Quannao village, population 120 and situated on the China-Mongolia border in the Gobi Desert, is hardly the first place that comes to mind as the birthplace of a modern horse racing dynasty.
Around 1,000 years since Genghis Khan and Marco Polo traversed the Mongolian Steppes, the region has now inspired Quannao native Zhang Yuesheng, whose Yulong operation is fast emerging as an international outfit to match big guns like Coolmore and Godolphin.
Earlier this week, it was reported that three of North America's best mares - Canadian Horse of the Year Moira along with Full Count Felicia and Anisette - were bound for Australia. They will join Yulong's rapidly expanding stable, which already includes the world's best mare Via Sistina and exciting three-year-old Growing Empire - both set for their 2025 debuts tomorrow.
Such has been Zhang's success in just 17 years since he established the Yulong Group in China that he is among a small coterie of prolific global owner-breeders who have been granted Hong Kong Jockey Club ownership permits. Zhang and South African doyenne Mary Slack were granted the first non-resident permits in 2022 - a program since extended to a handful of others, like Germany's Dr Andreas Jacobs or Peter Vela from New Zealand.
Zhang, 55, has had three Hong Kong runners so far, all trained by Mark Newnham: Happy Valley winner Show Respect, Hong Kong Mile runner Ramadan and Australian stakes placegetter Alsonso, who steps out at Sha Tin on Sunday.
By any measure, it has been a rapid rise for the self-made Chinese billionaire. So where did it all begin?
Zhang grew up in Quannao, where horses were an agricultural necessity and a mode of transport. His ambition soon drove him south to Datong where, at 18, he first became a taxi driver before beginning work as a coal transportation officer.
By 2000, Zhang had established a coal mining business that quickly expanded into other industries with 14 subsidiaries across sectors like renewable energy, property and petrochemicals. His conglomerate was named Yulong after the "white dragon horse" of Chinese mythology, immortalized in the 16th-century epic Journey To The West.
A return to his roots was only natural and in 2008, he established Yulong Horse Group, based at Yulong Horse Park in Youyu, not far from Quannao. Two years later, he bought his first thoroughbred abroad - an Irish filly named Yulong Baoju, trained by Edward Lynam - but it was being trackside at Flemington for Fiorente's 2013 Melbourne Cup success that inspired his global vision.
The Yulong colors - jade green and white, because the 'Yu' also means jade in Chinese - have since been seen in most major jurisdictions around the world. However, it is Australia where they now have the greatest impact, reaching their zenith with Via Sistina's Cox Plate win last year.
Only five years ago the fledgling Yulong operation Down Under was seen as a flash in the pan, racing many high-priced yearlings with little success. Like so many big spenders before him, it was expected that Zhang's involvement would cease.
Now, Yulong is the biggest breeder in Victoria, building a broodmare band that is the envy of the world and a stallion roster befitting any major stud. Their trophy cabinet is filling up rapidly.
Zhang is contributing to a new era of globalization that is making the racing world smaller than ever before. Mares like Via Sistina or Moira would never have raced or gone to stud in Australia previously and the blend of international formlines and pedigrees is a positive for the sport's future.
It may not be Genghis Khan level of global domination, but Zhang is well on his way to changing the face of international racing.
By any measure, it has been a rapid rise for self-made billionaire Zhang Yuesheng. CHINA HORSE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
