. During the race, some jockeys may exploit your lack of experience and disrupt you.

"So the most important thing in this race is to stay steady. Don't let the other jockeys throw off your rhythm. As long as Cloudstream Flying Shadow can stay with the pack and find an opportunity to unleash her finishing kick, there will be absolutely no problem in this race."

Lin Zhi looked at Shan Yao sternly, and she swore solemnly that she would do so.

Lin Zhi continued explaining the tactics. "Once you enter the third turn, you can begin gradually moving forward and closing in on the front-running group.

"Don't rush the process. Just edge forward bit by bit. The other stalking horses will also begin making their moves there, so pay close attention to the movements of the jockeys around you.

"The goal for this stage is to be between eighth and twelfth when entering the final straight."

"Remember, the third and fourth turns are the key." Lin Zhi's tone became solemn.

"Together, those two turns are four hundred and forty meters long. They are the best opportunity to find a way out of the pack. You need to keep an eye on these two."

He pointed at the pictures in the documents. "Because River City Song excels at sustained acceleration, Wu Feng usually begins accelerating at the junction of the third and fourth turns when riding him. After entering the straight, he overtakes the leader directly and opens a certain gap on the horses behind.

"As for Jiangnan Spring Colors and Zhou Lin, they usually begin accelerating and moving out of the pack midway through the fourth turn, then unleash their finishing kick at the three-hundred-meter mark."

He fixed Shan Yao with a stare, his tone growing heavier.

"What you need to do is watch those two horses, especially Jiangnan Spring Colors, whose running style is the same as Cloudstream Flying Shadow's.

"No matter which of them moves first, you must follow. Take the opportunity to look for a clear path out of the pack, but don't make your move too early.

"In an 1,800-meter race, Cloudstream Flying Shadow's finishing kick can last four hundred meters. Moving too early would only waste her stamina."

Shan Yao took a deep breath and nodded firmly. "I understand."

Lin Zhi clenched his fist, his eyes blazing. "Once you enter the final straight, it will be Cloudstream Flying Shadow's stage.

"A five-hundred-and-five-meter straight is more than enough for her to display her finishing kick. All you need to do is find the clearest path, and then—give it everything you have."

Shan Yao clenched her fists, her face solemn. "Yes!"

Zhang Jun listened quietly from the side. Once Lin Zhi had finished laying out the tactics, Zhang Jun stressed the principle that safety came first, requiring Shan Yao to withdraw from the race immediately if she noticed anything wrong.

Shan Yao said solemnly, "Don't worry, Mr. Zhang. I definitely will."

After the meeting ended, Zhang Jun, Lin Zhi, and Shan Yao had dinner together, then decided to visit Cloudstream Flying Shadow and Shadow Hunter at the stables.

Cloudstream Flying Shadow had already completed her afternoon training and returned early to her stall to rest.

The moment she saw Zhang Jun come in, she stood up and walked to the wooden gate of her stall. She poked her head out and rubbed Zhang Jun's hand with her damp pink nose (╹▽╹).

Zhang Jun smiled and stroked the white blaze on her forehead, then took out the grape-flavored horse treats he had specially prepared from his coat pocket. "I know you like these. I brought them especially for you."

Cloudstream Flying Shadow's eyes lit up (✧ω✧). She wolfed down the treats in just a few bites, then nudged her head into Zhang Jun's chest again, whinnying softly as though acting spoiled.

As he stroked Cloudstream Flying Shadow's neck, Zhang Jun could not help sighing. "After switching to the new feed, Cloudstream Flying Shadow's condition has improved quite a bit. Even her coat is much glossier than before."

Lin Zhi laughed. "Isn't that the truth? It's not just Cloudstream Flying Shadow—Shadow Hunter is in much better condition now too. I wonder what genius developed this feed."

Zhang Jun merely smiled and said nothing.

After playing with Cloudstream Flying Shadow for a while, Zhang Jun went to visit Shadow Hunter as well.

Shadow Hunter was in excellent condition too. Every day, aside from training, he ate and slept, then slept and ate.

After leaving the stables, Zhang Jun got on his little electric scooter. On the way home, he thought about the upcoming race.

A central G3—Cloudstream Flying Shadow's first central Graded Stakes race, and his own central debut.

He did not know whether they could win, but he knew that no matter the result, Cloudstream Flying Shadow had already proven herself.

From a forlorn little horse sold off after eight consecutive central defeats, to a local Grade One champion, and now back to challenge the central circuit—she had already come a very, very long way.