Growing Empire gets ‘favourable barrier’ for Group 1 Manikato Stakes

Exciting colt Growing Empire can stake his claim for The Everest as he leads trainer Ciaron Maher’s four-pronged attack in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.

Exciting colt Growing Empire has drawn perfectly for the Group 1 Manikato Stakes on Friday night at The Valley.

Growing Empire, one of four Ciaron Maher-trained sprinters in the crack 13-horse field, will jump from barrier seven with champion jockey Craig Williams aboard.

Electric mare Estriella has gate 10 to navigate, with Maher stablemates Southport Tycoon (three) and Recommendation (five) drawn sweetly.

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I Wish I Win drew wide in 12 but the multiple Group 1 winner and backmarker should be able to settle in a stalking position and get the last crack at the speed horses.

Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi, who flashed late to run second in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at The Valley first-up, will need luck to get into clear air from barrier two.

Growing Empire is a $4.60 favourite with Ladbrokes from I Wish I Win ($5), Hayasugi ($5) and Estriella ($8.50).

Johnny Rocker, a $26 outsider, drew widest of 13.

Favourites have won four of the past 10 Manikato Stakes.

Manikato Stakes favourite Growing Empire has drawn barrier seven. Picture: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Growing Empire has been best backed with Ladbrokes since the powerhouse Maher stable flagged interest in the Group 1 contest.

Assistant trainer Jack Turnbull drew the barrier for Growing Empire.

“It’s a favourable draw, just wide of midfield, he’s got very good tactical speed and obviously is an exciting prospect with what he’s done to date,” Turnbull said.

“We’ll have a chat to (owner) Yulong and Ciaron and break it down, but at first glance it’s a decent barrier.

“We were either here or the Danehill and into the Coolmore, if he was to run exceptionally well you’d give him a chance to run in The Everest, but we’ll take it one race at a time.”

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The Manikato field on Friday night has six individual Group 1s including I Wish I Win, Hayasugi, Veight, Southport Tycoon, Chain Of Lightning and Climbing Star.

Even with a light weight, 52kg, Turnbull said Growing Empire has “it all in front of him”.

“Certainly has the talent, it is surprising (to be favourite), we do feel it’s a very classy field … he’s got it all in front of him, but he’s got the weight relief,” Turnbull said.

Maher trained the last three-year-old to win the Manikato with explosive filly Loving Gaby victorious in 2019.

Champion colt Sepoy achieved the feat in 2011.

Veight, an $11 chance, is one of only two runners in the field to tackle the Manikato Stakes first-up on Friday night, along with Climbing Star ($34).

Trainer Calvin McEvoy welcomed barrier nine for the stable star.

“He looks amazing, he’ll present unbelievably well on Friday night and looks a really good chance in what looks to be a fantastic race,” McEvoy said.

“There’s a fair bit of speed in this race, obviously Estriella drawn outside of us, if he could get into that three wide with cover line, out wide might be the place to be late in the night.”

$2m GROUP 1 MANIKATO STAKES (1200m)

Friday night, The Valley

No. – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight

1 – I WISH I WIN – Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman – Luke Nolen – 12 – 58.5kg

2 – VEIGHT – Tony & Calvin McEvoy – Damian Lane – 9 – 58.5kg

3 – RECOMMENDATION – Ciaron Maher – Michael Dee – 5 – 58.5kg

4 – SOUTHPORT TYCOON – Ciaron Maher – Mark Zahra – 3 – 58.5kg

5 – JOHNNY ROCKER – Nick Ryan – TBA – 13 – 58.5kg

6 – CABALLUS – Bjorn Baker – TBA – 8 – 58.5kg

7 – CHAIN OF LIGHTNING – Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman – TBA – 4 – 56.5kg

8 – ESTRIELLA – Ciaron Maher – Blake Shinn – 10 – 56.5kg

9 – KIMOCHI – Gary Portelli – Jason Collett – 6 – 56.5kg

10 – CLIMBING STAR – Phillip Stokes – TBA – 11 – 56.5kg

11 – COLEMAN – Matt Laurie – Kerrin McEvoy – 1 – 52kg

12 – GROWING EMPIRE – Ciaron Maher – TBA – 7 – 52kg

13 – HAYASUGI – Clinton McDonald – Jamie Kah – 2 – 50kg

Originally published as Growing Empire gets ‘favourable barrier’ for Group 1 Manikato Stakes