Wild was a dark bay colt born in 1997. He had excellent bloodlines but an extremely fierce temperament. No one dared to bid on him, so he was bought by Kōya Farm for the minimum price of 30 million yen.
The Prodigy Era (2–3 years old): He displayed a stunning “Golden Late Kick” (33.8 seconds for the final 400m), coming from behind to win. He won all 7 starts, capturing the Satsuki Sho and the Japanese Derby without defeat, and was hailed as the next-generation strongest closer.
Severe Injury: During training for the Kikuka Sho after the Derby, he suffered a comminuted fracture of his right foreleg. After two surgeries and 14 months of rehabilitation, his right leg was permanently shortened by 1 cm, and his Golden Late Kick was gone forever.
The Lean Years: After returning, he lost race after race for a full year – six starts without a win. He became irritable, kicking apart his stall and biting a groom. One night, he slammed his head against a wall; a metal hook cut a deep scar across his face. He refused sedatives while being stitched.
The Mad King Era: His team decided to turn him into a “grand front-runner” – leading from the break and never slowing down. Miraculously, he reeled off seven consecutive G1 victories, including the 3200m Tenno Sho (Spring). His odds dropped from a low of 47/1 back to race favorite, and he was called “The Miracle of the Wilds.” In one race, he ran the first 1000m in 56.2 seconds, breaking down the entire field and injuring multiple horses, which led his rival Revali to race overseas.
Final Race – 2002 Tenno Sho (Autumn): He went to the front from the gate, but suffered a comminuted fracture of his left foreleg on the final straight. He ran the last 400m on three legs, still leading, until he collapsed 20 meters from the finish line. He was euthanized on the spot.
Anecdotes: He showed clear affection for the filly Mipha, and his jockey discussed a possible mating with Mipha’s jockey, but it ended with Wild’s death. He left no offspring. Kōya Farm was later converted into “Wild Shrine,” where jockeys often pray before races.
Author’s note (translated):
In short, I referenced many real racehorses and also added a bit of Tears of the Kingdom setting. That’s how I came up with this fake racehorse profile full of my own private lore, now translated by AI.
The outfit in image 3 is a recolor of the Royal Guard set, designed as Wild’s attire from the Prodigy Era before his injury. I’ve almost finished writing the other characters’ profiles, but as for when the illustrations will be completed – that’s anyone’s guess. Next up should be Twilight.