| Southport Tycoon emerged as one of the country’s hottest sire prospects this afternoon when he scored a soft win in today’s Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington. |
| After a pair of eye catching and close seconds in the Australia and Autumn Stakes’ the son of Written Tycoon was primed for today’s Flemington feature and he had his connections jumping for joy when he cleared away from Veight late in a Magic Millions sold 1-2. Connections of Southport Tycoon have always held the colt in high regard and felt he was peaking for today’s Group One assignment. “He was almost the forgotten colt really,” a delighted winning trainer Ciaron Maher said. “I was very confident last start and I almost doubted myself a little bit.” “Jamie had the barrier, I was confident she had the right barrier to bounce, land in the right spot – she couldn’t have rode the horse any better, traveled, followed Veight into the race you know he’s a genuine, genuine horse and I was very confident coming down the straight, watching it.” Maher paid tribute to the Bennett Racing team who purchased the colt as a yearling on the Gold Coast for $300,000. “Nathan (Bennett) and his whole business, they’ve put a lot in, there’s not a race you see go round that there’s not the Bennett Racing colours in and this colt’s always promised so much, these are your Tatts lotto tickets, colts in Group Ones.” “Full credit to them and great job to our team – Jack Turnbull, Ian Gilchrist, Fulmen Park, everyone involved, all the staff, all the riders, phenomenal.” Maher said he would talk to Southport Tycoon’s owners before deciding if they would consider the All-Star Mile. “Being a three-year-old colt, maybe it’s worth considering a little bit more, now he’s got that Group One on the board, it’s a more realistic option but I’m sure they’ll enjoy it tonight and we’ll have some good, healthy conversations about it tomorrow,” Maher added. Southport Tycoon was aided to his Guineas success this afternoon thanks to a copybook ride from superstar jockey Jamie Kah – not surprisingly she was all smiles after the race. “Everything just worked out a dream out there today,” Kah said after the win. “We got into a beautiful spot.” “The horse I wanted to follow was Veight and we were following him and when I popped out at about the 400 (metres) I thought he’s going to run a really nice second here and then he just found and found and kept finding.” “The scary thing is he’s so raw still, very dumb and immature and he’s got a lot more improvement there but I’ll take that- that was awesome!” “He looks like he’s got class, he’s talented, but it just seems like when he hits the front he wants to lay in and I just needed to time the run perfectly.” “When the draws came out and I got four, it was going to be a beautiful run for the horse and that’s the difference between winning and losing, in these races you’ve got to give him the perfect runs and he got the perfect one today.” Like his superstar sire Written Tycoon, Southport Tycoon was bred and sold at the Gold Coast by Jan Clark’s Daandine Stud. Daandine also have the honour of breeding and selling Written Tycoon’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Golden Slipper winning son Capitalist. Southport Tycoon is one of two winners, from two to race, for a lightly raced More Than Ready full sister to Grace and Power – the stakes winning and Group One placed dam of Darley Classic winner Delectation. Grace and Power’s daughter Grace’s Lass, who was unraced, is the dam of Gold Coast sold Blue Diamond and Canterbury Stakes winner Artorius. Winner: Southport Tycoon Breeding: Written Tycoon-Ready to Rule (More Than Ready) Race: VRC Australian Guineas G1 (1600m) Sold for: $300,000 Sale: 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Earnings: $855,250 Breeder: Daandine Pastoral Co Pty Ltd Vendor: Daandine Stud Buyer: Bennett Racing Owners: Bennett Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: N Bennett), R Menchise, Gaire Pty Ltd (Mgr: D Molloy), McEnnis Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr: M Ennis), M Broadhead, M Ellis, J Falcke, Mrs D Broadhead, Walnickiglider (Mgr: N Marshman), B Molloy, B Woonton & Bennett Ready to Rule (Mgr: N Bennett) Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Cranbourne) |
