Growing Empire doing exactly that for Yulong

They’ve cherry picked the very best broodmares Australia has to offer in the past 18 months and now Yulong Farm has a stallion prospect that could further elevate the operation.

Growing Empire could do exactly that for Victorian stallion station Yulong Farm with continued spring carnival success in Melbourne or Sydney.

After cherry picking Australia’s best broodmare prospects the past 18 months, including Imperatriz ($6.6m), Espiona ($4.15m), Forbidden Love ($4.1m), Montefilia ($3.4m) and Snapdancer ($3.2m), Yulong’s owner Yuesheng Zhang has two of the best three-year-old colts in Victoria building a future stallion profile.

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Growing Empire starred in the Listed Poseidon Stakes last Saturday and will return to Flemington in three weeks for the Group 2 Danehill Stakes.

Poseidon runner-up First Settler, also managed by Yulong in partnership with other prominent owners, will head in the same direction.

Multiple stakes-winner Growing Empire has been earmarked as a possible The Everest candidate for slot holder Yulong, but those decisions will be made after the Danehill.

Growing Empire is a $2.80 favourite with TAB for the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day, with First Settler a $15 chance.

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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Yulong general manager Vin Cox, who joined the green team last December after six successful years with Godolphin Australia, lauded the performances of Growing Empire and First Settler.

“I’ve been involved in some pretty exciting horses but that was right up there,” Cox said.

“I thought the second horse was outstanding and the winner obviously was brilliant. It’s great to be a part of two nice colts like that.

“We’re a stallion enterprise and if we can race and develop our own colts it makes it a lot easier.”

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Yulong chief operating officer Sam Fairgray bought First Settler ($750,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast) and Growing Empire ($700,000 Inglis Easter) last year.

“I’m not bragging because it’s got nothing to do with me!” Cox laughed.

“Timing is everything and I’ve turned up at the right time … the team led by Sam bought a whole bunch of horses, primarily at the Easter sale last year, and obviously some at Magic Millions and bits and pieces at Premier and other sales.

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“Fortunately the great eye of Sam landed these, what look like being very prominent colts, which we’re clearly very excited about.

“We’re really living the dream at the moment, still a long way to go, to prove them worthy to be on anyone’s stallion roster, but we’re fingers crossed and full of hope.”

Yulong has Caulfield Cup third favourite Place Du Carrousel, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, headed to the Group 1 Underwood Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield.

Originally published as Growing Empire doing exactly that for Yulong