Mark Zahra to reunite with smart colt Growing Empire in Coolmore Stud Stakes

Top jockey Mark Zahra plotted Growing Empire’s downfall at the colt’s last two runs but will be back aboard for the three-year-old’s crack at the stallion-making Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The band will get back together in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington.

Top jockey Mark Zahra will reunite with the classy colt Growing Empire in the Coolmore Stud Stakes after spending two races apart.

Zahra could not get down to light weights to ride Growing Empire at weight-for-age in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes and The Everest at the three-year-old’s latest outings.

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Zahra narrowly defeated Growing Empire when guiding Southport Tycoon to victory in the Manikato Stakes while the jockey rode Giga Kick into second, ahead of the son of Zoustar in The Everest.

“He’ll be happy that I’m on his back and not going past him like his last two starts,” Zahra joked.

Tough contests against older horses left Zahra concerned that Growing Empire might have been looking for a break but a gallop at Cranbourne on Monday eased his mind.

Zahra said he had no plans to ride trackwork on Monday but was thrilled to learn he would be required to partner Growing Empire in a gallop.

Mark Zahra will reunite with quality colt Growing Empire in Saturday’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images

“I was afraid that his last two runs might have taken a bit out of him but he was exceptional against the best sprinters in the country at his last start,” Zahra said.

“I jumped on him on Monday and he felt to me like he’s still in great form.

“I’m looking forward to him and he’ll be very hard to beat.”

The pair combined for the first time in a trial earlier this year in which Growing Empire convinced Zahra he was a colt worth sticking with.

Growing Empire strolled to a Group 3 win in Adelaide at their first union, prompting Zahra to declare the sprinter was one to follow in the lead-up to the spring.

“I trialled him and I thought, ‘who’s this horse?’, then he won a race at Moonee Valley and I asked where he was going because I’d like to ride him,” Zahra said.

Leading them down the #Flemington straight!

Growing Empire takes out the @WinningEdgeTeam Poseidon Stakes 🔥@7horseracingpic.twitter.com/vpmsXMjaU2

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) September 14, 2024

“We went to Adelaide and he gave me the feel that he had a beautifully balanced action like a very good horse.

“I had a high opinion of him from there.

“Anyone who asked me, media or anything, about a horse to follow for the spring about late July or August, all I said was Growing Empire.

“I’m happy he’s lived up to what I thought.”

Ladbrokes rated Growing Empire as a $3.50 favourite to become a Group 1 winner for the first time in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Originally published as Mark Zahra to reunite with smart colt Growing Empire in Coolmore Stud Stakes