3 minute read
Trainer and jockey quotes after Growing Empire claims the Listed Xtreme Freight Valley Pearl at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Growing Empire (E Brown/C Maher) - $4
2nd: Bittercreek (D Bates/L & T Corstens) - $12
3rd: Sassy Jenni (Z Spain/B, W & J Hayes) - $9
Winning Time: 1:11.17 Last 600m: N/A
Margins: 2L x Short ½ Head
Son of Zoustar, Growing Empire, is on the board at start #2 @cmaherracing goes back-to-back in the Valley Pearl after Brave Mead's win last year pic.twitter.com/usCeleFO5v
— Racing.com (@Racing) March 23, 2024
Winning Trainer: Ciaron Maher (rep by Jack Turnbull)
On Ethan Brown: "He's very hard working and is at our stable two or three times a week. He's a very good judge and good at trackwork. He's a patient man and we're glad to see him back at this level."
On the winner: "The way he travelled he's actually pretty green and new. To travel down this week, a track he's never been at, blinkers first time.
"He trialled up well and raced well on debut up in Sydney and we found the right race. Jumped on speed eventually - he was a little slow - but saw it out strongly."
Next: "He may head back up to Sydney for the Kindergarten Stakes but fantastic for Yulong and Mr Zhang who have supported us in recent times with quality stock."
On Spywire: "Disappointing. Very frustrating when a horse doesn't get to run on it's merits but we know he's got a stack of ability and he's one of our better two-year-olds and I'm sure that his day will come.
"I think he will go for a break now. He's earnt that. Today was his last chance to get some black-type as a two-year-old and that was our discussion pre-race. But it was pretty much a track gallop today so we'll see what the boss thinks."
Winning Jockey: Ethan Brown
"This week 12 months ago I was watching all my mates ride winners. It was good to be back here on a Saturday.
"This colt, he's a real thinker and I just had to keep him on the ball through the race. He's got a tonne of ability but he's got a lot to learn, too.
"He was very quick to come back underneath me mid-race and I was very mindful of that. I'd done a few replays on him and he shied quite badly last start and made a bit of a mess of himself.
"Kept him on the ball today, he was well prepared. He can go on with it given he takes this and improves off today.
"With his racing style, he's quite professional out there. He bounces, he travels, he's got a nice cruising speed which a lot of the good two-year-olds seem to have. He's still got a lot of improvement. He's not a topliner but I'm sure he's in the right care and he can get there."
