Image: Bruno Cannatelli

Undeveloped Zoustar colt among entrants for Caulfield 3YO feature

Yulong claimed his first Group 1 win of the season with Via Sistina in Sydney last Saturday and although he will not feature in the Memsie Stakes, the Caulfield meeting is likely to feature a colt with whom he has Group 1 ambitions later in the year.

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

The 1200m race could be the first step in a campaign that Yulong general manager Vin Cox wants to end with a victory in the Group 1 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 grow him into 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 entries for the McNeil Stakes, with his stablemates Perspiration and Odinson also nominated.

Other entries include Vain Stakes winner Band Of Brothers, Stay Focused – the first colt to run in the Blue Diamond this year – Wonder Boy and Angel Capital, and New Zealand Group 1 placed Red Sea.

Growing Empire began his career in Sydney where he finished a close second on his debut before winning the Listed St Albans Stakes (1200m) at The Valley before a brilliant 4.5 length victory in the Group 3 Breeders Stakes (1200m) at 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, along with the Cockram Stakes (1200 m) and The Heath (1100 m), are the Group 3 events on a program at Caulfield, the main event of which is the Memsie Stakes.

Entries for the 1400m Group 1 have been expanded, with the first twelve nominations including elite riders Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside, Queensland star Antino and PB Lawrence Stakes winner Gentleman Roy.

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