YULONG TO SPONSOR GROUP 1 PRETTY POLLY STAKES
The Curragh is delighted to announce that Yulong will sponsor the Pretty Polly Stakes this year. The Group 1 contest for fillies and mares will take place as the feature race on day 2 of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Festival, Saturday 1st July and carries total prize money of €300,000.
Yulong is owned by prominent Chinese businessman Yuesheng Zhang who has develop a global racing empire, which includes a large Thoroughbred breeding operation in Victoria Australia. He also owns Yulong Racecourse in the Shanxi province on mainland China and is currently developing a sales complex there with state-of-the-art stables and facilities.
Sam Fairgray, COO Yulong Investments said,
“Following on from Yulong Stud’s involvement in Ireland with Lucky Vega, we are extremely happy to support the Irish racing and breeding industry and look forward to many years of collaboration ahead.”
Mr Zhang’s familiar green and white racing colours have been regularly seen in the winner’s enclosure at The Curragh, most notably with Magical Lagoon winning the Juddmonte Irish Oaks last year and 2020 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes winner Lucky Vega, who is now a resident stallion at the Irish National Stud.
Entries for the Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes include Above The Curve, Rosscarbery, Trevaunance and multiple Group 1 winner Nashwa. The final forfeit entry stage is next Tuesday with declared runners published on Thursday.
In addition to the sponsorship, Mr Zhang will present a free nomination for 2024 to Lucky Vega to the owners of the first three placed horses.
Evan Arkwright, Racing and Sponsorship Manager The Curragh commented,
“We are very grateful to Mr Zhang for selecting The Curragh for his first sponsorship in Ireland and appreciate his support of one of the most prestigious races in the Irish racing calendar. The association will further highlight the leading position that Yulong plays on the world’s racing stage.”