Mr. Yuesheng Zhang’s Yulong Investments has made a significant impact on the global thoroughbred industry over recent years. Over the spring carnival the green and white silks have entered the feature winner's enclosure with exciting two-year-old Catch Me (I Am Invincible) blitzing the field in the G3 Keeneland Gimcrack S.
Yulong also celebrated Listed victories by Holy Blade (I Am Invincible) and Haripour (IRE) (Shamardal {USA}), while there were Group 1 placings for Melbourne Cup hope Tosen Basil (JPN) (Harbinger {GB}) second in the Underwood S., and Sikandarabad (IRE) (Dr Fong {USA}), third in the Metropolitan.
However, perhaps the highlight so far for Mr. Zhang this season was winning The Everest with Redzel (Snitzel) and Triple Crown Syndications. Yulong purchased the slot and negotiated to have the horse run, after Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) filled the slot in 2017.
Mr Zhang with Catch Me at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale
With big plans on the horizon to venture into the stallion business, TDN AusNZ's Gary King chatted with Mr. Zhang about their Everest success and plans for the future.
TDN AusNZ: Winning The Everest with Redzel must have been incredible. Where does it rank on your list of achievements so far?
YZ: Securing a good runner to represent Yulong in the 2018 edition of The Everest had been an important priority right after the running of the 2017 race.
I'm happy that we managed to strike a partnership with Triple Crown and winning it this year was definitely one of our top achievements.
TDN AusNZ: It has been mentioned that you are looking to broker a deal with Triple Crown again, and lock in Redzel for the 2019 renewal?
YZ: We're definitely open to liaising closely with Chris and Michael and will be watching the racing career of Redzel post Everest and resuming talks at the right time.
TDN AusNZ: You were extremely active at Inglis' Ready2Race sale last Monday. Have you decided on trainers for these purchases yet? Will they all run in your colours?
YZ: We have a good system in place of allocating our horse purchases for various racing jurisdictions, and my team and I will be sitting down to run through them very soon. Some of these horses will be heading straight to China to participate in the Inglis sponsored race series at Yulong Jockey Club.
TDN AusNZ: Can you give us an update on how your operations are going in Australia?
YZ: I'm pleased to say that almost everything is currently on track and I'm very happy with the progress.
TDN AusNZ: And your strategy behind developing a stallion portfolio?
YZ: Other than a few of our own young ones that could possibly have stallion potential (fingers crossed), we have also been actively in talks with several parties to secure shares in proven racehorses and potential stallions.
TDNAusNZ: What do you particularly enjoy about Australia and investing in the industry here?
YZ: The horse industry in Australia has been booming and there is strong and healthy support from the government right through to every level within the fraternity. The whole cycle promotes strong racing, and in turn creates great interest and develops passion amongst all involved.
These factors are not always seen amongst other racing countries/racing jurisdictions, and that, is what I like about investing in the racing industry in Australia.
