Yulong announces retirement of Australian Oaks winner Hungry Heart

Two-time Group 1 winner Hungry Heart has been retired to stud by owners Yulong and will be now covered by their champion sire Written Tycoon this breeding season.

Hungry Heart became the first Group 1 winner in Australia for Yulong Investments when she won the Vinery Stud Stakes as a three-year-old in 2021, a year in which she was named champion three-year-old filly in Australia.

A winner of the Sweet Embrace Stakes at two, the Chris Waller-trained Hungry Heart then finished fifth in that season’s Golden Slipper.

Returning at three, the daughter of champion sire Frankel finished second in each of the final three Darley Princess Series races; the Furious Stakes, Tea Rose Stakes and the Flight Stakes.

Having then won the Phar Lap Stakes first-up, her elite-level breakthrough came in the autumn of her three-year-old year when Hungry Heart ran out a brave winner of the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill, before she added a dominant success the very next start in the Australian Oaks at Randwick.

Hungry Heart made nine starts at four, with her best effort when third in the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington in October.

She retires with a record of four wins from 21 starts.

“Our aim at Yulong is to raise elite champion racehorses,” said Yulong’s racing, sales and nominations manager, Troy Stephens.

“Hungry Heart, having been raised at our Nagambie base, gives our team a great deal of confidence in our systems and the way we are raising our stock.

“We would like to thank Kerrin McEvoy, strapper Steph Laraud, Chris Waller and his entire team for everything they’ve done for Hungry Heart during her racing career.”

Hungry Heart will now join her dam, Harlech, who was a 60,000gns buy for Yulong from the Tattersalls July Sale in 2016.

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