Zoustar colt Growing Empire continued on a rapid upward trajectory and will head to a winter break after a four-and-a-half length romp in Saturday’s Group III SAJC Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville. Making all the running for Mark Zahra, the Ciaron Maher-trained colt drifted to the centre of the track on straightening and looked a […]
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Zoustar colt Growing Empire continued on a rapid upward trajectory and will head to a winter break after a four-and-a-half length romp in Saturday’s Group III SAJC Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Making all the running for Mark Zahra, the Ciaron Maher-trained colt drifted to the centre of the track on straightening and looked a class above his rivals.
Narrowly beaten by Chateau Miraval at Randwick in February when racing greenly on debut, Growing Empire progressed to a two-length win in the Listed MVRC Valley Pearl (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 23 and has now won two of three starts earning just shy of $200,000 in prizemoney.
Growing Empire goes BANG!
He makes a mess of them in the Breeders' Stakes.@cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/VjGEmV87rH
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 27, 2024
“I’m surprised really. He’s a very good colt, but he had a few tricks that we had to iron out early in his career,” Maher said.
“It’s great to train a winner for Mr Zhang and Yulong. I think he’s a pretty progressive colt. He’ll probably have a breather now, prepare for spring, and improve again.
“He was a little bit immature mentally, but he’s come along in leaps and bounds, and there were no surprises today.
“Mark did his track assessment prior to the races and thought that was the place to be. The horse had a bit of a look around, so he might have been getting away from the winning post.”
Growing Empire was a $700,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Yulong from the Vinery Stud draft and is a half-sister to Group III placed Dancing Alone from Group II placed Snitzel mare Miles of Krishan, a half-sister to Group I winner Il Quello Veloce, stakes-winner Donna Cattiva and to the dam of Group III Canberra Black Opal Stakes winner Holmes a Court.
It’s a very fast Black Type family that has also produced Group I winning sprinters Terravista and Tiger Tees.
Miles of Krishan has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and another filly to follow by Zoustar.
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