Growing Empire made a low-key start to his autumn campaign with leisurely jumpout at Cranbourne on Monday morning.
The Ciaron Maher-trained colt was allowed to amble through much of the 800-metre workout in which he settled towards the rear and just coasted to the line about five lengths astern winner Exuberance.
It was merely a starting point for the son of Zoustar, who will have a more strenuous hitout in a fortnight before having the first start of a campaign that will be geared around securing a maiden Group 1 success.
Although he ran third in Australia’s premier sprint race, The Everest, and was nabbed in the final stride of the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, Growing Empire is yet to win above Group 3 grade and Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the autumn was all about rectifying that.
“His number one aim is to win a Group 1,” Turnbull said.
“He’s been placed by a nose, but we need to get that victory, so we will be going where we think is most suitable given form and where he needs to be.”
The Black Caviar Lightning, a 1000-metre weight-for-age Group 1 at Flemington on February 15, shapes as the most likely kick-off with the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), at Caulfield on February 22, the back-up option.
His second-up run is likely to come in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
The Zoustar colt’s only start at Flemington prior to his third placing in the Coolmore Stud Stakes produced a dominant win in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1100m), which encouraged the stable to tackle Victoria’s two premier autumn sprints.
“His straight form is great, he won that Listed race very dominantly and then after a pretty long prep and travel off the back of The Everest he ran an admirable race in the Coolmore,” Turnbull said.
“We know he’s proven at Headquarters down the straight.”
Growing Empire was not the only Lightning and Newmarket contender in action at Cranbourne on Monday morning with unlucky Winterbottom Stakes runner-up Maharba pushing his claims for a crack at those races with a strong win in an earlier 800m hitout.
