Three-time winner Kerrin McEvoy eyes another The Everest with Growing Empire

The Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire can deliver three-time winner Kerrin McEvoy another The Everest win at Royal Randwick.

Kerrin McEvoy, the most successful rider in The Everest history, believes Growing Empire has the ‘X-factor’ needed to win the richest race on turf at Royal Randwick this Saturday.

McEvoy will hunt his fourth victory in the $20 million feature with the coveted steer on Ciaron Maher’s boom colt in front of a capacity crowd of close to 50,000 race goers.

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The 84-time Group 1 winner won the first two Everests on Redzel in 2017-18 before winning again on classy grey Classique Legend in 2020.

Growing Empire is one of four three-year-olds in the race, with three colts and one filly in Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot.

The son of Zoustar is one of the rising stars of the Australian sprint ranks with four victories and two seconds in his short career to date.

He put together a run of four consecutive stakes victories before he was only narrowly defeated in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at The Valley by star stablemate Southport Tycoon.

SOUTHPORT TYCOON FROM THE CLOUDS! 🔥

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

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

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“He is a brilliant colt,” McEvoy said.

“He is only lightly-raced and has taken all before him in his starts until now.

“In the Manikato, he was brilliant against the older horses when he sat behind an above average speed and kicked off the speed to be only nabbed lad.

“I think he is a horse on the rise and has to go to a new PB in The Everest but he is trained by a master in Ciaron Maher, who is winning races left, right and centre.

“I am pretty pleased to be on him and I think he has the X-factor.”

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McEvoy is yet to ride Growing Empire under race conditions but got the chance to take Growing Empire for a spin a touch over a week out from The Everest.

“I rode him in work last Friday on the course proper and he was bright as a button,” he said.

“He travelled up well and gave me a good feel.

“I did some more tick over work on him on Thursday morning.

“He showed a good attitude to his work.”

Southport Tycoon (outside) ran down Growing Empire in the Manikato Stakes. Picture: Vince Caligiuri-Getty Images

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McEvoy partnered a three-year-old colt in last year’s The Everest with Golden Slipper winner Shinzo finishing in the back half of the field.

But all three of McEvoy’s Everest victories have come on more seasoned sprinters than Growing Empire.

“We have to get it right with him because there is no doubt he is still learning his craft and the other horses I have won on have been older horses,” McEvoy said.

“You get some positives out of the stable and what he has been able to achieve already.

“The fact he has travelled up well, three-year-olds have won the race and he gets some weight relief off the older horses.”

• Predicted finishing order for the 2024 The Everest

Last year’s runner up I Wish I Win is an equal $6 favourite with Chris Waller’s Joliestar in one of the most open editions of The Everest’s short history.

Growing Empire shares the second line of betting with fellow three-year-old and Golden Rose

Past winner Giga Kick ($13), two-time placegetter Private Eye ($26) and bombproof mare Bella Nipotina ($9) add further depth to the Group 1 field.

McEvoy believes this year’s race is up there with the most open he’s ever seen.

“Each year is different but this year it is a very different race and an open race,” McEvoy said.

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“There is quality across the board and you could make a case for eight or 10 of them.

“In my opinion it’s a wide open race and it’s going to come down to luck in running.

“We have been blessed with some out and out champions but have an up and coming bunch this year I feel.”

McEvoy is aboard Kreon in the $2 million The Kosciuszko, Xidaki in the Group 3 $1 million Silver Eagle and Rocketing By in the $2 million Sydney Stakes.

Originally published as Three-time winner Kerrin McEvoy eyes another The Everest with Growing Empire