By Trevor Marshallsea

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Yulong’s pin-up mare Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) will strive to join the select group of dual Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winners on Saturday before a packed crowd at Moonee Valley – but with one notable absentee.

Zhang Yuesheng, Yulong’s founder, will be in China as his absence from the Australian scene continues, though the green and white empire has confirmed he will be back to oversee his stud’s draft at the Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast in January.

Yulong has offered an explanation as to Zhang’s recent surprising absence, saying the company’s boss has been tied up with business in China and will likely return here in December.

Though a constant presence at major Australian race meetings involving his horses in recent years, Zhang was an absentee from Saturday’s Everest meeting, in which Yulong had two runners in the main event in Angel Capital (Harry Angel) and Magic Time (Hellbent).

He was also not present at last week’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale, or for Via Sistina’s last-start third in Flemington’s Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) on October 4.

While Zhang’s absences sparked surprise and speculation in some quarters, Yulong general manager Jun Zhang said the company’s owner had had to catch up on business in China, where he has vast coal mining holdings among other ventures, since he had spent considerable time in Australia recently.

“It’s just business things that couldn’t make him be here,” Jun Zhang, who is also Zhang’s son-in-law, told ANZ News.

“He had a lot of government meetings and a lot of jobs he couldn’t finish, and [had to] catch up with local government.

“So they do have a lot of meetings with him, so this is the main reason he couldn’t push his meetings back in China.”

Jun Zhang said the Yulong principal would return in time for Magic Millions Gold Coast which gets underway on January 13.

“He’ll be coming back probably in December,” he said. “He will be here for the Magic Millions January sale.”

Also on Thursday, Jun Zhang sent a text message to a range of breeding industry participants to address rumours which have circulated surrounding Zhang Yuesheng’s absence.

“I just wanted to take a moment to address the recent rumours about Yulong, they’re completely untrue,” Jun Zhang wrote in the text, seen by ANZ.

“Thank you all for your concern and support. I’m sorry this kind of talk has been circulating and causing some unnecessary distraction. Let’s stay focused on what really matters which is enjoying the racing season and continuing the great work we’re all doing together.

“Really appreciate everyone’s effort and commitment to Yulong.”

Via Sistina is favourite at around $2.20 for the last Cox Plate before Moonee Valley’s redevelopment, in a field reduced to eight on Thursday by the scratching of Globe (Charm Spirit).