Zhang backs in his recently retired US stallions with $5 million Broodmare of the Year Puca at Fasig-Tipton

Reigning North America Broodmare of the Year Puca, the dam of three successive Grade 1 winners, will lead Yulong’s support of two new stallions retired to stud in the US by billionaire owner Zhang Yuesheng.

Zhang paid US$5 million for Puca – the dam of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch and this year’s Pennsylvania Derby winner Baeza – at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale in Kentucky with Raging Torrent set to be her 2026 mating.

Raging Torrent, a dual Grade 1 winner for trainer Doug O’Neill, and Carl Spackler have been retired to Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky after injury curtailed the career of the former and the latter failed to recapture his Grade 1-winning American form in a brief European campaign.

Puca was the highest-profile purchase for Zhang’s Raging Torrent Syndicate, which also paid US$1.5 million for Violent Wave, the mother of Raging Torrent who is in foal to America’s champion sire Into Mischief.

Zhang also paid US$1.2 million for Selenaia, a black type winner by Sea The Stars who is in foal to Not This Time, another top-class US sire.

Selenaia is likely to be served by Carl Spackler, a son of Lope De Vega who raced at Royal Ascot and Goodwood during the northern hemisphere summer for Australian trainer Ciaron Maher and Yulong. 

He had his final start at Ascot on Champions Day at Ascot in October for John and Thady Gosden when again unplaced, leading to his retirement to stud.

“Anywhere you go in the world, she’s a phenomenal, phenomenal mare,” Zhang’s Ace Stud bloodstock and racing manager Paul Curran told the media at Fasig-Tipton. 

“That’s really, really special now that she’s ours.”

Zhang, whose buying spree at Fasig-Tipton also included US$575,000 More Than Ready mare Mylinda’s Grey signed under his UK arm Ace Stud, was trumped for the purchase of the highest-priced lots at the signature sale in Lexington.

That honour went to Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian who paid US$6.2 million for Streak Of Luck, the dam of last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Ted Noffey. Zhang’s Ace Stud was the underbidder on the mare who is in foal to Not This Time.

“We had to wait around, and I kind of knew who was waiting around; it was going to be extremely strong,” said Ben McElroy, who did the bidding for Joorabchian.

“Sales like this, when you bring the elite mares, she was probably the one that came in here with all the momentum. 

“She’s got the champion two-year-old colt, or champion elect (and the) Kentucky Derby future favourite. He’s a great-looking horse; he’s unbeaten.”

Qatar Racing sold its 50 per cent share in Shisospicy, the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, to co-owners Morplay Racing at a valuation of US$5.2 million.

Japan’s leviathan breeder Katsumi Yoshida was also prominent on the buyers’ sheet, purchasing six mares at Fasig-Tipton headed by Justify mare Just F Y I who was sold for US$4.5 million in foal to Into Mischief.

In total, US$102 million was traded at an average of US$739,326 and a median of US$300,000