The final piece of the Everest puzzle has been put in place with Yulong Investments naming exciting colt Growing Empire as its slot contender for the $20 million sprint.
His inclusion gives trainer Ciaron Maher three of the 12 runners with Growing Empire joining stablemates Bella Nipotina and I Am Me in the elite The Everest field.
This year will be the first time Maher has saddled up an Everest runner and he looks to have a strong chance of making an immediate impact with Bella Nipotina a $6 second favourite and Growing Empire on the third line of pre-post markets at $7 with betting apps.
Yulong confirmed Growing Empire as its representative on Tuesday with General Manager Vin Cox citing his brave second to “battle-hardened stablemate” Southport Tycoon in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) as the impetus for their decision.
“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,” Cox said.
“On his last start, he showed us he is a true Group One competitor.
“Three-year-olds have an outstanding record in The Everest and Growing Empire has every chance to build on that success.”
A son of Zoustar, Growing Empire has had six starts for four wins and while he has never raced in Sydney, he has extensive barrier trial experience in the clockwise direction.
He is among a quartet of three-year-olds in this year’s Everest, along with Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, Godolphin’s Traffic Warden and Coolmore’s Storm Boy, all striving to join Yes Yes Yes and Giga Kick as members of their age group to upstage the seasoned sprinters in the race.
Yulong confirmed Kerrin Mcevoy, who has won the feature three times on Redzel (2017-18) and Classique Legend (2020), had been booked to ride Growing Empire.
The 2024 The Everest field:
| Slot Holder | Runner |
|---|---|
| Trackside Media | I Wish I Win |
| Newgate & GPI Racing | Stefi Magnetica |
| Chris Waller Racing | Joliestar |
| Australian Turf Club | Giga Kick |
| Coolmore | Storm Boy |
| Fairway Thoroughbreds | Sunshine In Paris |
| Sir Owen Glenn | Lady Of Camelot |
| Max Whitby, Col Madden and Neil Werret | Private Eye |
| TAB | Bella Nipotina |
| The Star & Arrowfield | I Am Me |
| Yulong Investments | Growing Empire |
| Godolphin | Traffic Warden |