Southport Tycoon confirmed his status as one of Australia’s best sprinter milers with a breathtaking win in Saturday’s A$2 million Gr1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The four-year-old entire, who is ultimately destined for a stud career at Widden Stud, made it Group One win number two when he came from a seemingly hopeless position to win.
Southport Tycoon (Mark Zahra) steals the Gr1 Manikato Stakes from Growing Empire (Craig Williams – on the rail) at Moonee Valley (Pic – Magic Millions)
The handsome chestnut was buried four back on the rails approaching the short Moonee Valley straight before storming home to nab stablemate and race favourite Growing Empire in a pulsating final stride dive.
Winning trainer Ciaron Maher wasn’t surprised by the win of the A$21 pop, the longest priced of his quartet of runners.
“He’s raced really well around The Valley,” Maher told reporters. “I said to Nath Bennett, he went from a boy to a man over the break.”
“He needed that first-up just to get him back in the swing of things. A month between runs, trial – he sort of put the writing on the board in the trial, his sectionals were phenomenal late.”
“I thought Mark was the perfect jockey for him, because you had to play that nice waiting race, nice waiting ride.”
“He can find them,” Maher said of syndicate owner Nathan Bennett of Bennett Racing. “He’s got about half a dozen two-year-olds in the stable at the moment, they’re all showing a bit, so yeah, they can definitely find them.”
Bennett, who purchased Southport Tycoon for A$300,000 on the Gold Coast, was beaming in the winner’s stall.
“They told us from the start. They told us from word go that he was a pretty good colt. They’ve looked after him, they just said, we’ve got to wait, we’ve got to wait, we kept waiting, just put all the trust in the boys, and wow,” Bennett said.
“I actually can’t believe what Mark Zara just did on him then. I’m like, ‘oh, we’re just going to run a nice race here’, but to run them down and win it, jeez, that’s some run.”
“Ciaron and his team, well done, and Dave Eustace also had a lot to do with it, so well done to Dave as well. I’m just so happy for everyone. I actually feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.”
It was a masterful ride from renowned big race rider Mark Zahra. He was able to angle him between horses late and stoke up his mount for a late charge.
“I just rode him for luck,” Zahra said. “I mean seeing my other horse in front like that, geez, he gave such a good chase.”
“Me and Ciaron were quietly confident. He was going really well and I didn’t even have a chance to pull the whip. I was coming through that quick and just got the stride in at the right time.”
“Ciaron’s a master trainer, I went up and trialled him probably six weeks ago, and he was a bit fat and he went just okay, and then I went up to Sydney and rode him, and I seen him again the other day with the blinkers on at the jump outs, and he just looked like a new horse.”
“I wasn’t sure if I won or not – I was coming that fast and knowing the other horse, he’s a stargazer,” Zahra added.
Southport Tycoon was bred by Jan Clark and her business partner John Robbins and sold through their Daandine Stud draft for A$300,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
It is fitting that Saturday’s Group One winner is by Written Tycoon, who was also bred and sold by Daandine Stud – along with his superstar son Capitalist.
Southport Tycoon is one of two named foals produced by the lightly raced American bred mare Ready to Rule.
Ready to Rule is a full sister to stakes winner and Group One runner-up Grace and Power – the dam of Flemington Group One winner Delectation.
Grace and Power is also the grandam of multiple Group One winner and exciting young stallion Artorius.
Winner: Southport Tycoon
Breeding: Street Boss-Snitzel Blast (Snitzel)
Race: MVRC Manikato Stakes Gr1 (1200m)
Sold for: A$300,000
Sale: 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Earnings: A$2,093,350
Breeder: Daandine Pastoral Co Pty Ltd
Vendor: Daandine Stud
Buyer: Bennett Racing
Owners: Bennett Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: NP Bennett), R Menchise, Gaire Pty Ltd, Stallion Match, MV Broadhead, M Ellis, JG Falcke, Mrs D Broadhead, Walnickiglider, BJ Molloy, B Woonton, Bennett Ready to Rule, BJ Britten, AD Stanley, JM Simmons, Australian Bloodstock & Whitegate Pastoral
Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Cranbourne)
