Yuesheng Zhang has been in regular attendance at bloodstock sales across the world in recent years and his Yulong Investments operation now has a classy homebred on its books in the form of Hungry Heart (Aus) (Frankel {GB}), the winner of Saturday's G2 Sweet Embrace S. at Randwick for Chris Waller.
Making just her second start, the chesnut landed the six-furlong contest by three-quarters of a length under James McDonald and is now being aimed at the G1 Golden Slipper on Mar. 21.
“She's obviously pretty talented and good on Yulong for getting everything right. She'll be better in six months' time, but hopefully good enough in three weeks' time,” said Waller. “We've got a lot to work with and her breeding does suggest that she will really come into her own as a 3-year-old.”
Hungry Heart is the first foal of the Pivotal (GB) mare Harlech (GB), a half-sister to the Group 2-placed Maamora (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) out of Listed Radley S. winner Zoowraa (GB) (Azamour {Ire}). Harlech ran just once for her breeder Godolphin and was sold as a 3-year-old at the Tattersalls July Sale for 60,000gns to Sheamus Mills on behalf of Yulong. Frankel has had regular support at Juddmonte's Newmarket base during the southern hemisphere covering season and Banstead Manor Stud was the first port of call for Harlech from the sale before she was exported.
Hungry Heart, who is bred on the same cross as Group 1 winners Cracksman (GB) and Veracious (GB), is the second Australian-bred Group 2 winner for Frankel after Miss Fabulass (Aus), a daughter of the top-class racemare Samantha Miss (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}).
Another European-based stallion featured in the group-race results in Australia on Saturday when 5-year-old Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) landed the third Group 2 contest of his career, winning the Thoroughbred Club Blamey S. at Flemington for the second time.
Bred by Airlie Stud from Swizzle Stick (Ire) (Sadler's Wells), an unraced half-sister to Group 2 winner Viztoria (Ire), Fifty Stars was bought as a yearling from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Sale by Australian agent John Foote, another regular face at European sales. He is now the winner of six of his 18 starts, including four group contests, and was recently beaten less than two lengths when fourth in the G1 C.F. Orr S.
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