Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
On Saturday, the exciting Ciaron Maher-trained colt, Growing Empire (Zoustar), made a triumphant return in the G3 HDF McNeil S. at Caulfield.
Speaking to Racing.com shortly after the victory, Maher indicated that the G1 Coolmore Stud S. is the colt’s target. “He’s a very exciting colt,” Maher said. “Growing Empire has started the campaign well. He has always shown great ability, and he spelled well at Yulong. The team has done a fantastic job with him, but you can see there’s still a lot more to come.
“He needs a bit more experience, and hopefully, we can get him to Flemington, where he can have a look around.”
Mark Zahra and Ciaron Maher after Growing Empire's victory in the G3 HDF McNeil S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Following Growing Empire’s dominant performance, The Thoroughbred Report spoke with Vinery’s bloodstock manager, Adam White, who represents the breeding group.
Miles catches White’s eye
The story begins in 2017 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, where Vinery Stud signed for the Snitzel mare Miles Of Krishan on behalf of P. Hodgens, Werrett Bloodstock, and Encompass International for $500,000.
Miles Of Krishan won five races, ranging from 1200 to 1700 metres, and was placed in the G2 Queen of the South S. Vinery's bloodstock manager, Adam White, explained why the mare appealed to him:
“We bought the mare for the guys, and we quite liked her at the mare sale. Miles Of Krishan was a good race mare, and I liked that she was Group 2-placed over a mile, especially for a Snitzel mare.
Miles Of Krishan was purchased for $500,000 in 2017 | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“When she ran third in that race (G2 Queen of the South S.), she was behind a mare called Amelie’s Star, who was actually raced by one of the partners, Patrick Hodgens. So, we knew Miles Of Krishan’s form well. After we bought her as a racing and breeding prospect, she went on to win a couple more races. I think she’s going to be an outstanding producer."
Miles Of Krishan also boasted a deep pedigree. She is a half-sister to New Zealand Champion 2-Year-Old Il Quello Veloce (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) and hails from the family of Group 1 winners Terravista (Captain Rio {GB}) and Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi {Ire}).
Zoustar: An ideal mate
In Miles Of Krishan’s first season, she was sent to Yarraman Park’s three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible. The resulting filly, later named Dancing Alone, was sold by Vinery Stud at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $1.4 million to Ellerslie Lodge and Bryce Heys.
Dancing Alone has since won six races, placed in the G3 Furphy Sprint, and finished fourth in the G3 Toy Show.
For her second season, Miles Of Krishan was sent to Zoustar. Adam White explained the reasoning behind the choice: “She was a good race mare, and we’d seen a lot of Zoustar progeny at the sales.
Adam White | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I thought he was a sire on the rise at the time. Physically, it was certainly a good mating. She’s a typical Snitzel-type mare, and Zoustar is a lovely, big, scopey horse. So, just on pedigree and physicality, we thought it would be a good match.
“I thought he (Zoustar) was a sire on the rise at the time. Physically, it was certainly a good mating. She’s (Miles Of Krishan) a typical Snitzel-type mare, and Zoustar is a lovely, big, scopey horse. So, just on pedigree and physicality, we thought it would be a good match.” - Adam White
“Miles Of Krishan certainly deserved that level.”
Quality from day one
On August 30, Miles Of Krishan delivered a colt by Zoustar, who would later be known as Growing Empire. Like his older half-sister, Growing Empire is a graduate of Vinery. He was sold for $700,000 to Yulong Investments at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Growing Empire as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Adam White shared that the colt had been a quality individual from day one. “He’s always had a lot of quality right from the start. During the yearling preparation, he had a bit of a hiccup. If I remember correctly, he quartered a heel in front, which was just in a tricky spot, so we couldn’t really give him a normal, full yearling preparation.
“But Growing Empire was naturally a beautiful horse with good strength and great quality. Considering he had a somewhat compromised preparation for sale, we were pleased with the result when Yulong purchased him.
“He’s been very well managed by that team, and he looks very special,” White added.
Not really a surprise
Growing Empire made his debut at Randwick-Kensington, finishing second. Trainer Ciaron Maher then sent the son of Zoustar to Melbourne to contest the Listed Valley Pearl S. at Moonee Valley, where he secured a 2l victory.
Following that success, he headed to South Australia for the G3 Breeders S. at Morphettville, where Growing Empire won by an impressive 4.5l before going for a spell.
Saturday’s G3 HDF McNeil S. marked Growing Empire’s return as a 3-year-old. Adam White admitted he wasn’t surprised the colt had shown such talent as a juvenile. “I wasn’t really surprised. He probably did come out quite early, but with the mother being by Snitzel—and knowing what Snitzel can do with 2-year-olds—alongside the fact that she’s a half-sister to a filly who won a Group 1 as a juvenile in New Zealand, it made sense.
Growing Empire cleared away in the G3 HDF McNeil S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“There’s plenty of 2-year-old form in his pedigree. The first foal from the mare, Dancing Alone, didn’t really make her mark as a 2-year-old, but she’s certainly done well since.
“I just think with every run, Growing Empire continues to get better and better, and that’s the most exciting thing about him.”
“I just think with every run, Growing Empire continues to get better and better, and that’s the most exciting thing about him.” - Adam White
Miles Of Krishan is not expecting a foal this season after missing to I Am Invincible, but she foaled a full sister to Growing Empire last season. White shared that this filly is being prepared for the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“His dam is currently dry but has been booked to Zoustar. We could have gone either way between Zoustar and ‘Vinnie’ (I Am Invincible). We actually decided to retain her I Am Invincible filly, who is now a 2-year-old.
“I sort of convinced them to retain that filly. She’s in training with Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, and she’s a beautiful, quite promising filly.
White added, “We were torn between sending her back to I Am Invincible or Zoustar, but given what Growing Empire has achieved on the track and knowing he’s about to reach another level, it was pretty much a no-brainer.”
Vinery class of 2023 Firing
Growing Empire’s success on Saturday continued the outstanding run of Vinery’s 2023 yearling crop. Another colt who graduated from Vinery last year, Gatsby’s (Snitzel), won the Listed The Rosebud S. just a few weeks ago.
Other notable Vinery graduates from the class of 2023 include the stakes-winning 2-year-old Femminile (Dundeel {NZ}), La Forza (Toronado {Ire}), a winner in Hong Kong, and the promising Exceedance-sired pair Swiftfalcon and Brave One.
Gatsby's, winner of the Listed The Rosebud S. on August 17 | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Additionally, the exciting Gallant Son and Earth God (both by Written Tycoon), Winning Proposal (Shalaa {Ire}), Vella’s Best (Headwater), Simply Tina (Exceedance), Warparty (Hellbent), Too Darn Lizzie (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Aldofito (Fastnet Rock), and All Inclusive (All Too Hard) are other standouts from the 2023 yearling crop.
“It’s been a terrific year. I think we sold the most 2-year-old winners for the year, which is fantastic,” said White. “There have been some very promising horses, like Growing Empire and Gatsby’s. There’s plenty of quality in the crop as well.”
He added, “It’s no surprise really; the farm has been producing great racehorses for many seasons.”
