The Ciaron Maher stable is eager to gauge Southport Tycoon’s autumn prospects when the talented galloper returns to action at Moonee Valley this Friday night.

Competing in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m), Southport Tycoon aims to improve on his runner-up finish in the same race last year. After that performance, the son of Written Tycoon went on to secure the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington two starts later. During last spring, with Mark Zahra in the saddle, he delivered a breathtaking win in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes over the same course and distance.

Maher’s assistant trainer, Jack Turnbull, explained that while Southport Tycoon has plenty of options ahead, the stable is looking to assess whether the horse is best suited to sprints or middle-distance races as he matures.

“Whether we target an All-Star Mile or take him to Sydney for something like the Doncaster, he’ll tell us,” Turnbull said.

“He may be a better sprinter now that he’s an older horse, or maybe he is that middle-distance horse again.

“We’ve had blinkers on, blinkers off. He’s won at six [furlongs], he’s won at a mile, and he’s obviously a valuable stallion, so we just need to be mindful of that.”

Friday night’s race will be Southport Tycoon’s first outing since finishing fourth in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on November 16. As part of his lead-up, he has had two jump-outs at Cranbourne, including a second-place finish behind Just Folk over 1000m on January 13.

Southport Tycoon, who has drawn barrier two with Mark Zahra aboard, will face eight rivals, including Steparty (barrier 8), It’Sourtime (5), Schwartz (9), and Poison Chalice (1).

“We think he’s come up well and he only had a short break after that last prep,” Turnbull said.

“He’s obviously proven at The Valley, he’s fresh, he’s in good form.

“The six [furlongs] won’t be any problem for him, and his fitness levels are quite good.”