Ciaron Maher had four runners in Friday’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), including boom colt and race favourite Growing Empire, but it was the outsider of his quartet that produced a stunning victory.
Southport Tycoon ($21), winner of the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), stuck to the inside under Mark Zahra and flew home to beat stablemate Growing Empire ($3.80 betting fav), who Zahra, unable to ride at 52kg, has ridden at all three career wins to date.
With Growing Empire over two lengths clear in the straight it appeared as if the race was all over but Southport Tycoon sprouted wings to win by a half-head, with star sprinter I Wish I Win ($5) running into third a further two lengths way.
Zahra knew Growing Empire is still inexperienced which gave him some confidence he could run him down late in the piece.
“I wasn’t sure if I won or not – I was coming that fast and knowing the other horse, he’s a
Stargazer,” Zahra said.
“He would have thought, him and Craig 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.”
Ciaron Maher was thrilled to quinella the race and knew Southport Tycoon was capable of reeling off strong late sectionals.
“He needed that first-up just to get him back in the swing of things. A month between runs, trial, – he sort of put the writing on the board in the trial, his sectionals were phenomenal late,” Maher said.
“I thought Mark was the perfect jockey for him, because you had to play that nice waiting race, nice waiting ride.”
He was thrilled with Growing Empire’s first foray into open company.
“They would have ran 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.”