Growing Empire to clash with I Wish I Win in the Manikato Stakes

Exciting three-year-old Growing Empire puts his bulging reputation on the line when taking on I Wish I Win and others in the $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes at The Valley on Saturday.

Growing Empire is set to take on the sprinting big guns in the Manikato Stakes on Friday night. Photo: George Sal/Getty Images.

Exciting three-year-old Growing Empire puts his bulging reputation on the line when taking on I Wish I Win and others in the $2 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes at The Valley on Saturday.

The move of the 1200m weight-for-age sprint from Cox Plate eve has delivered instant results with a high class group of 13 acceptors.

The field includes six Group 1 winners – I Wish I Win, Veight, Southport Tycoon, Chain Of Honour, Climbing Star and Hayasugi.

Adding further interest to the competitive contest are some of Australia’s most exciting sprinting prospects including the likes of Growing Empire, Coleman, Recommendation, Kimochi and Estriella.

I Wish I Win. Photo: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images.

The barrier draw for the race will be conducted at 5pm.

The field for the Manikato Stakes is:

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

Mornington Glory wins the Moir Stakes!!!

First Group 1 victory for @GavinBedggood 🙌

Congratulations to @Brown_ethan8 and all involved! pic.twitter.com/qxbIbgsfRJ

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 7, 2024

Growing Empire with an emphatic victory and an exciting future! 🔥

Mark Zahra on board for @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/PpfR6UZIAB

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 14, 2024

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The Valley track was rated a good (4) at acceptance time. The rail will be in the 3-metre position on Friday.

The Bureau Of Meteorology forecast for Melbourne is.

Tuesday – Mostly cloudy. 23.

Wednesday – Mostly cloudy (95% chance of 5-15mm of rain). 15.

Thursday – Mostly cloudy. 14.

Friday – Partly cloudy. 18.

CLICK HERE to get the fields and free formguide for The Valley meeting on Friday.

Originally published as Growing Empire to clash with I Wish I Win in the Manikato Stakes