Zhang Yuesheng

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...

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...

Courtesy TTR AusNZ Imported mare Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never is likely to run for her owner, Yulong Investments, in this year's The Everest, assuming she bounces back to form. The multiple Group 1 winner failed at her only Australian start in the autumn, finishing 10th in the G1 Queen of the Turf S. at Randwick in April. The 6-year-old looks set to resume in the G2 Sheraco S. at Rosehill on Sept. 9. "At this stage she is going to head towards an Everest campaign," co-trainer Adrian Bott...

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....

The seventh annual China Horse Owners Alliance (CHOA) conference was held at the Yulong International Hotel on Sept. 1. Yulong's Zhang Yuesheng, Chairman of CHOA, announced the Alliance's plan to attract more members to CHOA and safeguard the integrity of racing in China. In addition, CHOA Secretary-General and Vice-Chairman Huang Quincai spoke about a report on the three-year 60 million RMB/$8.6 million prizemoney boost to Chinese-bred thoroughbred races. Topping the Sept. 2 Yulong Autumn Sale, organised by Yulong and Zhongxin Auction, were The Entertainer (Ire), a 3-year-old son of Caravaggio;...

   Michael O'Donohoe of BBA Ireland and leading owner Zhang Yuesheng have been making waves off the track in recent weeks after buying a number of high-quality broodmare prospects to visit the Chinese businessman's Group 1-winner Lucky Vega (Ire) at the Irish National Stud.    Zhang Yuesheng also has Royal Ascot heroine Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who Donohoe bought from Coolmore for 305,000gns in 2020, to look forward to in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh.    As well as speaking about Zhang Yuesheng's growing operation in...

Group 1 winner Discoveries (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is set for the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot in June, trainer Jessica Harrington revealed. The bay's full-sister Alpha Centauri (Ire) and half-sister Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) both won the contest in 2018 and 2020, respectively. She will attempt to become the third filly out of Alpha Lupi (Ire) (Rahy) to complete the hat trick in the Niarchos family's Flaxman colours. Harrington said, "The plan is to go to Ascot to get the three fillies to win the Coronation...

The sixth China Horse Owners Alliance (CHOA) conference was held at Yulong International Hotel on Sept. 2. Zhang Yuesheng, who owns Yulong Horse Group, was reelected as the Chairman of CHOA. CHOA Secretary-General and Vice-Chairman Huang Quincai revealed that 60 million RMB/$9.3 million will be devoted to Chinese prizemoney over the next three years, with 10 million RMB for use in 2022, 20 million RMB set aside for 2023 and 30 million RMB allocated for 2024. There are also now 27 stallions in China whose progeny are eligible for CHOA...

Zhang Yuesheng's 2-year-old filly Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who crossed the line first in a June 28 Dundalk barrier trial, shaped with promise on the front end when fourth to Albula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) contesting an Aug. 2 one-mile maiden at Naas in her only official start and the Jessica Harrington trainee exacted revenge on that reopposing rival by swooping late for a career high in Friday's G3 Manguard Plus Irish EBF Flame of Tara S. over the same trip at The Curragh. The 9-2 chance made an alert...

Denied in the G2 Railway S. at The Curragh July 18, Lucky Vega (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) returned to the same course and six-furlong strip on Sunday to dominate a competitive renewal of the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. Despite the presence of four group-winning colts Steel Bull (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}), The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), Ventura Tormenta (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and Laws of Indices (Ire) (Power {GB}), the market spoke mainly for Lucky Vega who was supported into 4-1 second favouritism and also Ballydoyle's maiden St...