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Ciaron Maher looks set to continue his outstanding spring carnival with the master trainer saddling-up the clear favourite, Growing Empire, in Saturday’s 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes field.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is underway at Flemington from Saturday with a bumper VRC Derby Day card featuring a triple-shot of elite level racing including the young sprinters facing off down the famous ‘Straight Six’ in the Group 1 $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Maher is yet to taste victory in the six-furlong feature but could be taking the Coolmore trophy home with his talented Zoustar colt dominating the betting markets at $3.50 Ladbrokes after drawing barrier nine for jockey Mark Zahra.

Zahra is hoping for a lead-up win at Headquarters ahead of his shot at a third straight Melbourne Cup trophy when partnering Circle Of Fire on Tuesday.

Last start, in-form three-year-old Growing Empire was brave behind his star stablemate Bella Nipotina when third beaten only 1.3 lengths in the world’s richest turf race rounding out the $20 million The Everest trifecta in Sydney.

Before that Growing Empire was runner-up by a nostril flare narrowly denied in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.

He has had one run at Flemington for a Black-Type win over 1100m earlier this prep and shapes up as a genuine hope to salute for the punters.

Traffic Warden for Godolphin shapes-up as the danger at $4.40 in the Coolmore odds looking to atone after being scratched at the gates missing his shot at The Everest glory for the Royal Blue brigade.

Many tipped the James Cummings-trained Golden Rose runner-up a genuine chance and he will be out to prove his merit at Headquarters this weekend from a lovely gate three draw for jockey Jamie Kah.

The Street Boss colt won the Group 2 VRC Sires’ at Flemington over 1400m last prep so is proven at the course.

He comes off two Sydney lead-ups having won the Run To The Rose fresh at this distance before a Golden Rose second to stablemate Broadsiding who franked that form with his Cox Plate third last weekend.

Switzerland at $6 is the third favourite for trainer Chris Waller who has prepared an impressive five pervious Coolmore Stud Stakes winners.

The master horseman’s most recent was in 2021 with Home Affairs and he looks to have a genuine shot at a sixth this year with Snitzel colt Switzerland, drawn barrier eight for James McDonald, coming off a Group 2 Roman Consul win in Sydney.

In Secret (2022) was the sixth and most recent Coolmore Stud Stakes winning filly.

This year’s field features two fillies taking on the boys with Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott‘s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot ($9) and the Mark Walker-trained Group 2 Schillaci Stakes winner last time out Bellatrix Star ($11).

Written Tycoon filly Lady Of Camelot brings in some excellent form lines including her close fourth in The Everest results, while Bellatrix Star is also in terrific form chasing her fourth win on the trot.

The 2024 Coolmore Stud Stakes is set to run as Flemington Race 6 at 3:40pm (AEDT) as part of the nine-race Derby Day card.

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