Alabama Express and Lucky Vega have earned fee increases at Yulong following brilliant seasons by highly talented fillies Treasurethe Moment and Within The Law respectively.
Yulong also confirmed rising 23-year-old champion sire Written Tycoon would remain at a private fee as he enters his 19th season at stud as the Zhang Yuesheng-owned operation looks to the future through the rising fortunes of Alabama Express and Lucky Vega.
Alabama Express will stand for $66,000 (all fees inc GST), an increase of $11,000 on last year, while shuttle sire Lucky Vega will stand for $38,500, up from $16,500 in 2024.
One of 12 stakes horses from 74 runners from two crops of racing age, the Matt Laurie-trained Treasurethe Moment has taken all before her as a three-year-old, winning her past eight starts in succession including the Group 1 VRC Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes and the ATC Oaks.
Alabama Express, who has his largest foal crop of 140 weanlings on the ground and covered 223 mares last year, is also the sire of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Alabama Lass and the recently retired Perth Listed-winning filly Glasgow Lass.
The first crop by Lucky Vega, whose second crop southern hemisphere-bred yearlings have sold for up to $380,000, burst onto the racing scene via the New Zealand-trained stakes-placed Vega For Luck and Bjorn Baker’s Within The Law, the winner of the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes and runner-up in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes earlier in April.
Service fees for Pierata ($55,000) and Grunt ($19,800) were reduced while the status quo was maintained for Tagaloa ($22,000), Panthalassa ($16,500) and Diatonic ($13,750).
The sole newcomer on the Yulong roster of nine is Breeders’ Cup Mile winner More Than Looks, with Sunday’s announcement an indication that three-time Group 1-placed colt Growing Empire, a Ciaron Maher-trained rising four-year-old by Zoustar, will race on next season rather than retire to stud.
“We’re proud to offer a well-rounded roster that brings together established Group 1 winners, promising second-season sires, and international performers,” Yulong’s chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said.
“Each stallion has been selected to offer real breeding value and suit a range of mares and goals.”
Written Tycoon is in the midst of another stellar season, siring 15 individual stakes winners including now retired three-year-old Group 1-winning colts Southport Tycoon and Private Life. He served 63 mares last year.
Yulong 2025 Roster
