Billionaire Yuesheng Zhang strikes gold with talented colt Yu Long Sheng Hui

CHINESE billionaire Yuesheng Zhang is pouring millions into Australia racing and might have found something that could provide him with a decent return on his investment.

Dale Smith and Yu Long Sheng Hui combine to win the opening race at Caulfield.

SELF-made Chinese billionaire Yuesheng Zhang is pouring millions into racing throughout Australia and on Saturday he unearthed a two-year-old colt which could provide him with a decent return on his massive investment.

Zhang, whose businesses in China include coal mining, wind farms and hotels, has spent millions on bloodstock and farms — and he hasn’t stopped yet in Australia.

After winning a maiden by six lengths at Wodonga last month, Yu Long Sheng Hui will be sent to Zhang’s horse farm, at Bayles, near the new Tynong racecourse, before embarking on a spring campaign.

While trainer Mick Price will set the Sebring colt for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, he is concerned with the horse’s greenness but says it’s important that the owners have winners.

“We need them to win, they are putting a lot of money into Australian racing and we need to win regardless,” Price said. “He is an interesting colt, he is very green and looked like he did so much wrong in that race.

“It’s a bit of a worry, isn’t it? I haven’t got any more time to keep racing him. Physically, he could run on but if you want him for the spring, you have to do your timing and we’ll tip him out.”

Zhang and Price nearly made it two in a row, but Yulong Baby was beaten narrowly in the third race by Pin Your Hopes.

Price, who admitted he was concerned if the colt learnt much from Saturday’s win, says he would work out a program to get Yu Long Sheng Hui into the spring.

In a fighting three-way finish after earlier sitting three-wide, Yu Long Sheng Hui ($3.70), ridden by Dale Smith, held on by a head from Wazzenme $9.50) and Navagio ($101), which dead-heated for second in the 1200m race.

Trainer Mick Price has high hopes for Yu Long Sheng Hui. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

Scott Williamson, who manages the horse business for Yu Long Investments, said two adjoining properties at Bayles had been purchased as Zhang is keen to become involved in all aspects of racing, including the selling of horses.

He said the horse would spell at the same farm where champion mare Black Caviar enjoyed her breaks from racing.

“We are not just solely breeding to race ourselves,” Williamson said. “We will be doing a bit of everything and hopefully at some point standing our own stallions as well.”

Williamson said Zhang had a passion for racing where it was only at the grassroots level and just starting in China.

Yu Long Sheng Hui looks to have a bright future.

He said his family had been coming to Melbourne for a few years and decided it was where he wanted to base his horse operations.

Williamson pointed out that Zhang has his own racetrack in China.

“Obviously over there it is only for the elite,” Williamson said. “It’s still growing and with gambling not allowed in China, maybe if that comes in the industry will grow over there.”

Williamson said that Chinese racing industry could grow if gambling was introduced, but Zhang is focused on building and developing a horse base and farm in Australia.

Zhang also has horses with Darren Weir, Peter and Paul Snowden and Bjorn Baker.