Growing Empire Retires to Yulong and Fee Set

Media Release - Monday May 5

One of the most exciting colts of his generation, Growing Empire, will join Yulong Stud’s stallion roster for the 2025 breeding season.

A brilliantly fast son of Zoustar out of Miles Of Krishan, he combines blistering speed, precocious talent, and a physique tailor-made for the sale ring.

Growing Empire was a $700,000 Inglis Easter purchase.

A $700,000 Inglis Easter yearling, Growing Empire was a standout from day one. He delivered early on that promise, placing second on debut before unleashing four straight Stakes wins in his two-year-old and early three-year-old career, including a dominant performance in the Gr.3 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes and a commanding 1.3-length victory in the Listed Poseidon Stakes down the Flemington straight.

Growing Empire will stand at a fee of $22,000.

As a spring three-year-old Growing Empire confirmed his standing among the elite by taking on older sprinters for a gallant second in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes, beating home Champion Sprinter I Wish I Win. He was the first colt home in the $20 million Everest, finishing third to beat home Group 1 stars Lady Of CamelotSunshine In ParisPrivate EyeJoliestarStefi Magnetica, and I Wish I Win. He backed that up with a brave fourth in the Newmarket Handicap, only a few lengths off the winner despite an awkward run and carrying level weights against older horses.

Hall of Fame trainer Ciaron Maher was full of praise. “Good horses can do that – they can sprint from either end of the race,” he said. “He’s a brilliantly fast colt.”

Growing Empire retires with over $3 million in earnings and a record that blends class, consistency, and toughness. Top jockey Mark Zahra, who partnered him in multiple stakes wins, said: “He has that electric speed whenever you need it – at the start or the finish, whenever you want to use it.”

Advertisement

His pedigree only enhances the package. By champion sire Zoustar, his dam Miles Of Krishan (by Snitzel) was Gr.2 placed and comes from a deep black-type family. She is a half-sister to Gr.1 winner Il Quello Veloce, Stakes winner Donna Cattiva, and to the dam of Gr.3 winner Holmes A Court. This is the same speed-driven female line that produced sprinting stars Terravista and Tiger Tees.

Sam Fairgray, Chief Operating Officer at Yulong, said: “Growing Empire is a gorgeous, athletic colt with the kind of looks breeders love to see in the ring. On the track, he showed blistering speed and precocity, winning stakes races in his spring three-year-old season, and he mixed it with the best sprinters in the country. Importantly, he has the competitive attitude and toughness we prize in our stallions.

“Being by Zoustar out of a fast Snitzel mare, his pedigree is pure speed on speed. He’s a perfect fit for Yulong’s roster, and we believe breeders will be as excited about him as we are, especially once they lay eyes on him.”

Growing Empire will stand his first season at Yulong in 2025 at a fee of $22,000 (inc. GST).

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday July 7
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Set to shuttle to Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (FR) had an impressive debut winner overnight in the UK with Cape Ashizuri opening his account in style.
Value Sires About to Crack Their Ton
With less than a month to go for the current Australian racing season, the century club for stallions that have sired 100 winners since August 1 has expanded to include 14 stallions and there are two more knocking at the door and they represent amazing value.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia Urges Racing Australia to Reconsider Foal Ban
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) has today denounced the hardline position taken by Racing Australia that has the potential to see a significant number of foals born this year banned from racing.
Invincible Filly Wins on Debut
There were some nicely bred three year-old fillies looking to shed maiden status at Canterbury on Wednesday in the opening race and it was $850,000 I Am Invincible filly Infusion that got the job done at the first time of asking.
Day 1 Tattersalls July - Humam Top Seller 190,000 guineas
The opening day of the Tattersalls July Sale saw solid trade headed by the Kingsclere Training Stables consigned HUMAM at 190,000 guineas, one of six lots to realise over 100,000 guineas. A typically international buying bench saw purchasers from France, Libya, Qatar and the UAE as well as Great Britain and Ireland represented in the day’s top ten lots.
Sebring Sun Delivers for Owner Breeders
The legacy of Sebring was highlighted last month when his classy daughter Tashi won the Group I Tatts Tiara and for fans of the much missed Golden Slipper winning sire he does have several sons at stud and they include Glenthorne Park Stud’s Sebring Sun, whose winner to runner strike rate is brushing 70%.
Myracehorse Celebrate with Sapphire Rose, then Make it a Winning Double!
The Myracehorse syndicates bring new owners into racing and fresh from a big win at Ballarat on Tuesday with Volkano, the familiar colours were back in the winner’s circle at Canterbury with the Bjorn Baker trained two year-old Sapphire Rose.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday July 9
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday July 8
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.