Yu Long Investments filly Hungry Heart timed a Group 1 performance to perfection in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Hungry Heart banked the bulk of the $500,000 purse and sent her residual value through the roof as a Group 1 winning daughter of Frankel (GB).  And there will be an added bonus for Yu Long owners Mrs & Mrs Zhang when they offer Hungry Heart’s half-sister by Snitzel (Lot 328) at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale on Wednesday.

The Chris Waller-trained 3yo filly completed an Easter Group 1 double for TBV breeders.  Earlier on Saturday, Burnewang North Pastoral bred graduate On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) won the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.

Hungry Heart came from last on the corner to run down front-running favourite Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium) by a short neck.  Waller will now consider setting her for another Group 1 assignment in the Australian Oaks (2400m) on April 17.

“It was a great win and a great race to watch,” Waller said.  “They ran along quickly, so it gave the backmarkers their chance although she had a lot of ground to make up.  But she really fought hard in the final 100m and got there quite well.”

Yu Long chief operating officer Sam Fairgray took time off from inspections at Riverside Stables to watch the ground-breaking victory at Rosehill.  Yu Long has prepared 13 yearlings for the Inglis Easter Sale from its Victorian base at Mangalore and Fairgray describes Hungry Heart’s half-sister as a beautiful-moving filly.

“She’s a sharp Snitzel and has a great temperament.  She’s a bit stronger and more mature than Hungry Heart at the same stage but there are many similarities.  She has been popular since we arrived and that’s increased since the win on Saturday.”

Their dam Harlech (Pivotal) was a 60,000gns buy for Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (as agent) for Yu Long Investments at the 2016 Tattersalls July Sale.  She was covered to southern-hemisphere time by Juddmonte Farms icon Frankel and arrived in Australia carrying the Vinery Stud Stakes winner.

Yu Long’s first yearling to parade at Riverside Stables is another Frankel filly from Rise Over Cloud (Lot 44).  She’s the first foal of an Irish-bred half-sister to the dams of Royal Ascot winner Banimpire and Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment.

The half-sister to Hungry Heart is one of six Snitzels in the Yu Long consignment and its filly from Soriano (Lot 95) also received a Group 1 update across the Tasman last month.

Soriano (Savabeel) won the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie in 2014 and one of her half-sisters foaled Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) to claim the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.  He is on the third line of markets at $8.50 to double-up at the elite level in the Australian Derby at Randwick this Saturday.

HUNGRY HEART