Yulong buys another star filly from NZ | Just horse racing

Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) winner Autumn Glory will race in new ownership when she competes in the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, with Yulong Investments securing the talented daughter of Ocean Park.

The progressive filly has been carefully managed by Roger James and Robert Wellwood and showed her enduring qualities when she outclassed the boys at Te Rapa last week. That victory increased her record to two wins from three starts, after she opened her account with a maiden success at Ruakaka in January.

Previously bred and raced by the Smithies family under the Monovale Holdings banner, the sale strengthens Yulong’s growing presence in New Zealand racing. Their recognizable green and white colors are already worn by leading fillies, including Oaks favorite Ohope Wins and unbeaten Guineas winner Well Written.

James welcomed the collaboration with the international superpower.

“It’s a privilege to have international owners of their size in the stable, and it’s great to see them getting involved in New Zealand in a bigger way,” said Roger James.

“I think it’s just a reflection of what we can offer them in New Zealand in terms of commitment and top class horses.

“Our target is the New Zealand Oaks and what happens next will be discussed after the race, but it is a Group One and that is what we are focused on.

“We are really happy with the way she has bounced through the Waikato Guineas. She is feeling good and looking great in the coat.

“She won a first and then we threw her straight into the black race as we thought she was well above average, but unfortunately at Taranaki we ended up on an abysmal track on her second start.

“It is to the filly’s credit that she came through that journey well and ran hard, and we had the confidence to field her again in the Waikato Guineas. We went into the race with confidence and her work had gone to another level, and she raced and won accordingly.”

Joe Smithies from Monovale explained the decision to sell, noting that this fits in with their long-term breeding strategy.

“Yulong bought her outright, and she will stay with Roger and Robert for the Oaks, who have done a great job,” said Joe Smithies.

“We must stick to our core business model of breeding horses for yearling sales.

“For us, racing is probably a byproduct of what we do, but that said, we really love racehorses, especially beautiful fillies like Autumn Glory.”

Smithies added that Ocean Park’s pairing with Venus’s Dream had already proven fruitful, producing quality artists such as Loveplanet and Existential Bob.

“We consistently got good type and sold well at the sales,” Smithies said. “This particular filly, Autumn Glory, was just behind the 8-ball for where we thought she should be for yearling sales. So we opted to hold on to her and just let her grow out.

“We have always liked her a lot, but felt that the sale probably came a little too early for her.”

In recent seasons Monovale has also sold stakes winners Scarlet Oak and Goldman, while three-year-old filly Acer, who was set to retain her place in the New Zealand Oaks field as an outsider.

“It’s a huge buzz to have bred two fillies who will run in the Oaks and who are both already stakes winners,” Smithies said.

“At the end of the day, that’s why we do it and these results aren’t easy to achieve, so you have to enjoy them for sure. But we’ve been exceptionally lucky.

“It was a great yearling sale for us at Karaka this year and it was hugely rewarding to have Acer win the Oaks Prelude (Listed, 1800m) in Taranaki on Karaka Millions night and cement her place in the Oaks field.”

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