Breeze Red Dog 2021

Time flew by, and July 19 arrived. Zhang Jun and Luo Yong went together to the outskirts of Mindu, where the third batch of Eight Min's July yearling auction would be held, along with auctions for Min Province broodmares and foals of the year.

They had received the auction catalog as early as July 15. A total of 253 horses would be offered this time, around eighty of them consigned by ranches from provinces neighboring Min Province.

Because Min Province had relatively little flat land, it also had fewer ranches and broodmares. Nearly half of Min Province's racehorses came from other provinces, while nearly half of its retired racehorses were bought by ranches in other provinces for breeding.

Luo Yong led Zhang Jun into the stables where the auction horses were housed, imparting his experience as they walked.

"A long time ago, when Huaxia horse racing was just beginning to develop, owners and breeders were very closely connected. Trainers and jockeys served as bridges between them, introducing customers to breeders and excellent horses to owners. As a result, many outstanding horses would be taken by owners with good relationships with the breeders, leaving ordinary new owners with no chance to pick up a bargain."

"But after the auction system was introduced, high auction prices shattered that tacit understanding. Breeders and owners no longer needed to deal directly with each other. Even new owners could buy racehorses with excellent bloodlines and conformation at auctions."

"Still, different owners viewed the same horse differently. Some thought a horse was outstanding and worth paying a hefty price for, while others felt it was not worth spending too much on."

"But those opinions could change based on the attitudes of the people around them. So if you have your eye on a horse, it's best not to reveal your target before the auction starts. It could easily cause unnecessary trouble."

Zhang Jun nodded silently. As he followed Luo Yong, he used the system's attribute panel to inspect the 253 horses offered at this auction.

Zhang Jun focused on the fillies. Shadow Hunter had exceptional breeding attributes and was more than capable of becoming the flagship stallion of a ranch. What Zhang Jun needed to do was prepare brides for Shadow Hunter—or, more accurately, mares with excellent breeding attributes—in preparation for opening the ranch and breeding foals later on.

Seeing Zhang Jun silently studying the horses in the stalls, Luo Yong smiled. "Most of the time, all you can see of auction horses in their stalls is their stillness. You can't see their gait or the way they move."

"So most buyers first select a number of targets based on their finances and the horses' bloodlines, then adjust their choices according to the horses' gaits during the auction."

"At the same time, most buyers at an auction immediately rule out horse number one and the final horse of the sale. Do you know why?"

Zhang Jun shook his head, and Luo Yong continued, "The first horse, number one, and the final horse, which closes the sale, have the best bloodlines and conformation in the entire auction. Even if they don't become the sale topper, their prices won't be much lower. That's why many owners simply give up competing for those two horses and use their funds on other foals instead."

Luo Yong patted Zhang Jun on the shoulder and walked toward a man of about his age near the entrance, who was waving at Luo Heng. "An acquaintance is looking for me. Look around on your own first. All the horses in this auction are in these stables. If there's anything you don't understand, come ask me—especially about bloodlines."

"Still, don't expect too much. This is only an ordinary auction. A horse that can make it to local open races is already considered pretty good."

Zhang Jun thanked him and inspected the horses one by one, focusing on the fillies' foaling attributes and hereditary traits, followed by their speed. Whether colt or filly, even a horse with poor breeding attributes could still earn prize money in races if it had high speed, helping accumulate funds for opening the ranch.

Unfortunately, after looking through more than a dozen horses in a row, none stood out, whether in breeding or racing attributes. After all, this was merely an ordinary Min Province auction, not a carefully selected elite horse sale.

Horse Name: Margaret 2021

Sex/Age: Filly, 1

Coat Color: Chestnut

Racing Attributes:

Speed: F

Burst: D

Breeding Attributes:

Foaling: 3

Horse Name: Longxi Princess 2021

Sex/Age: Colt, 1

Coat Color: Blue-gray

Racing Attributes:

Speed: G+

Strength: C+

Health: B

Growth Type: Early-maturing.

Breeding Attributes:

Foaling: 4

Horse Name: Qingyuan Narcissus 2021

Sex/Age: Filly, 1

Coat Color: Bay

Racing Attributes:

Stamina: E

Burst: C+

Health: D

Breeding Attributes:

Hereditary Trait: Competitive Grit (Iron Pony).

After examining more than two hundred foals, Zhang Jun had not found a single one that satisfied him, and he could not help frowning.

Among the horses he had seen, the highest racing attribute was B+, but it was in Health, which merely ensured that a horse could endure a demanding campaign without injuring itself.

The highest Speed attribute was only E. Most of the foals had Speed ratings of G or G+, meaning that even at local tracks with less competitive pressure, they could only struggle in class races.

As for breeding attributes, there was even less to say. Most were only three or four points, and several fillies even had zero. Not a single filly had reached six points.

With no other choice, Zhang Jun marked several fillies with breeding attributes of five on the auction catalog. A Foaling rating of five was not enough to make them flagship broodmares, but it was more than sufficient for them to serve as core mares. Many of Jianzhou Ranch's broodmares only had Foaling attributes of four.

"Nothing very satisfying, huh..." Zhang Jun sighed and marked a colt he had just observed with an E Speed rating. Though its attributes were not especially high, Zhang Jun judged it to be an exceptionally fine foal for this auction. Winning several local open races should not be a problem.

Zhang Jun looked at the twenty-odd foals remaining ahead. "Only twenty or so left. I might as well finish looking."

Zhang Jun turned his gaze to a chestnut filly beside him, and the system's attribute panel appeared before his eyes:

Horse Name: Breezy Red Hound 2021

Sex/Age: Filly, 1

Coat Color: Chestnut

Racing Attributes:

Competitive Grit: B

Distance: 1200–1800 meters

Breeding Attributes:

Foaling: 6.

Zhang Jun's spirits lifted. This was the first horse among the auction's more than two hundred offerings that he had seen with a Foaling attribute of six. Its Competitive Grit was also high enough that, as long as its Speed was not too low, winning several local races should not be a problem.

He tried hard to suppress the upward curl of his lips, quickly marking the catalog with a five-pointed star.

"The ranch's first core broodmare is secured. Let's look at the other horses. Even if none of them are remarkable, as long as I can get this filly at the auction, the trip will have been worth it."

Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Jun checked the attributes of the remaining horses. Only one colt with Speed reaching E+ caught his eye; if it had a longer growth period, it might possibly reach D like Shadow Hunter. Unfortunately, that colt only had a Foaling attribute of 2, and it was also the final horse of the auction. Its price would most likely exceed Zhang Jun's mental limit.