The billionaire owner of Cox Plate winner Via Sistina, Zhang Yuesheng, made a big splash at the Arqana Arc sale last month when spending €2.8 million on two lots targeted at this year’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin.
Ramadan, the winner of the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Paris Longchamp, was purchased for €1.5 million. The three-year-old is being aimed at the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, seeking to build on an already stellar career in France, where he won two Group 3's alongside the aforementioned Group 2 under the oversight of Christopher Head. The Sumbe-bred son of Le Havre has since been transferred to Newmarket handler James Ferguson and ten-time French Champion Jockey Christophe Soumillon is forecast to take the ride at Sha Tin in December.
Zarir – a €1.3 million acquisition – is set to be saddled by French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. The four-year-old placed second in both the Group 2 Prix Foy and the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp but looks to have plenty to find on current industry-wide favourite Romantic Warrior.
Vin Cox, racing manager for Yulong's operation, expressed his excitement at the pair's prospects. In an interview given to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he said: "Ramadan will be well and truly in contention in the Mile, if he brings his A game to the track, though I would suggest he's probably going to be running on, flashing home late, hopefully getting the right result."
"I think that 2000 metres will prove to be his sweet spot. Our intention is to leave him in Hong Kong after the Mile and for him to further his career there. He will be trained by Mark Newnham. A race such as the Hong Kong Derby would be terrific for him."
As for Zarir, Cox admitted he 'faces a formidable challenge taking on Romantic Warrior'. He said: "We are under no illusions, but there's a longer-range plan for him to end up in Australia with Chris (Waller) to be trained for the Cups."
Being reared in the bloodstock world from a childhood spent in Inner Mongolia, with a love of racing cemented in a visit to the Melbourne Cup in 2013, these big-money outlays reflect Yuesheng's personal ambitions to have a "stallion roster that is both commercial and admired."
"He enjoys being in the winner's circle on big race days, and he likes breeding and racing very good winners. But, also, the commercial arm of his operation is important to him — he wants it to be prolific and high quality", said Cox.
Hong Kong represents a crucial factor in the long-term project for the team - "Mr Zhang has a lot of business contacts in Hong Kong through Mainland China. It's very much on his radar to race horses in Hong Kong. He and his daughter April look forward to racing more horses there down the line."
Having enjoyed success in Australia with Via Sistina and homebred Treasurethe Moment, a Longines HKIR trophy in December would serve to strengthen the profile of the Yulong Investments brand, which is rapidly becoming an international force to be reckoned with.
