Yulong confirms gun three-year-old Growing Empire will run in The Everest

Manikato Stakes runner-up Growing Empire has given trainer Ciaron Maher his third starter in the world’s most lucrative sprint event at Royal Randwick next week.

Growing Empire will line up in The Everest. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Leading trainer Ciaron Maher will have three contenders in the $20m The TAB Everest (1200m) after gun three-year-old Growing Empire was locked in by Yulong for the richest race on turf at Royal Randwick on Saturday week.

Maher had never had an Everest runner before this year but now boasts an imposing hand with Growing Empire joining bombproof sprinter Bella Nipotina and in-form mare I Am Me.

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Growing Empire is one of the most exciting three-year-olds in the country after putting together a string of brilliant wins in Melbourne before going down narrowly to Southport Tycoon in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley last start.

The son of Zoustar was one of several contenders for Yulong’s slot and was locked in Tuesday morning by the racing and breeding powerhouse.

“Growing Empire is a hugely exciting colt for Mr Zhang and the whole Yulong team, he’s extremely talented with a blistering turn of foot” Yulong general manager Vin Cox said.

“On his last start, he showed us he is a true Group 1 competitor. Three-year-olds have an outstanding record in The Everest and Growing Empire has every chance to build on that success.”

Growing Empire (inside) was runner-up in the Manikato Stakes. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Maher was convinced Growing Empire was ready to tackle The Everest following his narrow second against the older horses in the Manikato where he looked the winner but was gunned down late.

“He showed he was the right sort of horse against the older horses the other night and he has improved every time he went to the races,” Maher said.

“He has had the experience in Sydney as well with a couple of preps up there with experience of the Sydney way of going as well.

“Last preparation he was quite new but still winning and doing things wrong but this prep, he kicked off very impressively and backed it up.

“You knew there was a lot more there and then shades on for the Manikato, he was pretty stiff there.”

Three-time The Everest-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride Growing Empire.

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Kerrin McEvoy has won The Everest three times. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

McEvoy won the first two The Everests on the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Redzel (2017/18) and also scored aboard Les Bridge’s Classique Legend (2020).

Two three-year-olds have won The Everest with Giga Kick (2022) and Yes Yes Yes (2019) saluting with the light weight of 53kg.

Growing Empire is the fourth three-year-old likely to line up in this year’s main event with Traffic Warden (Godolphin) and Lady Of Camelot (James Harron) already securing slots while Storm Boy (Coolmore) is still to be officially confirmed.

Bookies rate Growing Empire as a $7 third elect for The Everest with last year’s runner-up I Wish I Win ($5) shading Bella Nipotina ($6) at the top of the market.

I Am Me is an $18 chance but will need to get the green light from stewards to take part in the race.

The mare had blood present at the right nostril after having a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens last Friday and will have to gallop over at least 1000m next Monday in front of stewards to take part in The Everest.

“She will have a gallop in front of stewards to get it ticked off and providing that it OK, she will be there but she certainly seems OK,” Maher said.

Originally published as Yulong confirms gun three-year-old Growing Empire will run in The Everest