Chapter 5: Miracle Bloodline

Ogawa Take sighed inwardly as Kitano’s gaze moved away from Prima Ballerina 2023, but he quickly composed himself and began introducing the next foal.

“This one’s sire is Creator II from the United States, and his dam’s sire is Casino Shuttle, who won the American Dirt G2 ‘Peter Pan Stakes.’ You can rest assured about his dirt aptitude.”

Kitano shifted his gaze to the foal Ogawa Take was introducing, and the relevant information popped up on his panel.

【Flax2023 (Unnamed)】

【Colt, 2 years old】

【Grey coat】

All other ability information remained unknown.

As the foal tilted his head to examine Kitano, Kitano lowered his head slightly, lost in thought.

Although he had been a complete outsider to horse racing not long ago, Kitano had, in the past month, applied his veterinary student discipline to diligently study a great deal of horse racing knowledge.

In the system’s ability panel, his 【Bloodline Knowledge】 had also improved from E- to C+.

At the very least, he could now understand the several popular sire lineages in modern Japan.

What Kitano was hesitating about was whether to use his last two 【Detector】 uses.

From his perspective, this foal seemed rather ordinary.

Neither his body’s outline nor his gait had anything particularly striking.

But Kitano dared not trust his own judgment of horses.

“And Flax23 has had a very rare grey coat for three consecutive generations!” Ogawa Take continued, seizing the opportunity.

“Hmm, it’s still…”

Just as Kitano was about to suggest looking at other foals, he felt a subtle tug on his sleeve.

O dish O

Releasing his sleeve, Flax2023’s upper lip curled high.

It looked as if he was mocking Kitano.

In reality, the scientific name for this behavior is “Flehmen Response.”

The Flehmen Response is an instinctive behavior in horses where they collect scent information through a special facial movement.

When a horse smells an unfamiliar scent, it will curl its upper lip, bring its head closer to the scent source, and then exhale, pushing the information in the air into the vomeronasal organ in its nasal cavity to detect and analyze the chemical substances within.

So, while it might look like a smile, this action usually expresses curiosity.

Patting Flax23’s upper lip, Kitano discreetly wiped away the traces of drool on the railing.

Opening his panel, he used his second 【Detector】.

【Flax2023 (Unnamed)】

【Colt, 2 years old】

【Grey coat】

【Distance Aptitude: ?】

【Track Aptitude: ?】

【Running Style: ?】

【Growth Type: ?】

【Temperament: ?】

【Personality: ?】

【Speed: ?】

【Stamina: ?】

【Guts: ?】

【Instantaneous Power: ?】

【Strength: ?】

【Health: ?】

【Wisdom: A-】

【Spirit: ?】

【Flexibility: ?】

According to the system’s explanation, the higher the 【Wisdom】 value, the easier it is for the horse to understand the Jockey’s instructions, and it might even independently assess the race situation before the Jockey.

An A- rating was enough to indicate that this was a quite intelligent horse.

“So, Mr. Ogawa, what is your approximate asking price for this foal?” Kitano asked.

“Eighty-thousand yen, how does that sound?” Ogawa Take rubbed his hands, smiling as he gestured with a number.

“Eighty-thousand yen, huh.”

For local horse racing, eighty-thousand yen was already a relatively high price.

Kitano paused, then asked, “Could I see the pedigree certificate?”

“Of course! Of course!” Ogawa Take quickly picked up the folder in his hand, pulled out an A4 sheet, and handed it to Kitano.

“Oh?”

Taking the pedigree chart and examining it closely, Kitano’s face showed surprise.

Unlike the ubiquitous 3x4 “Miracle Bloodlines” in Japan, Flax2023’s pedigree had no inbreeding within four generations.

“3x4” is a term used in horse breeding.

On a horse’s pedigree chart, if the same racehorse appears in both the “X” generation and the “Y” generation, it is referred to as “X × Y.”

From a genetic perspective and the long-term development of the entire Japanese horse racing industry’s bloodline depth, outcrossing is naturally the best.

But this is also the most unrealistic.

If this breeding philosophy were truly implemented, the vast majority of small and medium-sized Horse Owners would go bankrupt.

They simply couldn’t afford the breeding costs of having no duplicated bloodlines within five generations.

Furthermore, inbreeding within four generations is generally believed to be more likely to produce foals with explosive power.

Although most people can’t explain the origin of this basis.

“It’s a very rare bloodline combination—” Kitano couldn’t help but exclaim as he put down the pedigree chart.

“Um, actually… Flax23’s bloodline… is still relatively good.”

“His dam’s dam’s sire is none other than Sunday Silence!” Ogawa Take’s tone suddenly became much more hesitant.

He had mistaken Kitano for one of those Horse Owners who blindly believed in “Miracle Bloodlines” and the “SS lineage.”

“I’m a veterinarian; I’ve learned a bit about genetics and heredity,” Kitano said.

Sunday Silence was indeed a formidable figure in the modern Japanese sire lineage, one that was hard to avoid.

Strictly speaking, Kitano’s family’s decline was also inextricably linked to Sunday Silence.

However, he had not yet reached the point of blaming animals for his misfortune.

“So please don’t have too many reservations.”

Ogawa Masaru, who was watching nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle.

At the same time, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed this guy named Kitano wasn’t the type to act recklessly.

In fact, Flax2023’s bloodline and the physique he displayed on the surface were still a bit underwhelming for the 80,000 yen price.

Even considering his grey coat.

As for the Sunday Silence bloodline—

It was probably hard to find many racehorses in the contemporary Japanese horse racing world that weren’t related to Sunday Silence in some way.

“Eighty-thousand yen is still a bit steep,” Kitano said slowly as he handed the pedigree chart back to Ogawa Take.

Ogawa Take’s expression tightened, and the A4 paper in his hand was inadvertently creased.

“However, I accept,” Kitano continued.

Joy appeared on the faces of all three Ogawa family members simultaneously.

For a newly established ranch, selling each foal was particularly difficult.

And at such a relatively high price.

At this moment, Kitano used his last 【Detector】.

The target was still Flax2023.

【Growth Type: Late Bloomer】

At this point, the 【Detector】 worth one million yen had been fully consumed.

The later the growth type, the slower the racehorse’s growth speed.

Late bloomer racehorses usually don’t reach their full potential until the latter half of their fourth year.

It seemed there was a considerable chance of losing money.

Kitano stroked Flax2023’s head through the railing, his heart not particularly stirred.

Perhaps it was an unintentional resonance between the man and the horse, or a trust in the A- 【Wisdom】 value, or maybe it was a gambler’s last-ditch mentality—

In any case, Kitano did not stop the transaction.

Seemingly unaware of the change about to happen with his new owner, Flax2023 continued to curiously look around with his pair of black, beady eyes.