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.
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.
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.
“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.
