Yulong will have at least a three-strong contingent in the $20 million The Everest, but it is its own slot, currently held by Private Harry, which is currently the centre of much debate.
Yulong’s Angel Capital was selected to run in James Harron’s slot late last month, while on Saturday, the multiple Group-1 winning Yulong-owned mare Magic Time was locked in as Inglis’ representative.
Private Harry was inked as Yulong’s choice soon after he won the G1 Galaxy in March, as part of the breeding and racing giant’s shareholding in the at-that-point unbeaten sprinter.
However, he was beaten 4.5 lengths in both The Shorts and the Premiere Stakes, finishing fifth on both occasions, calling into question his form this campaign.
On Saturday, he was easily beaten by fellow Everest contenders Briasa and Jimmysstar and pulled up 2/5 lame in the near foreleg, according to the stewards’ report.
Both performances fell short of the owners’ and trainer Nathan Doyle’s expectation and Private Harry’s participation in The Everest is now in some doubt.
Yulong does have other options, having recently purchased 10 per cent of Manikato Stakes winner Charm Stone via Inglis Online.
It could also opt to select a horse it doesn’t own for its slot, including Saturday’s impressive Group 2 Gilgai Stakes winner War Machine, but that seems unlikely.
Yulong has previously won The Everest as slotholder thanks to Redzel in 2018, but for the last two years has had its own horses contest the race, with Alcohol Free in 2023 and Growing Empire, who ran third last year.
BRIASA 💛🤍
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 4, 2025
A brilliant win in the Premiere as Briasa continues his climb up the mountain! Can he knock off Ka Ying Rising in two weeks time? pic.twitter.com/12Tq5XA1Hh
Magic Time, privately purchased by Yulong at the end of last spring, will carry the famous green colours but for Inglis’ slot, which was vacated by an injury to Skybird last week.
It was an interesting selection for Inglis, who have tended to select graduates for their slot in the race, but Magic Time was passed in through Magic Millions as a yearling and retained by her breeder John Muir before being sold privately.
Warwick Barr
Inglis Bloodstock CEO Sebastian Hutch explained the rationale.
“Mr Zhang and Yulong are incredible supporters not just of Inglis, but of Australian racing and breeding, so when the opportunity came up to partner with them for The Everest, it was something we were very enthusiastic about,” he said.
“It is disappointing to not have Skybird to represent us, but this is a not dissimilar situation to the one which saw us run Private Eye on the Inglis slot in 2022 and he finished a close second that year.
“Magic Time is a daughter of an Inglis Classic Sale graduate in Hellbent, while we are expecting her three quarter brother by I Am Invincible to be one of the stars of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2026.
“Grahame Begg has done an expert job in his management of her career and it is fantastic to have so many different people with whom Inglis has a strong working relationship represented in The Everest as part of this arrangement.”
Yulong has become arguable the biggest force in Australin breeding and bloodstock in the past five years.
“Yulong are going to have big, strong drafts of yearlings across each of Classic, Premier and Easter Yearling Sales in 2026 and this is just another step in the strengthening of our ties with them,” Hutch said.
Yulong’s General Manager Jun Zhang said Magic Time, who was third in the Manikato Stakes at her most recent start, deserves her spot in the race.
“She’s the ultimate model of consistency, running into the top three on 14 occasions, including winning twice at the highest level,” he said.
“Her versatility with track conditions also adds another string to her bow.
“Grahame and Sue Begg are sending her to Sydney in peak form and off the back of two very strong starts already this season and she’s likely to pose a serious threat in this year’s edition.”
