3 minute read
Operation offering their largest draft with the best of domestic and international sires
Mr Yuesheng Zhang bought his first horse in Australia in 2014 and since then has become a major buyer both domestically and on the global stage. At this year’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Yulong are offering a 26-strong draft and we spoke to Yulong’s Chief Operating Officer Sam Fairgray leading into the sale.
Yulong’s 2021 draft is almost double the size of their 2020 one and Fairgray explained that this was a result of the operation having built up their broodmare band in recent years.
“With our broodmare numbers increasing year on year, now 200, so has our foal crop. Mr Zhang has purchased some really nice mares to support the stallions and we are seeing their progeny head to the sales this year,” said Fairgray.
Yulong are not afraid to play at both ends of the market for mares. In 2020, their broodmare acquisitions included Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), who was bought for $2,750,000 and Viddora (I Am Invincible) who cost $2,500,000 at the Magic Millions National Sale, while they also bought Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Penalty for $20,000 at the same sale.
Yulong has made a significant impact on the global thoroughbred industry over the past decade and having visited the major racing and breeding jurisdictions globally, Mr Zhang set out an ambition to establish a world class broodmare band and a stallion farm on Australian shores.
Yulong Stud, formerly Limerick Lane, was purchased three years ago and is the primary property for Yulong’s operations while shortly after, the Independent Stallion Station property was purchased - known as Yulong Farm - is the home to the operations broodmare band.
The oldest progeny raised at the Yulong’s Nagambie property are now three-year-olds and include the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed filly Hungry Heart (Frankel).
“The oldest progeny reared from the Nagambie property are only three so it's nice to get some results from them. Obviously with bigger numbers and better quality we would expect the results to keep improving.”
The farm is home to Group 1-winning stallions Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice) and Grunt (O’Reilly), while last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) will join the roster at the end of his racing career.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt will look to add a second Group 1 to his CV when he takes his chance in the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, having most recently been seen returning to form in the CS Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) earlier this month.
Yulong’s Premier Sale draft comprises yearlings by leading Australasian sires including Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice), Pierro (Lonhro), Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), Savabeel (Zabeel), Written Tycoon (Iglesia) and Zoustar (Northern Meteor) as well as young stallions in American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile), Capitalist (Written Tycoon) and Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) and Fairgray believes that it is important to have diversity in a draft.
“It's always nice to have that diversity in the draft and we certainly have that in our Melbourne yearlings. There will also be yearlings in all price brackets to cater for all levels of buyers,” he said.
In addition to leading domestic sires, Yulong’s draft includes a filly by Frankel (Galileo) and a colt by Siyouni (Pivotal).
“Each year we generally serve five to six mares to by Northern Hemisphere stallions to Southern time and bring them down to Australia to foal.
“The demand for these horses is high as they are by the best stallions in the Northern Hemisphere and we have seen them perform here in the Australian conditions.”
Asked about their Premier Sale standouts, Fairgray said: “Lot 226 Shalaa - Our Daisy colt. He’s a beautifully balanced yearling with size, strength and a great temperament.
“Lot 524 Siyouni - Bouquet De Flores colt, is a big strong, mature and precocious looking. He has a lovely action and Siyouni is a champion stallion. He has done extremely well as a sire with a small number of runners in Australia while Lot 538, the Capitalist - Casino Club is by the ‘hot’ stallion at present. He has a lovely way about him and is athletic.”
Of the fillies; “Lot 145 Zoustar - Longmu filly is a big strong first foal. She has plenty of strength in the hindquarter and girth. Lot 348, the Sebring - So Serene filly is a nice feminine filly with great athleticism.”
Fairgray pinpointed the Sebring - Blithe Belle filly (Lot 516) as the yearling who had improved the most during the prep.
“Lot 516, the Sebring - Blithe Belle colt has done very well though the prep. He has furnished through his body and has enjoyed the work and stable life.”
