Hokkaido Horse Racing Story.

Chapter 304 Goffs

I hope that in the new year, both my body and mind will be refreshed.

Despite making such a wish, I felt neither calm nor refreshed when I woke up on New Year's Day morning.

In addition to the increasingly difficult ranch preparations due to continuous snowfall, there is also the winter JS breeding mares auction that needs to be prepared.

Despite this, this year's JS breeding mares auction, like previous years, didn't have any noteworthy targets.

However, unless they encounter operational problems or need to adjust their strategies, breeders are not foolish enough to put their own ranch's star mares on the market.

Whether it's a mares whose foals can fetch a high price or mares whose foals can run well, we can only try our luck in the search.

A week of the New Year has passed in the blink of an eye, and the pine trees will soon be removed.

Because the goals had been set long in advance, there were no grand pronouncements or speeches at the New Year's Eve party.

Of course, even in the new year, there was still a barrage of complaints from the members.

Rather than relying on their own efforts to get through it, it was more like everyone was immediately bogged down by the work on the ranch.

Although there was a clear plan a long time ago, there were still some discrepancies when it came to implementation.

First, let's talk about the one-year-old horse.

The growth process varies in speed, and the ranch will adjust the grazing time according to the changes in the horse's weight and physical condition each month.

For one-year-old horses that can grow steadily even with 24-hour grazing, the current training and conditioning process will be accelerated, and the time for them to enter the stable will also be changed accordingly.

This process is already largely in place.

However, rather than simply following one's own subjective belief that "it's feasible" to maintain the operation of the ranch, I hope to constantly learn something new and different.

Even though I'm gradually moving away from frontline veterinary work, I still maintain the habit of reading at least one industry paper every month.

In order to understand the French papers, I also picked up my French, which I had neglected for a while after graduation.

Although what I'm learning now is mostly about horse racing.

Regarding breeding mares, Anna, a new member of the ranch, did not grow her winter coat too noticeably even in the cold weather.

In Yano's words, it is the metabolic function that is "sufficient to serve as a case study".

In just over a month, Anna's originally explosive muscle lines in her shoulders, neck, and hindquarters have become slightly softer.

Based on the current progress, it may even be able to successfully transform into a state where the ribs are slightly palpable but not visible, and the overall appearance is rounded rather than muscular, by the middle to early part of this year's breeding season.

Of course, this is just a hypothetical scenario.

And so the first week of the new year passed by, dragging on and on.

When I came to my senses, the day of the Eclipse Award ceremony was just around the corner.

The awards ceremony was once again held at the Blakes Hotel in Florida.

When they met up with the people in the group, Kimura and Arashiyama seemed to have agreed to change into cowboy outfits.

"You're really impressive, President Kitano—"

The trainer shook his head and said something rather cryptic.

"Ahem! Please sit down first."

Kimura pulled the brim of his cowboy hat down, his tone hesitant as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Even without the two reminding him, he could sense that the atmosphere on the field was not good.

"It seems like we can forget about opening up the North American market until Anna's foal is born and runs away."

Just then, a man wearing a distinctive baseball cap swaggered over.

"Well done, Kitano! Your mare is amazing!"

The force was so strong it seemed like a venting of anger; even his shoulders trembled involuntarily.

"Long time no see, John."

Although I instinctively wanted to bow, I switched to the local greeting in the country of handshakes—and now my wrists are starting to hurt.

Aside from that, the two oddballs from Japan and the United States get along fairly well.

"So, are you ready to go to Keenland and make a name for yourself this year?"

"No, I can't afford that much money this year."

This is true.

In addition, the pastures and stables for trainers are limited.

Depending on the year, sometimes one can expand more freely, while at other times one needs to be patient.

This year is one that requires a bit of patience.

Before expanding the ranch, we do not plan to acquire too many foals or breeding mares.

"That's such a pity."

As he spoke, John's face showed obvious disappointment.

Although I have no idea what exactly he was disappointed about.

"Is Kitano-kun adopting a more conservative business strategy this year?"

When the pleasantries were finally over and we returned to our seats, we heard Kimura's voice.

"I guess so. I probably won't get any yearlings or one-year-olds, but I'll consider breeding mares."

"Is that so? But I guess JS doesn't have many good options this year either?"

At first, I thought that Kimura, who was also a horse breeder, was going to recommend Tsubasa Tokihiko, who was breeding mares.

"In a few days, would you like to come with me to England to see what it's like?"

Two weeks later, at the Goffs January auction in Doncaster, England.

"Newborn Ranch has already expanded to England!"

Before he could even utter such a sentiment, Kimura waved his hand in a flustered manner, saying, "This is only my first time planning to go."

It turns out that it was a group of newbies traveling together.

However, before the party started, they still managed to get some information from Kimura about Goffs' January auction.

From cheap mares costing just a thousand pounds to yearlings, Goffs' January auctions bring together a wide array of mainstream and non-mainstream pedigrees from the British, Irish, French, and German horse racing worlds.

For breeders looking for dual-purpose mares or similar breeds, Goffs auctions seem like a good option.

As for the drawbacks, such as the complicated procedures and the fact that it is far less convenient for buyers outside Europe than the Keenland auction, I didn't care too much.

"European bloodline—"

While muttering to himself, he subconsciously looked up at Yue Boren, who was making a phone call not far away.

Under the lamplight, the Irish horse trainer's increasingly thinning forehead gleamed with a subtle sheen.

On the already biased scales, Europe quickly overwhelmed Japan's options.

"I'll go to England again in a few days."

As the decision was made, the lights overhead slowly went out.

The Eclipse Celebration dinner has begun.

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The catalog for Doncaster's January auction is now online.

The Doncaster Goffs January 2028 auction, the first auction of the new year, will be held on Tuesday, January 25 at 10:1 a.m., and its catalog is now available for online viewing.

The catalog contains 163 lots, including 79 weaned foals and foals from NH, 44 NH mares, and 40 racehorses in training.

——Goffs
(End of this chapter)