To transform a broodmare farm into a stallion property in a few short months has been the work of the Yulong team at Segenhoe Stud, led by Stud Manager Brian Clarke. With four stallions due to arrive in time for their stallion parade on August 22, the upgrades are part of an exciting new chapter for Segenhoe Stud.
Yulong’s drive to build quality has seen Brian Clarke, the new stud manager at Yulong’s Segenhoe Stud in the Hunter Valley, step up into his new role. He’s been overseeing the upgrade of Fairlight Farm into their stallion facility ahead of this spring.
When Yulong announced earlier this year that they had purchased Segenhoe Stud and would stand four stallions in the 2026 season, it heralded an expansion of the Victorian based farm into the commercial hotspot of the Hunter Valley.
“This is not simply an expansion of our footprint, but a reflection of our confidence in the future of the Australian thoroughbred industry,” Yulong’s General Manager, Jun Zhang said at the time.
“We believe Segenhoe provides an outstanding foundation to build a world-class stallion operation in New South Wales, and we are committed to investing in its people, its horses and its long-term success.”
A decade of experience at Segenhoe
Segenhoe Stud manager Brian Clarke grew up on a dairy farm in Ireland, riding showjumpers and hunters before doing a degree in Equine Science at the University of Limerick.
“As part of that degree, I spent 12 months working at Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky. I moved to Australia 13 years ago and spent three years working for Duncan Ramage at Think Big Stud in Bowral. Then I came to Segenhoe, initially as assistant yearling manager, then assistant stud manager, and now stud manager,” Clarke said.
“One of the most pleasing and important aspects of the transition was the retention of all key staff members, some of which would have worked here for over 19 years. Everyone here at Segenhoe is very happy to be joining the Yulong family and we are excited for what the future holds.
“This will ensure the continuation of Segenhoe’s reputation for excellence.”
Segenhoe Stud has been at the forefront of excellence during Clarke’s time, and he believes this experience will ensure the continuance of quality.
“The recent acquisition of Segenhoe Stud by the Zhang family represents a significant new milestone in the decades long history of the farm,” Clarke said.
“I worked under Peter O’Brien for ten years. I know the farm like the back of my hand, which is a big help, and has helped with creating a smooth transition.”
The people change, sometimes the names change, but the land is always there. And as horse people know, the land is a key asset when it comes to raising elite racehorses.
“During my tenure here alone, we have raised and produced 16 individual Group 1 winners, such as Joliestar, In Secret, Merchant Navy, and Kings Legacy. This success is not just attributed to our outstanding team, but also the land they were raised on.
“Segenhoe is renowned for its undulating paddocks and fertile pastures, helped by the 10 kilometres of Hunter Valley River frontage, which allows us to keep the farm in prime condition.”
Maintaining a family focus is Zhang’s goal
Yulong’s Mr Yuesheng Zhang has a strong family focus and his three children are all involved in the global operations. His daughter April is the Finance Director for Yulong’s Australian operations and son-in-law Jun, who is April’s husband, is General Manager.
With any business acquisition, there is always a period of adjustment as staff get inducted into the new systems. For Clarke, the family focus from the Zhangs has assisted this in being a straightforward process.
“I’ve met them all several times. Jun and April were here for most of this week. I’ve also been down to the farm in Victoria as well which really helped me feel like part of the Yulong team,” Clarke said.
“What is even more exciting is the Zhang family’s vision and plans for the development of the farm. The Zhang family are very involved with the management and development of Segenhoe Stud. Jun and April Zhang have a home on the property and their plan is to spend a significant amount of time here.”
The transition to stallion farm
But the big question is about the stallions. With Segenhoe Stud well known as a broodmare farm, how are Yulong intending to house Alabama Express, Devil Night, Lucky Vega (IRE) and Private Harry for the 2026 breeding season?
“For this season, we were very fortunate to have the Fairlight facility already on Segenhoe, which will be the base for the Yulong, New South Wales stallion roster this season,” Clarke said.
“Basically, Fairlight used to be our spelling facility at Segenhoe, but it was set up so you could have stallions with a little bit of work. We’ve developed it and those changes are nearly complete and we will be ready for the stallions to arrive shortly.”
What exactly does it take to transition a spelling barn into a stallion facility? Not much, if the right facility is chosen for the upgrade.
“The facility didn’t require much development, which was one of the reasons that the Zhang family liked Segenhoe as an acquisition.”
And the key thing that Clarke wanted people to know is that this work isn’t to provide a temporary facility. There are big plans for a purpose-built state of the art complex on the farm, and it will be designed to complement the Fairlight upgrades.
“The plans for the new stallion complex are already underway. I know we’re very excited about that. Fairlight is a great facility but it’s only big enough for six stallions whereas Mr Zhang has plans to have around 16 stallions here eventually.”
Supporting breeders for the long term
With the experience of running Yulong as a commercial stallion farm in Victoria and expanding this into the Hunter Valley comes a deep understanding of how supporting breeders helps grow a business for the long term.
“While they were here this week, I’ve been having discussions with the Zhang family and they’ve shown a real desire to support breeders. This desire is shown in the service fees for the Yulong NSW stallion roster,” Clarke said.
“Proven stallions, like Alabama Express and Lucky Vega, they’re hard to come by. And we believe the fees set for our first season sires Private Harry and Devil Night offer outstanding value to breeders. We have had a great response to the roster already and we look forward to rolling out some new incentives next week which we believe will benefit breeders not just this year but into the future also.
Alabama Express
“The Zhang family believe in supporting their stallions throughout their careers so breeders can be rest assured that there will be a continued stream of quality stock to run for them.”
Did the ears of all interested breeders just prick up? An incentive scheme could just be what a breeder who is sitting on the fence for the upcoming season needs.
“I think that we can all be encouraged by the very bright future which lies ahead for Segenhoe Stud and its new owners.”
All the stallions will be available for viewing at the Yulong Segenhoe Stud stallion parade on August 22.
Written for TTRAusNZ
