Zhang Jun

Biodata

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

After becoming a successful local owner, Zhang Jun accelerated his studies to graduate from both his Equine Science program and Ranch Management second degree during his sophomore year. His oral examination demonstrated practical knowledge of asset management, pedigree databases, ranch design, nutrition, and individualized feed formulas. 93

Zhang Jun subsequently began acquiring property for his independent operation. He accepted Ranch Manager Wang’s offer to purchase a well-maintained ranch and preserve its four remaining maternal bloodlines, recognized the strategic value of adjoining land, and later opened Chasing Ranch after its renovation. 94 125

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, breeding potential, and unrealized attribute caps. 13 14 23 132
• Can display a horse’s exclusive talent skills and inherited skills when they activate. Exclusive skills are rare innate abilities, while inherited skills may pass from skilled horses to their descendants at reduced strength. 113
• Revealed Shadow Hunter’s exclusive skill, “Shadow Hunter,” which gives him a decisive surge of speed and acceleration after he is overtaken. 113
• Must be kept secret. Zhang Jun disguises the system-generated premium feed as a product supplied by an anonymous racing enthusiast. 48

Power Progression

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 automatically generates an appropriate quantity of premium feed for horses he owns every half month and arranges delivery to designated 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
• The feed improves health, endurance, and immunity while reducing the likelihood of injury and illness; Zhang Jun’s continuing nutritional analysis also supports tailored formulas for individual horses. 48 93

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
• Correctly judged that West River Moon had reached her late-maturing peak and would defeat the early-maturing Bright Moonlight in the Founding Celebration Turf Mile Championship. 21 22
• Identified the health risks in Minxi Red Raccoon 2022’s pedigree, independently confirming Li Ying’s assessment through the system. 72
• Publicly attributes his success to pedigree analysis, race-film study, proper placement, and patience rather than luck alone, while concealing the system’s role. 64

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, later graduating early from both programs. 4 6 32 93
• Treats emotional distress as a welfare concern, supporting race plans suited to individual temperaments, including Wind-Chasing Hound’s preferred front-running style. 97
• Plans retirement arrangements for horses that cannot enter breeding, including riding-club work, orchard transport, or permanent care under his own management. 103 104 109

Racing Operation

Racing and Breeding Stock

Trainers and Stabling

• Lin Zhi’s stable — Handles Shadow Hunter, Cloudstream Flying Shadow, and several of Zhang Jun’s leading horses; Zhang Jun selected it after a personal inspection. 5 15
• Zheng Xing’s stable — Handles Flying Cloud Colt, River Moon, Mountain Patrol Leopard, Forest Hero, Lightning Chaser, and other horses as Zheng Xing develops toward Central-level management. 24 25 26 127 144
• Jianzhou Ranch — Formerly boarded Zhang Jun’s broodmares, young horses, and resting racehorses while he prepared to purchase his own ranch. 2 24 32
• Chasing Ranch — Zhang Jun’s independent ranch, opened after the transfer of his mares and active horses from Jianzhou Ranch. It contains dedicated breeding, stallion, active-racehorse, veterinary, and farriery operations. 94 125
• Yoshito Yahagi’s stable at Tokyo Racecourse — Temporary Japanese base for Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow during their Yasuda Memorial campaign. 127 137
• Fang Jiaming’s stable in Chang’an — Temporary base that assisted Shadow Hunter’s acclimation for the Chang’an Dirt Middle-Distance Championship. 98

Ranch and Orchard Operations

Zhang Jun structured Chasing Ranch as a professional operation rather than a private collection. By its opening, he owned twenty-six horses, an orchard, and employed seventeen people, with Li Ying, Qi Fei, Du Chun, Zhou Fang, and Huang Tu assigned formal management and support responsibilities. 125

• Employs a veterinarian and farrier, alongside specialized staff for breeding mares, stallions, active racehorses, and food service. 125
• Uses his nearby orchard as a prospective retirement home, agricultural enterprise, and source of fruit for horse treats and wine production. 104 117
• Plans an integrated, largely self-sufficient orchard system with vegetables, fish, poultry, livestock, honeybees, and winemaking based on Zhang An’s recipes. 117
• Gives less commercially viable retired horses meaningful work, including transporting fruit at the orchard, rather than abandoning them after their racing careers. 109

Racing Record as Owner

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

Zhang Jun views horses as partners entrusted to his care rather than disposable sources of prize money. In his public interview with General Pacifying the East, he explains that he refuses to force injured horses into racing and places their lives and welfare above victory. 64

His increasing success has not erased his sensitivity to the horses’ emotions. River Moon’s dissatisfaction after a second-place finish troubles him more than the defeat itself, while Shadow Hunter’s excessive training drive makes Zhang Jun fear for the horse’s health. 82 103

He has also become increasingly responsible and methodical as a business owner. Zhang Jun considers horse retirement, staffing, land capacity, bloodline preservation, farm management, and long-term self-sufficiency alongside racing results. 93 104 117 125

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. Zhang Jun also preserves his memory through planned fruit-wine production. 1 18 104
• Luo Fei — Zhang An’s childhood friend and Zhang Jun’s principal mentor in racing, ranch management, business, and breeding. He later helps Zhang Jun locate ranch properties and establish an independent operation. 1 4 20 94
• Liu Yong — Zhang An’s friend and lawyer; helped arrange the funeral and transfer Zhang An’s estate to Zhang Jun. He later assists Zhang Jun with employment contracts. 1 73
• Luo Yong — Mentor and older-brother figure who teaches Zhang Jun auction strategy, ownership economics, racing administration, and responsible retirement planning. 3 6 7 103 104
• Luo Heng — Close friend and breeding collaborator. He helps Zhang Jun inspect horses and racetracks, boards broodmares with him, studies Equine Science with a breeding focus, and later discusses future breeding reservations for Shadow Hunter and Flying Cloud Colt. 2 4 6 24 109
• Li Ying — Pedigree specialist, ranch-management employee, and trusted adviser. She earns Zhang Jun’s confidence by accurately identifying pedigree-linked health risks and later assumes major responsibility for Chasing Ranch’s management. 72 73 125
• Lin Zhi — Trainer of Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow; a trusted professional partner whose tactical work earns major victories. He also organizes the horses’ overseas campaign and mentors Zheng Xing. 5 15 36 47 127 144
• Shan Yao — Jockey trusted with Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow. Zhang Jun’s safety-first support helps strengthen her confidence and career opportunities; she later rides Shadow Hunter in the Yasuda Memorial campaign. 10 15 35 126 138
• Ning Fei — Jockey for several of Zhang Jun’s horses, including Flying Cloud Colt, River Moon, and Lightning Chaser. He earns his first Grade One victory with Lightning Chaser. 58 97 137
• Zheng Xing — Trainer of Zhang Jun’s newer racing colts and fillies. Their arrival gives his struggling stable a chance to establish itself, and he later develops the capacity to manage a major stable. 24 26 127 144
• Zheng Shan — Groom and stable professional responsible for the care of Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow. His training and nutritional plans earn recognition during the Japanese campaign. 15 137
• Guo Feng — Business partner who licenses Zhang Jun’s horses for merchandise, games, and anime projects. Their first Cloudstream Flying Shadow merchandise batch generates 7.5 million yuan in profit for Zhang Jun. 37 54 61
• Yoshito Yahagi — Japanese trainer who hosts Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow at Tokyo Racecourse and supports their Yasuda Memorial preparations. 127 137
• Ryuji Wada — Veteran Japanese jockey selected by Zhang Jun to ride Cloudstream Flying Shadow in the Yasuda Memorial because of his professional character and concern for horses’ welfare. 139
• Shadow Hunter — Zhang Jun’s first racehorse and closest equine companion; affectionate, treat-motivated, fiercely competitive, and strongly attached to him. 2 40 44 82 138
• 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. Her calm affection contrasts with Shadow Hunter’s more demonstrative temperament. 14 18 35 80 138

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
• Rising reputation: A succession of graded wins turns Zhang Jun into a nationally discussed owner. His interview with General Pacifying the East establishes his public image as a perceptive, welfare-oriented horseman. 54 63 64
• Institutional recognition: The Huaxia Central Horse Racing Association grants Zhang Jun Central Honorary Owner status, recognizing his exceptional results as a local owner. 100
• Independent foundation: Zhang Jun graduates early, acquires and renovates Chasing Ranch, preserves inherited broodmare lines, and transforms his operation into a staffed professional ranch. 93 94 125
• Responsible legacy-building: Confronting the realities of retirement and limited breeding opportunities, he develops his orchard and ranch as long-term homes for horses beyond their competitive careers. 103 104 109
• International expansion: Shadow Hunter and Cloudstream Flying Shadow’s invitation to the Japanese Yasuda Memorial marks Zhang Jun’s attempt to prove his horses, staff, and breeding program on an international stage. 126 127 137 139

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
• His horse naming system uses “Chase” or a related association with the parents’ names, reflecting his wish for each generation to pursue and surpass the previous one. 3 131
• By Chasing Ranch’s opening, Zhang Jun had expanded from a first-time owner with one horse to the owner of twenty-six horses, a ranch, an orchard, and seventeen employees. 125