Southport Tycoon Triumphs in Thrilling G1 Manikato Stakes

Mark Smith - Friday September 27

A brilliant rails-hugging ride by Mark Zahra resulted in the 4-year-old Written Tycoon entire Southport Tycoon running down his 3-year-old stablemate Growing Empire in a thrilling $2,000,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

Southport Tycoon launches late (image Grant Courtney)

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 to win by a short-head.

Advertisement

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 III  Show County Qlty at Randwick.

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.

“He raced really well around The Valley, he needed that first-up run. I said to Nath, he went from a boy to a man over the break.

“He needed that first-up run, just to get him back in the swing of things,” Maher said.

“He 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, a nice waiting ride.

“He (Nathan Bennet)can find them. He's got about half a dozen two-year-olds in the stable at the moment, and they are all showing a bit.

Nathan Bennett said the stable was bullish about Southport Tycoon.

A second Group 1 - Happy days (image Grant Courtney)

“They told us from the start. They told us from word go that he was a pretty good colt,” Bennett enthused.

“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 200m he was going to run a nice race, but to run them down and win it, jeez, that's some run.

The chestnut is the best of two winners from as many to race for the More Than Ready (USA) mare Ready to Rule (USA), a sister to stakes-winner Grace And Power (USA).

Runner-up in the Grade 1 Hollywood Park Starlet Stakes, Grace And Power was a $700,000 purchase for the late Steve Brem on behalf of Greg Perry at 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).

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 in 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.

Advertisment

Race Result - Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Gr1 1200m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.91
1
Southport Tycoon
- 4h Written Tycoon (AUS) x Ready To Rule (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
2
0.1
Growing Empire
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Miles Of Krishan (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Craig Williams 52
Zoustar
3
2.1
I Wish I Win
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Make A Wish (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: L Nolen 58.5
4
2.4
Kimochi
- 4m Brave Smash (JPN) x Summer Fun (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
5
2.7
Climbing Star
- 5m Zoustar (AUS) x Bryony (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P Stokes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 56.5
6
3
Coleman
- 3c Pierata (AUS) x Sboog (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M M Laurie Rdr: K Mc Evoy 52
7
3.3
Estriella
- 4m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Madrigals (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: B Shinn 56.5
8
3.6
Recommendation
- 5g Shalaa (IRE) x Adviso (USA) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M J Dee 58.5
9
5.1
Hayasugi
- 3f Royal Meeting (IRE) x China Road (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: Jamie Kah 50
10
5.2
Johnny Rocker
- 5h Jukebox (AUS) x Margene (AUS) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: B Melham 58.5
11
5.3
Veight
- 4h Grunt (NZ) x Neena Rock (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Damian Lane 58.5
12
5.8
Caballus
- 4h I Am Invincible (AUS) x Calming Influence (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 58.5
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Keeps Winners Coming for Payne Stable
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bold Soul has been a consistent performer right through the winter months and notched another win at Flemington when prevailing in the VRC Membership Renewals Open (2530m) on Saturday.
Southport Tycoon Strikes in Group One Australian Guineas
Edged out in the Group II Autumn Stakes, Group II Australia Stakes, and Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude, the stars aligned for Southport Tycoon in Saturday's $1,000,000 Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.
Unique Filly a History Maker for Godolphin and Waller
The re-distribution of the Godolphin owned Australian racehorses has been a hot topic in recent weeks as they departed the care of James Cummings to join a wide spread of different trainers and one of those was Chris Waller, whose first runner for the blue army was a winner at Rosehill on Saturday.
Crossbow Takes Aim At Flemington To Score
With quality efforts behind handy horses in his first three starts, trainer Chris Waller crossed the border to Victoria with instant success for the Star Thoroughbreds raced Crossbow, with the well-marked son of Better Than Ready breaking through for an impressive win.
The Dreams Alive for Southport Tycoon
The most anticipated race anywhere on Wednesday was the match-up between three hugely impressive debut winners, Snow Patrol (Contributer),  Akicita (Grunt), and Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in the Ladbrokes Hub (Bm64) (1300m) at Sandown-Hillside, and it lived up to the billing.
Dual Group Winner Too Darn Good At Flemington
A dual group winner during the Spring of her 3yo season, talented mare Too Darn Discreet showed an electric turn of foot, charging home over the top of them to win the Melbourne Cup Carnival On Sale (1620m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
Winning Hat-Trick for Progressive Pierro
Richard and Will Freedman probably have more talented horses in the stable than Pierro gelding Cold Brew, but few have the consistency of this four year-old who landed a winning hat-trick at Rosehill on Saturday.