Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 230 Kelp and Curry

In the latter half of the auction, aside from giving away a few detectors for nothing, there were no other gains.

Add to that the bizarre and unsettling analysis from the two people beside him, and the process inevitably became somewhat agonizing.

Fortunately, the staff at the Hokkaido market were as trustworthy as ever, and even though the number of participants had increased significantly, the auction still ended before 5 p.m.

Just in time for dinner.

"So-called luck is simply something you accumulate over time and then unleash at a certain moment—"

Of course, the [detector] will still be used for tomorrow's and the summer auctions thereafter.

On the way back, Kitano slowly processed the information about today's auction.

My goal, of course, is to find a yearling horse worth getting.

However, observing market trends is also an important lesson for today's auction.

The first day of the Hokkaido Selection event was so lively it could be described as a "horse race bubble".

However, as in previous years, not all yearlings were able to be successfully sold.

The popularity difference among stallions directly leads to different prices, and even different outcomes in terms of stallion selection or ownership.

Aside from the foals produced by popular stallions like Northern Black Horse and Spring and Autumn Equinox, foals produced by stallions that exhibit a tendency to play in muddy conditions are generally more popular.

Even buyers like Matsumoto and Dr. Kobayashi, who own horses in both central and local regions, will prioritize dirt track yearlings at the Hokkaido Select Club.

Therefore, foals from stallions whose mud aptitude was questionable, or foals from stallions in their third year, were generally sold at the reserve price or at the bottom price, just like in previous years.

This is also closely related to the minimum purchase price of six million yen for the Hokkaido Select Club.

The significantly higher entry barrier compared to the summer auction has deterred many small and medium-sized horse owners who might have been interested.

On the other hand, buyers’ discerning eye, especially those in teams with trainers or other professionals, remains at a high level.

Even for foals from popular stallions, if the starting bid is too high, the foal may still be the one that gets sold.

Many breeders who wanted to take advantage of the booming market to sell their horses at high prices have suffered significant losses.

certainly--

Because it's an auction, even horses that are generally favored by the public may not actually run.

Nevertheless, cases of horse racing fraud appear to have decreased.

It is said that a few years ago, any large stallion in Hidaka could easily fetch a high price at auction.

However, in the information age, there are not many secrets. As buyers and owners gain more experience, such scenes have basically become a thing of the past.

Looking at the Hokkaido Select auctions as a whole, foals from popular stallions are likely to continue to receive high praise at the summer auctions.

The foals of track records or niche breeds of stallions may be easier to acquire.

From the perspective of the ranch, if they want to sell their foals at a high price, the pedigree of the sire and maternal line, past performance, physical condition of the horse, and even the ranch itself must all be up to standard.

Although the halo effect of large ranches is fading, some novice horse owners will still take this into consideration.

Using the reputation of a large ranch to obtain a better breeding environment and stable resources is a reasonable strategy for beginners.

Regarding the purchase of yearlings, although there were subtle differences of opinion with the breeding farm, Kitano's views were, to some extent, in line with theirs.

With his father's impending victory and his mother's aura of divine favor, the deer-mane pony should possess considerable potential.

As for the route recommended by the production ranch, they could only nod in agreement and silently ignore it.

Overall, the results of the first day of the auction can be described as quite fruitful.

After settling Wada and Majima into the Kombu Onsen Ryokan in Mitsuishi, Kitano started the engine again and drove towards dusk.

We returned to the ranch just in time for dinner.

Today's main dish is curry.

Plenty of appropriately sized vegetables were placed on the table, making it look very healthy. At the dinner table, the ranch staff naturally began discussing the ranch's new recruit.

"The new baby looks rather comical, with a very short tail."

"On the other hand, the feet are in excellent condition, both the hooves and the ball joints are in superb form—"

"The horse's body is the opposite of Pa-chan's; looking at it, I always feel a bit disappointed."

"His physique and chest are very good. With a little training, he should be able to grow into a horse with a strong body like his father very soon."

"As for temperament, we can't see any problems in the short term."

"As long as it doesn't suddenly awaken into a ranch bully, everything is fine."

"Hehehe~ This is all thanks to me!"

Rachel Ho smiled smugly.

If it weren't for her, the ranch wouldn't have included the stallion foal that seemed poised for victory in their shortlist.

So it's not an exaggeration to say that it was her achievement.

"Rachel really helped a lot this time."

Kitano stood up from his seat and jokingly refilled the girl's drink.

The others around them laughed and applauded in a jeering manner.

This made Rachel Ho feel a little embarrassed.

"It's not that amazing, and it was really just a sudden inspiration."

She spoke quickly, as if making a defense, before hurriedly lowering her head to eat her curry rice.

"If that's not enough, there's more."

Kikuchi, who was in charge of the ranch's cuisine, had a happy look on his face.

Even Ravid, who was complaining about "heretical cuisine" not long ago, has finally gotten used to the ranch's ever-changing "new-style Japanese food".

After dinner, everyone continued their discussion while drinking chilled oolong tea.

"This place, Pa-chan, should still be Hattori-sensei's stable, right?"

"It might be better if we stay in Hokkaido."

Setting down his teacup, Kitano gave an answer that surprised everyone.

Even disregarding local subsidies, using Saga as a base seems like a more advantageous option for Kyushu-produced horses.

but--

Kitano was fairly well aware of Pavlova's abilities.

Compared to Banchamek, where the bounty is pitifully low, it's better to stay peacefully on the ranch.

"It would be great if I could prove my strength at the gate."

"Yes, and it's much easier to cheer them on than in Kyushu."

It seems that a misunderstanding was inadvertently created.

but--