WOW what a win!! Such determination and WILL TO WIN !!
Bennett Racing’s Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) grew wings on the straight to salute by a bob of the head in a thrilling 2 mil Group 1 Manikato Stks at Moonee Valley Friday night. Star jockey Mark Zahra somehow made up 2.5 len inside the final 75m of the Group 1 sprint over 1200m, to run down stablemate Growing Empire (Zoustar). Southport Tycoon confirmed his status as one of the country’s best sprinter milers with the breathtaking win and made it Group 1 win number two when he came from a seemingly hopeless position to win.
With just one of the twelve runners behind him, Southport Tycoon stayed glued to the rails, and by the time they straightened, the Bennett Racing colour-bearer was in a striking position. As the lightly raced Zoustar colt Growing Empire began to shorten stride after challenging the lead, Southport Tycoon pounced and showed devastating speed and will to win to get there by a short-head. The dual Group 1 winner, I Wish I Win, finished solidly, a further two lengths back in third place. Southport Tycoon won for the first time since defeating Veight and Riff Rocket in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington in February. In his following two starts, the son of Written Tycoon finished midfield in the Group 1 All-Ages Stakes and Group 3 Show County Qlty at Randwick.
“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 onhe 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.”
“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.”
A very well bred colt from a wonderful American family, Southport Tycoon was a $300,000 purchase for Bennett Racing from the Daandine Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Southport Tycoon advances his record to four wins, and three seconds from ten starts with earnings of $2,093,350. His dam Ready To Rule (USA) was a $260,000 purchase for Daandine Stud / Boomer Bloodstock (FBAA) from the Bell View Park Stud draft at the 2015 Inglis Broodmare and Weanling Sale. She has been plagued by misfortune n her breeding career, with just two foals in eight seasons. After missing in 2020 and slipping in 2021, the daughter of More Than Ready (USA) foaled a filly by the Golden Slipper winner Farnan last spring and visited Spirit Of Boom. Ready To Rule is a ½ sister to Grace And Power, runner-up in the Group 1 Hollywood Park Starlet Stakes. Grace And Power was a $700,000purchase for the late highly respected agent Steve Brem on behalf of Greg Perryat the 2009 Fasig-Tipton January Mixed Sale. She is the dam of Group 1 VRC Darley Classic winner Delectation and the unraced Gracie’s Lass, the dam of Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and Group 1 ATC Canterbury Stakes winner Artorius (Flying Artie).
Huge congratulations to all owners in Southport Tycoon and a huge thankyou to Ciaron Maher and all his Teams for the wonderful job they have all done with the very valuable entire.