more info about the horse and character below the cut!
Neko Punch was relatively unsuccessful in run and progeny. He has a humble 4 wins under his belt. Held back primarily by repeated strain to his left leg. He raced alongside the likes of Orfevre and Fenomeno.
His Nikkei Sho win in 2012 saw him take a huge lead on the other horses throughout most of the race. His career fell off afterward, but his win was highly celebrated due to him beating out Win Variation, who won him out the following year.
Due to his strain worsening he retired from racing to become a lead pony! Lead pony's in Japanese races are as much looks as they are utility. They lead horses to their posts and serve as a calming presence to anxious horses.
Neko Punch was relatively popular as a lead pony, having fan visits during races to take pictures. He was at the Tokyo Racecourse for 9 years before retiring in December 2023. He currently resides at Northern Lake, the same ranch at Doto, and is also quite fond of Meto, the ranch's barn cat.
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About the character:
She is friends with her Rivals, Win Variation and Fenomeno, but finds Orfevre very intimidating.
She's a big fan of Doto, and loves to support her during races
She loves cats, and follows tons of popular cat pages that she loves to talk about. The kind of friend who sends you cat vids when you're down.
Personality wise she loves to back up her friends. She does her best not to compare herself to them, but she often feels unimportant. She has a calming presence for others, and does her best to keep positive. Friends describe her presence as cathartic, as she's generally calm but quick to excite.
