Empire wants to expand its growing CV | RSN
Undeveloped Zoustar colt among entrants for Caulfield 3YO feature
Yulong won the first Group 1 title of the season with Via Sistine in Sydney last Saturday and although it is not in the Memsie insertsThe Caulfield meeting is likely to feature a colt with whom the company has Group 1 ambitions later in the year.
Unused Ciarron Maher-trained colt Growing Empire was nominated for his season debut in the $200,000 Group 3 McNeil missions.
The 1200m race could be the first step in a campaign that Yulong managing director Vin Cox hopes will end with a Group 1 victory in the Coolmore Stud Stakes in November.
“He’s an exciting colt, a son of Zoustar and he has what it takes to be a Coolmore,” said Cox.
“So we need to get him going and hopefully make him a capable colt.
“The breed tends to get better with age, especially at three-year-olds, and they love the Flemington breed, the Zoustars.”
Growing Empire is one of 17 entrants for the McNeil Stakes with stablemate Sweat And Odinson also nominated.
Futile missions winner Band of Brothers, Stay focused – the first colt this year Blue Diamond – Wonderboy And Angel Capital are among the other participants, together with the Kiwi group placed Red Sea.
Growing Empire began his career in Sydney and finished a close second on his debut before winning the Listed St Albans Stakes (1200 m) at The Valley before a brilliant victory by 4.5 lengths in the Group 3 Breeder missions (1200m) today Morphettville.
“What he did in Adelaide was quite amazing, it was breathtaking, so we are delighted for obvious reasons,” Cox said of the $700,000 purchase at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
The McNeil Stakes join the Cockram inserts (1200m) and The Heath (1100m) as a group of 3 events on a Caulfield Card with the Memsie Stakes as headline.
Registrations for the 1400 m Group 1, which includes elite runners, have been extended. Proud of Jenni And Mr BrightsideQueensland Star Antino And PB Lawrence Missions winner Mr Roy among the first twelve nominations.
