Cover image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Three weeks into his new job, Danny Rolston is still getting across the full scale of Yulong’s racing operation. There are horses with trainers across Australia and New Zealand, farms in two states, a growing stallion roster and one result the business particularly wants: a Golden Slipper.
Appointed Racing Manager at the start of the season, Rolston will oversee Yulong’s global racing team and bring together the racing and bloodstock sides of an operation that has expanded rapidly over the past decade.
See the world through a racing lens
Rolston brings a wealth of experience to the role having worked for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, New Zealand Bloodstock and Godolphin. If it’s global reach that Yulong want, Rolston is the person who brings that to the team.
“I've been in the industry since I left school basically. I did my apprenticeship as a jockey and rode for roughly five years in New Zealand and Australia. From there I lived in the USA working in racing for Godolphin. Then I spent 18 years at New Zealand Bloodstock. For the last four years, I've been in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Jockey Club as Executive Manager of the International Sale,” Rolston said.
Rolston brings experience from several commercial facets of the industry and has a deep understanding of pedigrees.
“My recent two positions that have taken up 23 years of my life have been very heavily bloodstock focussed, which crosses over into the racing sphere fairly significantly. This role is primarily focused on the racing but also gives me the opportunity to cross back into the bloodstock and the sales side of things through the other arms of the Yulong operation.
“I think it's an exciting time to join the team. There’s a great team of people, both within the management and administration side as there is out on the farms as well. We've got some nice stallions and an amazing broodmare band.”
Danny Rolston | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Any stallion operation wanting to stand commercially viable stallions needs a whole support system to find and develop those stallions, and that’s where Rolston sees he brings his biggest strengths to the role.
“I think where I'm going to be an asset to the organisation is that I can deal with scale. There's going to be a lot of relationship management as we've got quite a few trainers on the books.
“Understanding horses' strengths and weaknesses, and working closely with those trainers, but also understanding what the campaigns of horses we might have in competing stables and to try not to have those clashes. With a race like the Coolmore, we want to make sure we're lining up the best colt and not just the 3-year-olds that might get a run.
“It’s about having a high level view, and overseeing the whole racing team across our training programs, and at the same time, having a commercial bloodstock view across the campaigns.” - Danny Rolston
“It’s about having a high level view, and overseeing the whole racing team across our training programs, and at the same time, having a commercial bloodstock view across the campaigns.”
From one large scale business to another
With a big operation, it takes some time to get across the scale of the role and that’s been Rolston’s focus in the first three weeks since arriving at Yulong.
“I'm currently in week three, so my first mission has been to get a really good overview of what the company's assets are. We've got our own in-house pre-training farm. We’ve got a growing spelling operation, in addition to the stud farm here in Victoria and the recent acquisition, Segenhoe,” Rolston said.
“We've got a growing spelling operation, in addition to the stud farm here in Victoria and the recent acquisition, Segenhoe.” - Danny Rolston
“Our breaking is done externally and our horses are all sent to external trainers. It’s been about getting around to see as many of the horses (in three weeks) to get more familiar with the horses but also to understand the company assets, how we're using them and any efficiencies that we can improve on. It’s about making sure our systems are absolutely locked tight to give us the best opportunity to win the Golden Slipper.
“We've got some lovely stallions here that don't profile for the Australian 2-year-old races and that's fine. It's great for us to be able to win Guineas, Derbies, Cox Plates and Caulfield Cup,” said Rolston.
Yulong's Segenhoe property | Image courtesy of Yulong Investments
“Primarily we are a commercial stallion farm and need to be focused on those big 2-year-old features. To do that, everything needs to be absolutely ducks in a row and lined up to give yourself the best chances.”
One of the new retirees this season who fits this bill is Devil Night, who cost Yulong $1.4 million as a yearling and won the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes. Vinrock is another addition to their roster in 2026 with juvenile form having won the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes and G2 VRC Sires' Produce at two. Proven sire Tagaloa won the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and has two stakes winners in his first crop who have just turned four.
“It's all about giving all these young horses the opportunity to go through a system without pressure, but to be assessed fairly. Those who tell us that they're ready to keep going, or tell the trainers that we're working with to keep going, then we can give them their opportunity, but equally as important, those that aren't ready can be given the right time that they need and balance that up with education and bone conditioning and training.”
Devil Night when racing | Standing at Yulong, NSW
The development of young horses is one area that Rolston has proven experience in his former role with the Hong Kong Jockey where he oversaw the selection and preparation of horses for their annual International Sale.
“We did have the luxury of time with those horses, and that could be a blessing and a curse. Arguably we were holding those horses bordering on too long, whereas here we are getting horses ready for a 2-year-old and early 3-year-old campaign. We don’t have the same luxury of time (with Australian 2-year-old racing), but Hong Kong has certainly given me an insight into conditioning and preparing horses to ensure longevity and performance.”
The commercial decisions begin early
While the decisions on which of the current 2-year-old crop to send to which trainers was largely completed prior to Rolston joining Yulong, the thinking that went into those decisions will continue to be driven from the same commercial focus.
“We use the best trainers who are known for getting the best results in the big races and at carnival time. That’s what we're trying to achieve. If we can support trainers with precocious 2-year-olds that have the systems to get them to the big races, then that's obviously important for us,” Rolston said.
“We use the best trainers who are known for getting the best results in the big races and at carnival time. That’s what we're trying to achieve.” - Danny Rolston
“On the other side of it, we’re producing a huge number of horses and selling yearlings commercially, so we also support those trainers that have purchased from us. If people see horses we own with smaller stables, it’s generally because they’ve bought yearlings from us and it’s our way to support them in return.”
Yulong’s first draft was at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was led by Group 1 winner Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}) who they sold for $300,000. Such has been the growth at Yulong that in 2026 they offered 249 yearlings across the whole yearling sales season. Their season’s sale topper was the full brother to Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) from Miss Iano (Equiano {Fr}) to Ciaron Maher and David Redvers Bloodstock for $1.3 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Hungry Heart | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Who to watch this spring
With a strong racing team, Rolston gave TTR a few horses who they hope will make headlines over this spring.
“Angel Capital. He's already got one run into his legs for this campaign and he runs in the Memsie. We're quite looking forward to him. Chris (Waller) is happy with the way he's pulled up and his debut run this season was good. We think the Memsie is a race that he's going to put in a bold showing. We know it's going to be a strong race,” Rolston said.
Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) won three stakes races as a 3-year-old last season including the G2 Autumn Stakes and ran third in the G2 Missile Stakes when resuming for this campaign. He also has three Group 1 placings under his belt and is an entire trained by Chris Waller.
“He'll come up against another one of our headliners in Treasurethe Moment who won the race last year. She's looking like being on a Caulfield Cup campaign and Matt and Kate Laurie have been very happy for the way she's coming through.”
Treasurethe Moment | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Winner of nine in succession at three and four, Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) is a homebred for Yulong. She won the G1 Victoria Oaks, G1 Vinery Stud Stakes and G1 Australian Oaks at three and last year’s G1 Memsie Stakes at four. The mare is trained by Matt Laurie.
“Barnavara was scratched (from Winx) with a bad barrier and either go back a week potentially to the Memsie, but more likely she'll be either a week or so behind that and avoid some of our other horses coming through.
“She's obviously come with a big price tag and with that comes a lot of expectation, but Chris has been really happy with her and she's got some good options at a mile and above. She's got a nice pedigree, a big reputation and her barrier trials have been good, but we're just conscious of running her in the right races to get her off the mark early.”
Another in the Chris Waller stable, Barnavara (Ire) (Calyx {GB}) won four stakes races in Europe including the G1 Prix de l’Opera and was bought for 4.8 million gns (AU$9.5 million). She had one start last autumn running fourth in the G3 Neville Sellwood Handicap.
Barnavara (Ire) | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“We’ve got Well Written over in New Zealand who obviously remained unbeaten at three. Her grand final is going to be the Golden Eagle. She had a barrier trial at Taupo the other day on the grass and she looks like she's low flying. She'll debut in the Proisir Plate. That’s going to be a really good race, it’s going to be competitive, but she looks pretty special.”
Yulong purchased a 50% share in Well Written (Written Tycoon) after she won the G2 Soliloquy Stakes at her second start. She won the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas at her next start and is unbeaten in six starts at three including the rich R. Listed NZB Kiwi. She is trained in New Zealand by Stephen Marsh.
Well Written | Image courtesy of Race Images South
The classic crop of 3-year-olds
Yulong purchased G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Streisand (Magnus) after she ran second to Guest House (Home Affairs) in the G1 Golden Slipper, and they also acquired a share in G2 Todman Stakes winning colt Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) around the same time.
“The biggest name we've got there is Streisand. She’s been a top 2-year-old and she’ll step out in the Cap D'Antibes and then we’ll look at some of those good sprints in Melbourne. She won't have a deep campaign, and we’ll look to end up in either the Coolmore of the Champion Sprint at Flemington on Cup week,” Rolston said.
Streisand | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Paradoxium with Bjorn Baker, he's around about two weeks off a debut. Bjorn still hasn't locked in where he'll start. We'll head towards the Coolmore if he comes out in good shape.” He won a barrier trial on Friday last week.
“Omolong, who came out late season for Chris Waller, is another one of what I'd call probably a more exposed 3-year-olds. And then we’ve got a nice group of horses that haven’t stepped out as much that we are looking at spring classic campaigns with.” Omolong (Extreme Choice) was acquired by Yulong for $850,000 from Baramul Stud’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale draft. He’s a late December foal who is unbeaten in two starts as a late 2-year-old.
Omolong | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Diatonic has Mr Zhang’s attention
Of the 13 stallions standing at Yulong’s NSW and Victorian farms, it’s Group 2 winner Diatonic (Jpn) who might be a smokey on the First Season Sire list this year. His first crop of 19 foals were born in Australia to Northern Hemisphere time in early 2024 and seven have been named. All of them, bar Heart Of The Ocean, have been exported to Great Britain and China.
Diatonic’s first Southern Hemisphere crop were born in the spring of 2024 and have just turned two. He has 87 live foals from this crop.
“Diatonic has got his first crop of 2-year-olds and of the ones we have, it’s actually his fillies that have shown us that they're going to be coming up a little bit earlier,” Rolston said.
“Diatonic has got his first crop of 2-year-olds and of the ones we have, it’s actually his fillies that have shown us that they're going to be coming up a little bit earlier.” - Danny Rolston
Diatonic | Standing at Yulong, Victoria
Rolston picked out three fillies from stunning broodmares who have showed a bit in the early stages of their education.
“The filly out of In Her Time with Ciaron Maher looks like a mid-season 2-year-old that’s impressing already.” Yulong purchased Group 1-winning sprinter In Her Time (Time Thief) for $2.2 million at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale, and her first two foals are both winners. She has 3-year-old colt Horologist (Written Tycoon) ahead of this Diatonic 2-year-old filly.
“The filly out of Melody Belle looks like she'll come fairly early for Te Akau.” Dual New Zealand Horse Of The Year Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) was trained by Te Akau Racing to win 19 races, 14 of those at Group 1 level. She was bought by Yulong for $2.6 million at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2021.
Melody Belle (NZ) | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Her first foal of Listed Twilight Glow Stakes-placed Lyrics ‘N’ Song (Written Tycoon) and this Diatonic filly is her second foal.
“The filly out of Viddora is looking interesting as well.” G1 AJ Moir Stakes and G1 Winterbottom Stakes winner Viddora (I Am Invincible) was bought by Yulong for $2.55 million at the 2020 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Her first two foals are winners, led by G3 Up & Coming Stakes winner Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon), and this filly is her third live foal.
Viddora | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s a stallion that Mr Zhang has supported heavily with good mares and while they're not all going to come out as 2-year-olds, those are three fillies that we've spotted out and about that the trainers have been confident with and complimentary about and have done what they’re supposed to do.”
Millionaire yearlings are getting ready to go
Yulong has been investing heavily into the top commercial pedigrees at the yearling sales for several years now, and in 2026 they bought four seven-figure yearlings.
“There's an Extreme Choice out of Hazlebrook with Peter Moody. He was a $2 million Magic Millions yearling and he’s a big strong boy that Moody is quite happy with. He won’t be out in the first month of the 2-year-old races, but certainly around Christmas and onwards, he’ll be a horse that will be out and about,” Rolston said.
Sold by Kingstar Farm, he’s yet to be named and is a full brother to G3 Vanity Stakes and Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic victrix Wollombi (Extreme Choice). Yulong also bought his dam, Hazlebrook (Hinchinbrook), for $1.05 million at this year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale and she’s due to foal to Extreme Choice shortly.
Wollombi | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
YLR Racing and Matt Laurie paid $2 million for the Extreme Choice colt from Listed winner Giza Goddess (USA) (Cairo Prince {USA}) at Easter from Newgate Farm. Yulong Investments along with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott paid $1.35 million for Widden Stud’s Zoustar colt from Group 2 winner Sword Of Light (New Approach {Ire}) at Easter. He’s a half-brother to Listed winner Beskar (Snitzel).
Yulong, along with Ridgmont, own the aforementioned Paradoxium and in 2026, Yulong Investments paid $1.1 million for his half-sister by Zoustar from Silverdale Farm’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. They are the first and second foals out of stakes-placed Paredo (Better Than Ready).
