Yulong

Dual Group 1 winner Panthalassa (Jpn) will shuttle to Yulong in Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season later this year. Trained in Japan by Yoshito Yahagi, Panthalassa won seven of his 27 starts and was a familiar name on the international stage, demonstrating rare versatility in winning the 2022 G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan--when dead-heating with Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire})--and the 2023 G1 Saudi Cup on the Riyadh dirt. The son of Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) brought the curtain down on his career in a retirement ceremony at Nakayama...

By Brian Sheerin and Emma Berry DEAUVILLE, France -- The sales at Arqana this year have largely retained their momentum, but the company was not immune to the retraction that has been present across the market for mares and foals this winter. With the clearance rate being lowered to 71% from the 78% of 2022, the turnover fell by 20% to €36,467,000, and the average was down by 7% to €227,919.  Four millionaire fillies and mares featured in the opening session, compared to seven last year, but the one sector...

Who is Lucky Vega? From Monday to Friday, he bases himself at the Irish National Stud, having retired there off the back of a successful career on the track where he won a Group 1 for trainer Jessica Harrington. A quick scan through the results at any of the big sales either side of the Irish Sea recently and you will see that Lucky Vega (Ire) has been keeping himself busy upon his retirement, with his name featuring alongside some of the more select lots.  Lucky Vega, of course, is...

Billed as the star attraction of the Goffs November Foal Sale, the brother to Ghaiyyath (Ire) did not disappoint when selling to powerhouse owner Zhang Yuesheng under the banner of Lucky Vega for €700,000. Bred and consigned by legendary trainer Dermot Weld's farm Springbank Way Stud, the Dubawi (Ire) colt (lot 767) boasts one of the most coveted pedigrees in the book being a brother to champion older horse and exciting first-season sire Ghaiyyath. He is out of the trainer's own blue hen Nightime (Ire), reported to be happily in...

Almost the last horse in the ring on Wednesday, Springbank Way Stud's lot 767, a full-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), was knocked down for €700,000 online by Lucky Vega, the current buying arm of Yulong's Yuesheng Zhang, to top the third session of the Goffs November Foal Sale. Also a half-brother to GI Man o'War S. victress Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the colt is from the family of champion Caumshinaun (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), being out of G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire)...

It was a day for the young guns at the opening session of the Goffs November Foal Sale on Monday with a colt by Earthlight (Ire) sharing top lot status with a filly by the already proven Mehmas (Ire) at €80,000.  The progeny of the Irish National Stud-based Lucky Vega (Ire) also played a leading role on the day with Yeomanstown Stud's Supremacy (Ire) going down similarly well with buyers.  But the main story of the day was the positive start to the week in terms of trade, highlighted by...

Group 1 winner Sheeza Belter (Aus) (Gold Standard {Aus}--Saxabelle {Aus}, by Saxon {Aus}) sold for A$1.35 million to Victoria's Highway Farm during a Magic Millions virtual auction hosted by auctioneer Clint Donovan on Thursday. Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong was buying as Highway Farm. "It is a very nerve-wracking experience selling a horse around that level," her original buyer and part owner Justin Warwick said. "I'm relieved that the process has been a success and I'm very happy to see where she is going and the opportunity she will have." Bred by...

The eighth China Horse Owners Alliance (CHOA) conference was held on Aug. 31 at Yulong International Hotel. Yulong owner Zhang Yuesheng was re-elected as Chairman of CHOA. "This year's prize money is 20 million RMB/$2.7 million and next year's is 30 million RMB/$4.1 million," Yueshang said. "That means we will have completed the three-year plan for the Chinese-bred Thoroughbred series regular races. However, we will strive towards a prize money of 40 million RMB/$5.5 million next year and plan to introduce graded races. This is also the reason why CHOA...

Yulong will sponsor the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh in 2023, the racecourse announced on Thursday. Scheduled for Saturday, July 1, the second day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, the race--restricted to fillies and mares--will now be worth €300,000. Owned by Yuesheng Zhang, Yulong will also present a free nomination for 2024 to juvenile Group 1 winner Lucky Vega (Ire) to the owners of the first three placed horses. Sam Fairgray, COO Yulong Investments said, "Following on from Yulong Stud's involvement in Ireland with Lucky...

Offered by Newgate Consignment, Forbidden Love (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) (lot 568) topped Day 1 of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, selling to Yulong Stud for $4.1 million on a strong day of trade. The three-time Group 1 winner was one of 35 mares snapped up by the racing and breeding entity, whose total spend was A$19,031,000 on Tuesday. Three other millionaires--there were nine during the first session overall--also made their way into the Yulong fold. Dual top-level winner Snapdancer (Aus) (Choisir {Aus}) (lot 645), from the Sullivan...

Jessica Harrington is the most successful female trainer that Ireland has ever produced. The 76-year-old has sent out multiple Cheltenham Festival winners, including the legendary Champion Chaser Moscow Flyer (Ire), as well as Classic winners Alpha Centauri (Ire) and Magical Lagoon (Ire) from her Moone-based stables in County Kildare. Plans are now afoot to take home more big-race riches this season and, despite the fact that Harrington is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer, there is only one topic of conversation at the breakfast table at this time of year....

Few stallions who stand in and around the €15,000 bracket can boast a book of mares quite like Lucky Vega (Ire). The Group 1-winning juvenile has been supported by his owner Yuesheng Zhang from the outset and, judging by the Chinese businessman's spending at the premier mare sales through BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe last year, that backing is set to continue.  While the majority of the prominent owner's European-based mares will visit Lucky Vega this year, a number will also be spread out between Frankel (GB), Baaeed (GB), Sea The...