Yulong buy into unbeaten Galaxy winner Private Harry
Yulong has completed a stud deal for Private Harry (Harry Angel), buying 50 per cent of the unbeaten colt in a transaction understood to be worth more than $8 million.
Zheng Yuesheng’s burgeoning empire and Private Harry’s owners Kurrinda Bloodstock signed off on the deal on Friday, pending vet checks.
Private Harry will stay with his young trainer Nathan Doyle under a sale clause keeping the horse with the Newcastle conditioner for life.
ANZ Bloodstock News understands the deal values the three-year-old Private Harry at a base figure of slightly more than $16 million, with performance kickers on top of that.
Yulong are keen for the colt to fill their slot in the $20 million weight-for-age The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) at Randwick in October, before he joins their stallion barn at a later date.
The sale represents a huge windfall for the colt’s band of 19 mainly small-time owners, who bought into the son of Darley shuttler Harry Angel (Dark Angel) after Kurrinda purchased him with Doyle for just $115,000 at Inglis Classic in 2023.
Yulong beat out other studs in a race to sign Private Harry following his breakthrough elite victory in last Saturday’s The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) at Rosehill.
Newgate Farm were understood to have been the closest rival stud to securing the colt, but baulked at matching Yulong’s ultimately successful offer.
That win in The Galaxy has taken Private Harry’s Timeform rating to 119, putting him equal-sixth among current Australian three-year-olds. Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Switzerland (Snitzel) tops the list at present on 125, ahead of Growing Empire (Zoustar), Lake Forest (No Nay Never) and Linebacker (Super Seth) on 121, and Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot) on 120.
Private Harry will contest next Saturday’s TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Randwick, for which he’s currently a $4.50 second favourite behind Joliestar (Zoustar) at $3.50.
The colt has had a rapid rise to fame since debuting less than five months ago. He first appeared with a 3.44 length win in a Newcastle Super Maiden (900m) on November 2, before benchmark wins at Hawkesbury – by 7.06 lengths – and Rosehill.
Private Harry then took a major step up in January by contesting the inaugural edition of $3m Queensland slot race The Sunlight 3YO Plate (1100m), and won that by 2.43 lengths beating Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) and million-dollar earner Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot).
Kept ticking with two barrier trial wins, he then won The Galaxy by 0.79 lengths, as a $3.50 favourite.
He’ll ultimately join Yulong’s stallion band, which currently numbers nine, headed by the 22-year-old Written Tycoon (Iglesia), along with young barnmates including Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice) and Grunt (O’Reilly).
Yulong added two stallions to their collection earlier this month, having purchased Shaquille (Charm Spirit) and Soldier’s Call (Showcasing) in Britain.