The combination of an incredible riding performance, and sheer will to win, saw Southport Tycoon zip home to land a red-hot renewal of The Valley’s Manikato Stakes (G1) Sept. 27, with the triumph further vindicating Widden Stud’s decision to buy into the son of Written Tycoon .
Already a winner at the highest level having taken out March’s Australian Guineas (G1) at Flemington, the Ciaron Maher-trainee doubled that tally in the most dramatic fashion under the lights on Friday night.
⚜️ #WrittenTycoon entire Southport Tycoon (ex Ready To Rule) claims his second G1 with an electric victory in the Manikato S. for @cmaherracing at @TheValley 🏆
An enormous second-place run from Yulong-owned 3YO colt Growing Empire (Zoustar x Miles Of Krishan). pic.twitter.com/D8TY6xNUFc
— Yulong Investments (@YulongInvest) September 27, 2024
Following his successful 3-year-old preparation, it was announced in August that Widden Stud had bought into Bennett Racing-owned entire, with Australian Bloodstock also buying into the now dual group 1 winner earlier on that same month.
Coming into the race second-up, having run fifth in the Show County Quality (G3) Aug. 24, Southport Tycoon was sent off an unfancied AU$21 chance on his first return to group 1 level since a disappointing ninth in April’s All Aged Stakes (G1).
With Mark Zahra, who rode him first-up at Randwick, back in the saddle, the pair found themselves with a wall of horse approaching the home bend.
However, having made gradual progress hugging the inside rail, Zahra found space with just 150 meters left to travel and asked his mount for full effort.
The eventual winner’s stablemate and favorite, 3-year-old colt Growing Empire, looked to have the race sewn up with less than 100 meters left, however, Southport Tycoon ate up the ground in tremendous style to collar the long-time leader on the line, scoring by 0.1 lengths in a photo-finish, bringing an end to Growing Empire’s four-race unbeaten run.
There was a further two lengths back to I Wish I Win in third.
“I wasn’t sure if I won or not,” Zahra told Racing.com. “I was coming that fast and knowing the other horse (Growing Empire), he’s a stargazer.”
“He would have thought, both him and Craig (Williams, jockey) I reckon would have thought they won. And if there’s the only way to beat that horse is to get him late before he can see you coming. Lucky I know him.”
Owner Nathan Bennett was visibly emotional and said: “They told us from the start. They told us from word go that he was a pretty good colt.
“They have looked after him, saying we’ve got to wait, we’ve got to wait, and we kept waiting, just put all the trust in the boys, and wow.
“I can’t believe what Mark Zara did on him. I thought at the 200-meter he was going to run a nice race, but to run them down and win it, jeez, that’s some run.”
Craig Williams, who rode the runner-up Growing Empire, felt his mount would improve plenty for the experience of racing older rivals for the first time.
“He was certainly gallant in defeat today,” Williams said. “First time up against those horses. You can see why Ciaron brought him here. The blinkers have worked to switch him on.
“There’s a bit of pressure early. Probably made us a little bit vulnerable late. It was a good, tough, strong horse, an older horse that beat us in the wire, but he’s only going to improve from that experience. He was very gallant in defeat. It’s a shame we didn’t hold on.”
An AU$300,000 purchase for Bennett Racing out of Daandine Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Southport Tycoon is the best of two winners out of the unplaced More Than Ready mare Ready To Rule.