Trainer Ciaron Maher excited for Growing Empire in Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington

Star colt Growing Empire will resume in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) on Saturday at Flemington.

Growing Empire set to resume in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes on Saturday at Flemington. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Star colt Growing Empire will resume in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) on Saturday at Flemington.

Champion trainer Ciaron Maher said multiple Group 1 sprinters Growing Empire and I Am Me would run at Flemington, with Estriella and Jimmysstar waiting another week to resume in the Oakleigh Plate.

Growing Empire and I Am Me will tune up for their first 2025 assignment with a gallop on Monday at Cranbourne.

Growing Empire finished third behind Lightning Stakes favourite Switzerland, trained by Chris Waller, in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) last November at Flemington.

“He can mix it with the best of them,” Maher said.

“We won’t shy away.”

Maher has Growing Empire “most likely” earmarked for three Group 1 bids this preparation in the Lightning, Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and William Reid Stakes (1200m).

The three-year-old son of Zoustar was touched off in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley last spring then placed third in The Everest (1200m) and Coolmore.

SOUTHPORT TYCOON FROM THE CLOUDS! 🔥

The Written Tycoon 4YO wins his 2nd Group 1 ⭐️ @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/Gz97Lfbadq

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 27, 2024

“It depends on what he does,” Maher said.

“Hopefully he can win first time out and then he’s got options to do whatever we want.”

Growing Empire has matured physically and mentally since his spring three-year-old campaign.

“He continues to furnish all the time. He’s still got more to go,” Maher said.

“One that probably got away was The Valley (Manikato), he was awesome in The Everest.

“He’s only going to improve. He’s a raw horse and still did little things a little bit wrong last time around, so he’s still going to keep furnishing mentally and physically.

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“His run in the Manikato was huge, he was off the bit and quickened under his own accord and was collared on the line. He’s probably one of the more exciting colts racing.”

Yulong Investments-owned Growing Empire would be highly sought after as a Royal Ascot invitee, with victory in the Lightning Stakes, but Maher wants the Group 1 win first.

“It all depends on what he does,” Maher said.

“If he can tick the box well then you can do whatever you want.

“Hopefully he can do that early and he’s got options.”

I Am Me has won four of six first-up previously and saluted at Flemington early in her career.

What a finish!@nashhot and @cmaherracing combine to win the G3 Concorde Stakes with I Am Me, and it's a Maher quinella with Bella Nipotina in second place! pic.twitter.com/9S20wni02u

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 7, 2024

She thrived early in the spring, won the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) and Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) in Sydney last year.

“The 1000m suits and she has come up really well,” Maher said.

“Her trial the other day was great, she can mix it when she’s right.”

Originally published as Trainer Ciaron Maher excited for Growing Empire in Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington