Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 160: Everything in the World is a blessing in disguise

Tuesday morning, I woke up a little later than usual.

The auction would begin at 1 p.m., and Kitano stayed in the hotel until noon to study the first volume of the auction catalog.

A total of 239 horses participated in the auction on the first day, and Ways And Means was placed at the relatively front HIP 12.

For Kitano, this is a somewhat unfavorable situation.

In the absence of sufficient reference, it is difficult to determine what expected price to use to participate in the auction.

"Let's talk about it when we get to the scene."

Thinking this, I picked up the brochure and left the hotel.

When we arrived at the auction house inside Keeneland Race Course, the sales team responsible for connecting with Japanese buyers on site quickly came to us.

"Do you need an auction room arranged for you?"

The liaison representative named Kelly Hunter asked in fluent Japanese.

Although most experienced buyers prefer to bid by phone or through an agent, occasionally there are buyers who choose to attend the auction in person.

Generally speaking, Keeneland Auction House will provide additional auction locations away from cameras for this group of buyers, allowing them to participate in the auction in a comfortable and private space.

"No, I'll just attend the auction on site."

Kitano politely declined the other party's proposal.

Although, he also hopes to participate in the auction while maintaining a certain social distance.

Kelly smiled, opened her briefcase, and said, "Okay, this is your bidding card. You can bid by raising your card after the auction begins."

As she said that, she handed the bidding card to Kitano.

"Alternatively, you can also make a verbal offer during the auction, and the on-site price checker will also be able to assist you."

After taking the bidding card, Kitano nodded slightly, said a simple thank you and walked into the auction house.

Walking through the corridor to the auction venue, there were only a few people there.

On the stage, a country band that Kitano didn't recognize was performing a warm-up performance. Several gray-haired auctioneers and quoters gathered in the seat on the far left, chatting leisurely.

I found a random seat and sat down, then started circling the table of contents.

At this time, a price checker came over.

"Sir, I am always at your service if you need anything."

Noticing Kitano's Asian face, he deliberately slowed down his speech.

"Thank you."

Taking his eyes off the auction catalog, Kitano politely thanked him in English.

"Also, if you don't want to be caught on camera, you can sit over there."

The price teller pointed to the fixed camera in front of the stage facing the auction venue and reminded him.

However, at this time, the positions on the left side of the field were basically occupied, so Kitano could only smile and thank him for the reminder again.

After a while, the auctioneers picked up their water cups and walked towards the stage.

The lead auctioneer briefly introduced the situation of last year's auction and read out the rules, and soon announced the start of the auction.

There was no opening ceremony or anything like that.

As the first petite chestnut mare entered the arena, the quoter immediately began to yodel the prices.

"How about starting with fifty thousand? Fifty-five-five-five--"

"Sixty thousand!"

Although there are electronic display screens on site, it is difficult to see the numbers flashing on them even if you sit directly opposite them.

In addition, the bidder deliberately used a speed different from the normal speaking speed to read the price, so it was not easy to stay calm and participate in the auction in such an occasion.

115 million--

This is the maximum amount of funds that can be mobilized while ensuring that the ranch has sufficient funds to maintain and does not exchange the two colored amulets.

If I act too impulsively, I might just end up swimming all the way back to Japan.

Thinking of this, Kitano used the [Detector] on Horse No. 1 in front of him.

There was no response. "No special properties?"

He frowned slightly, and the next moment he heard the sound of a hammer falling.

"Okay, three hundred and sixty-five thousand!"

Without even looking up, the auctioneer began introducing the information about the second horse to be auctioned.

The next few horses that appeared had no reproductive traits.

This even included a six-year-old chestnut horse with a good sire lineage that was sold for over $500,000.

Until Hip 12's Ways And Means came out, I had only ever seen one mare with a speciality.

And it is suspected that the [winning and losing nature] is rampant.

After thinking for a while, Kitano covered his mouth and said to the price checker beside him, "Ways and Means, my highest offer is 1.1 million."

"Up to $1.1 million, Ways and Means, right?"

The price teller leaned forward slightly to confirm.

"Yes."

Kitano nodded slightly, indicating that there was no problem.

The price teller then raised his hand and gestured to the auctioneer on the podium, and the auctioneer immediately wrote something down on a piece of paper.

Then he turned his head and nodded in Kitano's direction.

"Next up is number ten, the smooth-bodied five-year-old chestnut mare Ways And Means, whose sire is Mischief."

"She won three Grade 2 events, including the Grade 1 Test Stakes and the Bed of Roses Stakes, and earned more than $1.2 million in career winnings."

As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, the bidder on the side couldn't wait to start reading out the price.

In a flash, the starting bid of $100,000 was enthusiastically pushed to over $500,000.

Kitano loosened his tie unconsciously, his mouth dry from nervousness.

The offer easily crossed the $900,000 mark.

At this moment, the bidding stopped abruptly.

The auctioneer skillfully took charge of the situation and began to introduce the Ways And Means bloodline.

After a brief pause, the bidding quietly broke through the one million mark.

"One million, one hundred and fifty thousand—one hundred and fifty, one hundred and sixty!"

When the bid reached 115 million, the auctioneer looked down at Kitano.

He shook his head firmly, indicating that he would withdraw from the competition.

The auctioneer's gaze immediately turned elsewhere.

The gavel fell and the final transaction price was $155 million.

Kitano let out a sigh.

Although it was a pity, the price was beyond his reach.

As for using only two colored amulets——

For the time being, there are no such plans.

After the first bid failed, Kitano did not make a second bid until half of the auction was over that day.

In addition, not many [detectors] were successfully used.

Fewer than twenty mares currently offered at auction have breeding characteristics.

Most of them are just single entries such as [Winning or Losing Nature] or even [Difficult Temperament] and [Late Bloomer].

It’s not that simple after all.

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"On the 3rd, Fasig-Tipton Auction House's November auction was held in Kentucky, USA.

Teruya Yoshida of Shadai Ranch spent a total of US$293 million (approximately ¥4 million) on the first day of the auction to acquire three broodmare mares, including the Grade 2 mare Ways and Means.

——JRA-VAN World
　Chapter Two Later
　　
　
(End of this chapter)