Yulong Stud in Australia Announces 2021 Fees

Lucky Vega (IRE), who ran a superb race at Newmarket May 1 to be beaten just a short head and a neck into third in the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1), is to join the Yulong Stud roster later this year at a fee of AU$22,000. The Yuesheng Zhang-owned operation also revealed that Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) winner Tagaloa (AUS), the first son of Japan's heir apparent to the late Deep Impact in Lord Kanaloa to go to stud in Australia, would stand at an introductory fee of AU$33,000 at the Nagambie farm. Written Tycoon (AUS), meanwhile, on the verge of a possible maiden Australian general sires title, will stand for a career-high AU$165,000 as the star stallion prepares for his return to Victoria and first season at Yulong Stud. After winning on his debut at Naas as a juvenile, Lucky Vega went on to take last year's Keeneland Phoenix Stakes (G1) at the Curragh. Trained by Jessica Harrington, he subsequently finished fifth in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) and second in the Juddmonte Middle Park (G1). He is set to follow up his excellent comeback effort behind Poetic Flare (IRE) on the Rowley Mile by contesting the Tattersalls Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) at the Curragh later this month. Yulong chief operating officer Sam Fairgray is looking forward to the arrival of the son of Lope de Vega (IRE) and said: "He's a super-looking horse, with a lot of strength and quality about him and a beautiful head. We are really excited to have a horse of his caliber join the roster this year. "Lope de Vega has been a fantastic sire and to be able to have a group 1-winning 2-year-old son coming to Australia to stud is fantastic. He'll be popular with that sire line, as we have seen it excel down here." Written Tycoon, who stood at Arrowfield Stud last year, trails the pensioned Not A Single Doubt (AUS) by just AU$152,723 in the race for the 2020-21 sires championship, with a margin over I Am Invincible (AUS) and four-time title holder Snitzel (AUS). "With his racetrack performances and what he has been able to achieve in the sales ring, Written Tycoon has justified his positioning among the leading stallions in Australia," said Fairgray. "It's fantastic to have a horse of his quality here at the farm and there is certainly a lot of excitement here. We are really looking forward to the breeding season with him." Last month, Yulong pulled off a coup to secure the rising 19-year-old stallion, the sire of group 1 winners Ole Kirk (AUS), Pippie (AUS), and Odeum (AUS) this season, after reaching a deal with then majority shareholder Sheriff Iskander to have Written Tycoon relocate from Arrowfield Stud back to Victoria this year. From 2013 to 2019, Written Tycoon had been standing at Woodside Park Stud, where his service fee rose from AU$13,750 to a previous high of AU$110,000 in 2018 and 2019 as his legacy gathered pace through the deeds of group 1 winners Capitalist (AUS) and Music Magnate (NZ). He stood for AU$77,000 at Arrowfield Stud last year. The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Tagaloa was officially retired after the Schweppes All Aged Stakes (G1) at Randwick April 24, but his fee had not been confirmed until now. A Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, Tagaloa won three of his 13 starts, a November 2-year-old race at Moonee Valley, last year's Blue Diamond Stakes and, importantly, the The Debonair CS Hayes Stakes (G3) at Flemington in February. He also ran third in the Kennedy Australian Guineas (G1) at the same course two weeks later. Kennedy Cantala Stakes (G1) winner Yulong Prince (SAF), who also won at group 1 level in South Africa, as previously announced will stand for AU$9,900 in his first season at stud, while Alabama Express (AUS)' fee of AU$24,750 remains unchanged in his second year at stud. Yulong's foundation sire Grunt (NZ) will also stand for an unchanged fee of AU$13,750 in 2021, his third year at stud. "Of the six stallions we are standing, we have five group 1 winners on the track and the other one is Written Tycoon, who has left multiple group 1 winners himself," said Fairgray. "We have a diverse roster, with stallions at multiple price points and at different stages in their career. We look forward to welcoming breeders to Yulong to check them out in person."