Zhang Jun

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhang Jun (张骏)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Occupation/Role	Racehorse owner, aspiring breeder and ranch founder; Equine Science student with a management minor 3 6
First Appearance	Chapter 1: “Wills and a Golden Finger”

Background

Zhang Jun was raised by his single father, Zhang An. When Zhang An died of cancer shortly after Zhang Jun completed his college entrance examinations, Zhang Jun fell into severe grief and briefly considered suicide. His father’s final request—that he live well so Zhang An would not be forgotten—became the reason he chose to continue living. 1

Zhang An had converted his businesses into shares before his death, leaving Zhang Jun an inheritance worth twenty million yuan and annual dividends of roughly 1.5 million yuan. He also arranged for Zhang Jun to choose one horse from Luo Fei’s Jianzhou Ranch, hoping a perceptive foal would help his son recover from loneliness. 1

While inspecting horses at Jianzhou Ranch, Zhang Jun awakened the Horse Racing Tycoon System. He interpreted its appearance as a chance to begin again, chose to enter the racing industry, and set the long-term goal of building his own breeding ranch. 1 2

Abilities & Skills

Horse Racing Tycoon System

Zhang Jun alone can view a translucent attribute panel for horses he observes. Initially, the system reveals one to three racing attributes and one breeding attribute; additional information can be unlocked with points. 1 2 23

• Displays racing attributes including speed, power, stamina, burst, competitive grit, mentality, intelligence, flexibility, health, track aptitude, running style, distance, and growth type. 2
• Displays breeding information such as offspring-production ability and hereditary traits. 1 2
• Awards points from prize money earned by his own horses or horses racing under his ranch or club; horses he breeds and sells generate points at a lower conversion rate. 2
• Lets him unlock hidden attributes when evaluating horses, allowing him to identify poor race placement, unsuitable surfaces, inherited weaknesses, and breeding potential. 13 14 23
• Must be kept secret. Zhang Jun disguises the system-generated premium feed as a product supplied by an anonymous racing enthusiast. 48

Premium Feed Generator

Zhang Jun’s first system-store exchange was a permanent Premium Feed Generator, purchased for 1,000 points through the first-exchange discount. It produces concentrate feed, forage, and hay for horses he owns at designated delivery sites. 48

• The feed is laboratory-tested as substantially more nutritious than ordinary commercial feed. 48
• Horses fed the generator’s output develop glossier coats, greater energy, better recovery, and improved training condition. 48
• Zhang Jun arranged for the feed to be used at Jianzhou Ranch and the Jian’an training center after Luo Fei, Lin Zhi, and Zheng Xing approved it. 48

Racing and Breeding Evaluation

Zhang Jun combines the system’s information with firsthand observation, pedigree research, training reports, and stable inspections.

• Selected Shadow Hunter because of his D-rank speed, all-surface aptitude, flexible running style, and offspring-production rating of seven. 2
• Identified Cloudstream Flying Shadow as an undervalued turf specialist whose former dirt and sprint placements had concealed her ability. 14 15
• Rejected broodmares with dangerous inherited traits, including one whose Frailty trait could produce injury-prone offspring. 23
• Correctly redirected Flying Cloud Colt, River Moon, Mountain Patrol Leopard, and Forest Hero toward distances and tactics suited to their respective strengths. 26

Management and Horse Welfare

Zhang Jun personally evaluates stables, feed, ventilation, staff, safety procedures, and post-race recovery rather than choosing trainers solely by reputation. 5 25 30

• Chose Lin Zhi’s stable for Shadow Hunter after inspecting its ventilation, bedding, feed, cooling arrangements, and horse care. 5
• Prioritizes safety over victories, instructing jockeys not to force his horses and accepting lost ground when it prevents collisions or overexertion. 10 30 34
• Gives horses extended turnout, veterinary checks, rest periods, treats, and individual attention. 30 40 44
• Studies Equine Science, genetics, bloodlines, and ranch management to support his breeding ambitions with formal knowledge. 4 6 32

Racing Operation

Racing and Breeding Stock

Horse	Role in Zhang Jun’s operation	Notes
Shadow Hunter	First registered racehorse; future foundation stallion	Originally Jianzhou Flying Shadow; selected from Jianzhou Ranch and registered under Zhang Jun’s ownership. 2 3 13
Cloudstream Flying Shadow	Stakes-winning turf mare; future foundation broodmare	Purchased for 160,000 yuan after Zhang Jun recognized that her prior dirt campaign had misused her potential. 14 15
Flying Cloud Colt	Racing colt and prospective second breeding stallion	A D-speed, middle-to-long-distance dirt prospect whose earlier sprint placements had prevented him from winning. 23 26
River Moon	Active racehorse	Retrained as a front-runner after being mishandled under prior tactics. 23 26
Mountain Patrol Leopard	Active turf racehorse	Redirected toward turf mile and middle-distance races. 26
Forest Hero	Active dirt sprinter	Returned to dirt sprinting after poor results in distances that were too long. 26
Wind-Chasing Hound	Young filly and future broodmare	Highly timid; her training and debut timetable are deliberately slowed to accommodate her temperament. 13 44
Lightning Chaser	Young filly and future broodmare	More sociable than Wind-Chasing Hound and nearing entry into the training center. 13 44
Quiet Night Thoughts, River Snow, Drunken Flower Shade, Shangcheng Heroine, Gentle Breeze Arrives, Stormcloud Lightning	Broodmare group	Zhang Jun’s breeding program emphasizes foaling reliability, inherited traits, health, and compatibility with future stallions. 25 32 41 44

Trainers and Stabling

• Lin Zhi’s stable — Handles Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow; Zhang Jun selected it after a personal inspection. 5 15
• Zheng Xing’s stable — Handles Flying Cloud Colt, River Moon, Mountain Patrol Leopard, and Forest Hero after Zhang Jun approved its clean, well-managed facilities. 24 25 26
• Jianzhou Ranch — Boards Zhang Jun’s broodmares, young horses, and resting racehorses while he prepares to purchase his own ranch. 2 24 32

Racing Record as Owner

Horse	Result	Significance
Shadow Hunter	Won his 1,400-meter Jian’an maiden race by one length. 11	Zhang Jun’s first victory as an owner.
Cloudstream Flying Shadow	Won the CN3 Jian’an Fillies’ Championship. 18	Zhang Jun’s first major-race victory as an owner.
Shadow Hunter	Won the CN3 Banyan Tree Stakes after accelerating from eighth place to a decisive lead. 28 29	Confirmed his ability beyond maiden level.
River Moon	Won a 1,600-meter Class C Middle Division race. 28	Validated Zheng Xing’s front-running plan.
Mountain Patrol Leopard	Won a 1,500-meter turf Class C Lower Division race. 28	Validated his switch to stalking tactics over suitable turf distances.
Cloudstream Flying Shadow	Won the CN1 Eight Min Mile Turf Grand Prix from a late outside run. 34 35	Earned Lin Zhi his first Grade One victory and established Zhang Jun as a major local owner. 36
Shadow Hunter	Won the Eight Min Two-Year-Old Championship and earned 3.2 million yuan in prize money. 48	Supplied a major share of the points Zhang Jun later invested in premium feed.

Personality

Zhang Jun is quiet, analytical, and initially emotionally fragile after his father’s death. He transforms his grief into a determination to preserve Zhang An’s memory through meaningful work, racing success, and plans to continue his father’s fruit-wine tradition. 1 18

He is ambitious but not reckless. Zhang Jun seeks elite horses, studies Hall of Fame standards, and vows to breed an S-speed Rainbow Hall of Fame champion, yet repeatedly treats health, rest, and safe riding as more important than immediate prize money. 20 30 34 47

His affection for horses is practical as well as emotional: he learns their individual preferences, makes homemade treats, visits them during rest periods, and gives fearful horses time to trust him instead of forcing contact. 13 32 40 44

Relationships

• Zhang An — Father. His death, recorded will, inheritance arrangements, and request that Zhang Jun live well shape Zhang Jun’s decision to enter horse racing. 1
• Luo Fei — Zhang An’s childhood friend and Zhang Jun’s principal mentor in racing, ranch management, business, and breeding. 1 4 20
• Liu Yong — Zhang An’s friend and lawyer; helped arrange the funeral and transfer Zhang An’s estate to Zhang Jun. 1
• Luo Yong — Mentor and older-brother figure who teaches Zhang Jun auction strategy, ownership economics, and racing administration. 3 6 7
• Luo Heng — Close friend and breeding collaborator. He helps Zhang Jun inspect horses and racetracks, boards broodmares with him, and studies Equine Science with a breeding focus. 2 4 6 24
• Lin Zhi — Trainer of Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow; a trusted professional partner whose tactical work earns major victories. 5 15 36 47
• Shan Yao — Jockey trusted with Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow. Zhang Jun’s safety-first support helps strengthen her confidence and career opportunities. 10 15 35
• Zheng Xing — Trainer of Zhang Jun’s four newer racing colts. Their arrival gives his struggling stable a chance to establish itself. 24 26
• Shadow Hunter — Zhang Jun’s first racehorse and closest equine companion; affectionate, treat-motivated, and strongly attached to him. 2 40 44
• Cloudstream Flying Shadow — A mare Zhang Jun rescued from poor race placement; her victories validate his judgment and deepen his partnership with Lin Zhi and Shan Yao. 14 18 35

Story Role

• Recovery and awakening: After Zhang An’s death, Zhang Jun inherits shares and the right to choose a horse at Jianzhou Ranch, where he awakens the Horse Racing Tycoon System. 1
• Entry into racing: He selects and registers Jianzhou Flying Shadow as Shadow Hunter, becomes an official owner, and hires Lin Zhi after independently inspecting local training stables. 2 3 5
• Early breeding foundation: He attends auctions, acquires young fillies and broodmares, and begins building a breeding operation centered on Shadow Hunter and carefully selected mares. 7 13 23 24
• Recognition through racing: Shadow Hunter’s maiden victory and Cloudstream Flying Shadow’s CN3 win establish Zhang Jun as an owner whose overlooked horses can succeed under proper management. 11 18
• Expansion: Zhang Jun purchases eight horses, recruits stablehands, partners with Zheng Xing, and assigns individual racing plans to his growing stable. 24 25 26
• Grade One breakthrough: Cloudstream Flying Shadow wins the CN1 Eight Min Mile Turf Grand Prix, earning Zhang Jun and Lin Zhi their first Grade One success. 35 36
• Public and commercial growth: He licenses his horses for games and merchandise, then launches “The Ponies’ Daily Life” social-media accounts to share their personalities with fans. 37 38
• Long-term ambition: After obtaining premium feed through the system, Zhang Jun prepares Shadow Hunter’s Classic campaign and approves Cloudstream Flying Shadow’s move toward Central racing. 47 48

Notable Quotes

“One victory is not worth a lifetime.” — Zhang Jun’s explanation for easing Shadow Hunter once victory was secure. 30

“Safety first.” — Zhang Jun’s consistent instruction when approving race plans for Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow. 10 34 47

Trivia

• Zhang Jun designed his racing silks around his father’s favorite color, blue: a blue body with a white galloping horse, gold trim, and black sleeves with yellow waves. 3
• He does not use a racing prefix because he hopes every horse he owns will leave descendants capable of surpassing their parents. 3
• His homemade horse treats are a recurring way he bonds with his horses; Shadow Hunter habitually searches his pockets for them. 10 28 40
• Zhang Jun wants to brew and sell fruit wine using Zhang An’s recipe under a company named after his father. 18