YTDS Vice Chairman, Mr Zhang Dong Hai (left), and Chairman, Mr Teo Ah Khing
A partnership created to internationalize China’s fledging commercial thoroughbred industry took a giant leap forward when graduates from its breeding programme scored in three events at the feature Yulong International Race Day.
Inner Mongolia Yitai Desert Star Horse Industries (YTDS), a partnership between the highly successful Yitai Group and China Horse Club, left a clear and undoubted impact on leaders of the domestic and international industries with these results which were headlined by a first and third placing in the prestigious RMB1,200,000 (USD165,000) China Horse Owners Alliance Derby (1800m).
“The finish line is the measure of success in this industry and the results at Yulong last weekend … confirm that the efforts of YTDS in leading in the internationalization of China’s bloodlines are benefitting the entire marketplace” – Teo Ah Khing
The feature day, which offered prizemoney of RMB20 million (USD2.7 million), coincided with the the Eighth China Horse Owners Alliance (CHOA) conference held at Yulong International Hotel.
“The finish line is the measure of success in this industry and the results at Yulong last weekend with Tianjiao Princess, Xiao Wan Tony and Hu Hu Sheng Wei confirm that the efforts of YTDS in leading in the internationalization of China’s bloodlines are benefitting the entire marketplace,” said YTDS Chairman, Teo Ah Khing.
Tianjiao Princess races away with the RMB1.2 million China Horse Owners Alliance Derby. Stablemate North Wolf is third.
“YTDS has been rewarded as a breeder by these results. And the owners we have sold to have been rewarded many times over with success on such a stage.
“YTDS breeds to sell. We hope these results encourage even greater interest in the graduates from our breeding programme and to breeders booking in early to our stallions like North Dakota who is taking all before him.”
The genesis of internationalizing China’s domestic breeding industry at a commercial scale traces back to the creation of the China Equine Cultural Festival (CECF) which was first run in 2016. The lifestyle, business and racing event promoted the extensive importation of bloodlines from some of the world’s most successful breeders based in Ireland, France, United States, Australia and New Zealand over multiple years.
This strategy initiated by one of the world’s most successful thoroughbred owners and breeders in China Horse Club and resonated with Yitai Group, a modern integrated enterprise that has consistently been ranked among China’s Top 500 Enterprises for more than a decade. Under YTDS, these partners are now seeing the fruits of their investment playing out on China’s biggest race days.
Over the last quarter of a century similar strategies have upgraded industries in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay. Continued investment into these regions has elevated and diversified available bloodlines, making them more internationally recognizable and, as a result, more commercial.
North Dakota, currently ranked China’s leading stallion of three-year-olds, was among the initial intake of performers for the 2016 CECF. Bred by Coolmore in partnership with the Niachos Family, the son of Galileo was a slow maturer who realized his abilities once relocated to China. Under the guidance of China Horse Club and then YTDS, he took all before him with wins at the 10th National Traditional Games for Ethnic Minorities, G2 CHIA Xilinhaote Cup (2015) and the CEA National Tour Final (2014) before retiring to be its inaugural stallion.
Champion racehorse North Dakota is now siring outstanding racehorses
“…North Dakota is the most exciting young stallion in China today”
North Dakota had no less than four performers qualify for the Derby and it was his filly, Tianjiao Princess, who reigned supreme under the guidance of jockey Qin Yong. Her highly touted stablemate, North Wolf, who was looking to extend his undefeated career to four wins, closed hard late to almost snatch second place.
“The results at Yulong tell us that North Dakota is the most exciting young stallion in China today. He was represented extensively across the programme, had the first and third placegetters in the Derby and another winner on the programme in Hu Hu Sheng Wei who YTDS bred and sold as an unraced horse,” Chairman Teo added.
“We will continue to support North Dakota strong and we hope that the leading breeders in China do as well.”
YTDS celebrate Tianjiao Princess’ win
While the depth of YTDS’s breeding programme is enhanced by the involvement of North Dakota, the performance of Daredevil’s Xiao Wan Tony is testament to its creativity and depth.
In 2018, YTDS imported four mares in foal to the stallion Daredevil from the United States. At the time, Daredevil was unproven but held in high regard by China Horse Club, who advises YTDS on international bloodlines. That belief was justified when Daredevil had two G1 winners from his first crop of runners. This action has been of many designed to internationalize China’s industry and to promote it into major markets. Others include:
- Drumbeat: 1st champion thoroughbred from China to win internationally (Santa Anita, USA)
- CECF: 1st internationally endorses thoroughbred race day
- CHC China Dream Project: 1st internationally recognized scholarship programme providing opportunities for Chinese in established industries worldwide
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