Empire out to add to Growing CV in McNeil Stakes

Yulong claimed the first Group 1 of the season with Via Sistina in Sydney last Saturday and while it will not be represented in the Memsie Stakes, the Caulfield meeting is likely to feature a colt it has Group 1 aspirations with later in the year.

Untapped Ciaron Maher-trained colt Growing Empire has been nominated to make his seasonal debut in the $200,000 Group 3 McNeil Stakes.

The 1200-metre event could be the first step in a campaign Yulong general manager Vin Cox hopes will end with Group 1 victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes in November.

“He’s an exciting colt, he’s a son of Zoustar and he’s got Coolmore written all over him,” Cox said.

“So, we need to get him going and hopefully knock him into a colt of worth.

“The breed tend to get better as they get older, particularly three-year-olds, and they love the Flemington straight, the Zoustars.”

Growing Empire is one of 17 entries for the McNeil Stakes with stablemate Perspiration and Odinson also nominated.

Vain Stakes winner Band Of Brothers, Stay Focused – the first colt home in this year’s Blue Diamond – Wonder Boy and Angel Capital are among the other entries, along with Kiwi Group 1 placegetter Red Sea.

Growing Empire started his career in Sydney, finishing a narrow second on debut, before winning the Listed St Albans Stakes (1200m) at The Valley ahead of a brilliant 4-1/2-length win in the Group 3 Breeders Stakes (1200m) ay Morphettville.

“What he did in Adelaide was quite astounding, it was scintillating, so we’re excited for obvious reasons,” Cox said of the $700,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase.

The McNeil Stakes joins the Cockram Stakes (1200m) and The Heath (1100m) as Group 3 events on a Caulfield card headlined by the Memsie Stakes.

Entries have been extended for the 1400m Group 1, which counts elite-level performers Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside, Queensland star Antino and P B Lawrence Stakes winner Gentleman Roy among the 12 initial nominations.