Ciaron Maher colt Growing Empire rises to Coolmore Stud Stakes favouritism with explosive win in McNeil Stakes at Caulfield

Ciaron Maher is aiming to replicate the deeds of Merchant Navy this spring with brilliant McNeil Stakes winner Growing Empire.

Growing Empire sprints away from his rivals in the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Exciting colt Growing Empire has an appointment at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day after his soft win in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.

Growing Empire showed his ability with easy stakes wins at his last two starts as a two-year-old but rose to another level with his first-up win.

Winning trainer Ciaron Maher said the stallion-making Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington was Growing Empire’s main spring goal.

Maher has already selected Growing Empire’s lead-up races to the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The colt will run in both the Poseidon and Danehill Stakes on his way to his spring grand final.

“We’ll get him to Flemington, he can have a couple of looks down the straight and hopefully he’s right to go on Derby Day,” Maher said.

“Hopefully the flow is smooth.”

Growing Empire goes forward and wins with ease! 👊 pic.twitter.com/SBN2m53pmE

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 31, 2024

Maher won the Coolmore Stud Stakes with Merchant Navy two starts after winning that year’s McNeil Stakes.

Jockey Mark Zahra rode Merchant Navy in his 2017 triumphs and was aboard Growing Empire in Saturday’s edition of the McNeil Stakes.

Zahra said Growing Empire was most vulnerable when resuming in the McNeil Stakes.

However, he said his worries eased on the home turn.

“They don’t win much better than that,” Zahra said.

“I thought this prep, today would be the day, if he was going to get beaten, today would be the day and at the 400 (metres) I didn’t have to worry about that.

“He’s there for you. His turn of foot’s electric, he looks a pretty smart horse.”

TAB immediately promoted Growing Empire to the top of the Coolmore Stud Stakes betting, making the son of Zoustar the $4.50 favourite for the November 2 event.

Zoustar won the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2013 while Growing Empire’s grandsire Northern Meteor also won the rich sprint in 2008.

Originally published as Ciaron Maher colt Growing Empire rises to Coolmore Stud Stakes favouritism with explosive win in McNeil Stakes at Caulfield