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By Ray Hickson

There’s plenty of X-Factor about Yulong’s exciting colt Growing Empire that tells jockey Kerrin McEvoy he’s a real chance of collecting his fourth TAB Everest trophy at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Kerrin McEvoy is chasing his fourth TAB Everest on Saturday. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

McEvoy is the only jockey to have contested every edition of the now Group 1 $20 million sprint.

He won the first two on Redzel in 2017 and 2018, ran eighth on that horse in 2019, he won again on Classique Legend in 2020 and then partnered the grey to fifth in 2021. Shades Of Rose ran eighth in the 2022 edition and last year he was the pilot on Golden Slipper winner Shinzo who finishing ninth.

Growing Empire, one of three Everest runners for trainer Ciaron Maher, has won four of his six starts and tackles the Everest on the back of a narrow defeat to stablemate Southport Tycoon in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes three weeks ago.

“He’s an improving colt and he’s got a good amount of brilliance and class about him,’’ McEvoy said.

“I had my first sit on him on Friday and I was quite taken by him. He’s travelled up in good shape.

“It’s a great race, it’s an open race, but one thing he’s shown the racing world already is he’s an exciting colt that’s on the improve.”

This year will be the third time McEvoy has teamed with slot holders Yulong Investments in the TAB Everest – they secured Redzel in his second win and for the 2019 edition – and Growing Empire is considered a major player as a $6 chance prior to the barrier draw.

The colt could also play a vital role in the speed of the TAB Everest this year given he’s led in two of his four wins and has generally played an on pace role in his races.

McEvoy is confident Growing Empire has the right attributes to measure up in a field that includes plenty of hardened sprinters as he showed in the Manikato.

“He’s one of the least experienced in the race, he was great against the older horses in the Manikato chasing what I’d call an above average speed,” he said.

“He kicked off that and was only just collared. You’d like to think he’s a horse that’s a little bit versatile, whether he’s in front or behind a couple or whatever.

“One thing I know he has got is a good turn of foot so we’ll be trying to ride him to that advantage.”

The champion jockey will have another chance to familiarise himself with Growing Empire at trackwork this week but has already done plenty of homework.

He’s already picked the brain of rival jockey Mark Zahra, who partnered the colt to his past three wins and who will ride Giga Kick in the race, for some insight.

He said with the field shaping up to be one of the strongest in the race’s history any edge he can gain could be the difference between winning and falling short.

Growing Empire with an emphatic victory and an exciting future! 🔥

Mark Zahra on board for @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/PpfR6UZIAB

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 14, 2024

Growing Empire wins at Flemington in September. Video: 7HorseRacing

“I had a good chat with Mark Zahra and he gave me a good push for the horse,’’ he said.

“I’ll watch his replays closely leading in but it’s going to be an exciting race.

“It’s an intriguing race, we’re blessed every year with some quality sprinters and this year is no different. It’s great to be part of it and great to be on a live chance.”

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