Southport Tycoon lands spoils in star-studded renewal of Manikato
Son of Written Tycoon’s second elite-level victory further consolidates Widden’s decision to buy into the entire
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 (Gr 1, 1200m), with the triumph further vindicating Widden Stud’s decision to buy into the son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia).
Already a winner at the highest level having taken out March’s Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington, the Ciaron Maher-trained son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia) doubled that tally in the most dramatic fashion under the lights on Friday night.
Following his successful three-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 (Gr 3, 1200m) on August 24, Southport Tycoon was sent off an unfancied $21 chance on his first return to Group 1 level since a disappointing ninth in April’s All Aged Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m).
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 metres left to travel and asked his mount for full effort.
The eventual winner’s stablemate and favourite, three-year-old colt Growing Empire (Zoustar), looked to have the race sewn up with less than 100 metres left to complete, 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 (Savabeel) 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.”
Southport Tycoon’s victory not only handed Maher a quinella in the race but also a double on the card, with the champion trainer having sent out stable star Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) to success in the Feehan Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) a few races earlier.
“He raced really well around The Valley, he needed that first-up run. I said to Nath [Bennett, managing owner], he went from a boy to a man over the break,” Maher said.
“He needed that first-up run, just to get him back in the swing of things. 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 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.”
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-metre he was going to run a nice race, but to run them down and win it, jeez, that’s some run.”
Bennett Racing were tasting success for the second time on the night at The Valley, having watched Baraqiel (Snitzel) bound away to a 0.8-length win in a Benchmark 84 (1200m) event in the second race on the card.
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.”
Maher echoed the thoughts of Williams and feels there is plenty more in the tank for the Yulong-owned colt.
“They would have run some really slick times early, and to be there, like, he looked a winner all the way down the straight, he’s just been collared late. Serious, serious colt, he’s got a massive lot of upside,” Maher said.
“Growing Empire, I thought, he was our better seed. But, you know, that toughness, that race toughness showed there late.”
Meanwhile, third placegetter I Wish I Win’s rider Luke Nolen was ruing the draw in stall 12 post-race, but was confident of a big showing in next month’s $20 million The Everest (1200m).
“Terrific,” the rider said of the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding. “We just didn’t get a drag into the race like we probably thought, well, like we hoped we would pre-race, but he’s run sensational. Bring on The Everest.”
A $300,000 purchase for Bennett Racing out of Daandine Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Southport Tycoon (4 h Written Tycoon – Ready To Rule by More Than Ready) is the best of two winners out of the unplaced More Than Ready (Southern Halo) mare Ready To Rule. She was herself a $260,000 purchase for Daandine Stud and Boomer Bloodstock from the Bell View Park Stud draft at the 2015 Inglis Broodmare and Weanling Sale.
Ready To Rule is a sister to the stakes winner and Grade 1 placegetter Grace And Power, herself a US$700,000 purchase for the late bloodstock consultant Steve Brem on behalf of Greg Perry at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton January Mixed Sale.
Grace And Power is the dam of Darley Classic (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Delectation (Shamardal) and Gracie’s Lass (Redoute’s Choice), who herself is the dam of Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and Canterbury Stakes (Gr 1, 1300m) winner Artorius (Flying Artie), who now stands at Newgate Farm.
After missing in 2020 and slipping in 2021, Ready To Rule foaled a filly by Kia Ora’s Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) last spring and visited Spirit Of Boom (Sequalo).
Southport Tycoon is one of 15 individual elite-level winners for Yulong’s Written Tycoon, who is standing for a private fee.