Champion stallion Written Tycoon’s fee remains unchanged as Yulong announces five-strong roster
Reigning Australian champion stallion Written Tycoon (Iglesia) will remain at an unchanged fee of $165,000 (all fees inc GST) in 2022, his 16th year at stud and his second at Yulong in Victoria.
The Yuesheng Zhang-owned Yulong operation, based in the state’s breeding heartland of Nagambie, last night confirmed a five-stallion line-up for this year’s breeding season as foundation sire Grunt’s (O’Reilly) first crop two-year-olds prepare to hit the racecourse next season.
Alongside Written Tycoon and Grunt, who will remain at an unchanged fee of $13,750 this year, Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa) will enter his second year at Yulong at a fee of $30,250, down slightly on the $33,000 he stood for in 2021.
C. F. Orr Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Alabama Express, a son of breedshaper and sire of sires in Redoute’s Choice (Danehill), will also stand for a slightly reduced fee of $22,000 this year while Lucky Vega (Lope De Vega) will stand for $19,250, a reduction from $22,000.
Written Tycoon, the centre of a powerplay this time last year which was finally won by Yulong, has sire sons Ole Kirk, Capitalist and Written By at stud in the Hunter Valley and he is also the sire of this season’s Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) and Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Coolangatta.
He has also had yearlings sell for up to $1.4 million this year as buyers continue to crave the stock of the remarkable rising 20-year-old stallion.
“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,” Yulong chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said.
“He was warmly received back into the Victorian breeding ranks last season and we are looking forward to another exciting breeding season with him, supporting him with top mares.”
Upon securing Written Tycoon, Yulong backed him to the hilt, sending 14-time Group 1-winning mare Melody Belle (Commands), In Her Time (Time Thief), Viddora (I Am Invincible), Greysful Glamour (Stratum) and Catch Me (I Am Invincible). He covered 199 mares last year, the same number as he did in 2020, his one-year stint at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley.
Fairgray is also keenly awaiting the first foals by Tagaloa, a top juvenile colt who backed up his Blue Diamond victory with a fourth-placed effort in the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m).
Tagaloa, who was trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, also won the CS Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m), defeating subsequent Group 1 winner Mo’unga (Savabeel), as a three-year-old.
“Given his profile and great looks, we are confident Tagaloa will leave good-looking foals that will give breeders the opportunity to get a strong return in the sale ring,” Fairgray said.
“Yulong has an exceptional broodmare band and Tagaloa has been well-supported to ensure he has every opportunity to start on the right note.”
Phoenix Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) juvenile winner Lucky Vega will also have his first foals on the ground later this year while Yulong, a growing force in the Australian industry, will also present Alabama Express’ first weanlings to the market next month.
“We have been so impressed by the foals Alabama Express has produced in his first crop. He has certainly stamped them as we’d expect from a son of Redoute’s Choice,” Fairgray said.
“We look forward to introducing his first crop of weanlings at the Inglis Weanling Sale and Magic Millions Weanling Sale in May.”
Leading Victorian trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace suggested that Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and Makybe Diva Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Grunt had put “substance” into his first crop progeny.
“Grunt really appeals to us, as a Victorian stallion, an outstanding three-year-old who trained on and provides really good value for us as Victorian and Sydney trainers looking for that more middle distance style of horse that people are looking to get involved in,” Eustace said.
Grunt’s rising two-year-olds are also in the stables of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Chris Waller, Tom Dabernig and Danny O’Brien, Tony and Calvin McEvoy, John O’Shea, Brad Widdup and Anthony and Sam Freedman.
“While we are delighted that Grunt’s yearlings have sold so well this year, the most exciting endorsement is the quality of judges who purchased them and the high-quality stables they’ll be heading to. “It ensures Grunt has every chance to succeed,” Fairgray said.
“We are happy to support the Victorian breeding industry, and have set our fees so that breeders have the opportunity to receive a healthy return from their investments.
“Grunt’s sale results this year have shown just that, with his first crop of Magics yearlings averaging $100,000 off a service fee of just $12,500, so this is an opportunity not to miss.”