A masterful ride by Mark Zahra and skilled training performance by Ciaron Maher combined under the lights at Moonee Valley on Friday night enabling Southport Tycoon to his better fancied stablemate Growing Empire right on the line in a thrilling Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes 2024 upset.

This year’s Group 1 $2 million Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m) was a star-studded affair, and the action didn’t disappoint an electric crowd of fans at the cauldron with an all-Maher quinella going the way of the roughie.

Four-year-old Written Tycoon entire Southport Tycoon ($21) ran out of his skin inside the final 50m to get the better of the heavily backed favourite Growing Empire ($3.80F) with Peter Moody & Kat Coleman‘s champion sprinter I Wish I Win ($5) rounding out the trifecta in third.

Zahra timed his run to perfection in the important sprint showdown moving off the fence the closing stages to come through the field and fly home in slick time to salute by nostril flare when running down Growing Empire in the final stride.

While Craig Williams on the impressive looking Zoustar colt Growing Empire may have thought he had the win in the bag, Zahra didn’t give up and showed it isn’t over until the finishing post.

“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.

“Craig said he just, with the shades on, he just sort of might have thought the job was maybe, you know, but, you know, phenomenal, you know, for both colts, really,” winning trainer Maher told Racing.com post-victory.

“Growing Empire, I thought, huge was our better seed. But, you know, that toughness, that race toughness showed there late.

“He (Southport Tycoon) raced really well around The Valley, he needed that first-up run. I said to Nath (owner Nathan Bennett), he went from a boy to a man over the break.

“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.

“I thought Mark was the perfect jockey for him, because you had to play that nice waiting race, nice waiting ride.”

Owner Nathan Bennett was equally quick to credit the incredible performance by both horse and hoop.

“They told us from the start. They told us from word go that he was a pretty good colt. They’ve looked after him, they just said, we’ve got to wait, we’ve got to wait, we kept waiting, just put all the trust in the boys, and wow,” he said.

“I actually can’t believe what Mark Zara just did on him then. I did take the 200, I’m like, ‘oh, we’re just going to run a nice race here’, but to run them down and win it, jeez, that’s some run.

“Ciaron and his team, well done, and Dave Eustace also had a lot to do with it, so well done to Dave as well. I’m just so happy for everyone. I actually feel like I’m going to have a heart attack!”

Southport Tycoon went around at 20/1 second-up after finishing over three lengths fifth to Joliestar in the Group 3 Show County Quality at Randwick in late August.

That form has well and truly been franked now with the winning mare going on to run third in the Shearco Stakes to secure a spot in the $20 million The Everest field for Chris Waller this October.

The Manikato Stakes result further cemented Waller’s decision to select Joliestar in the world’s richest turf race with Southport Tycoon coming out of the same form lines to secure his second Group 1 victory.

The galloper was impressive last autumn winning the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) over the mile at Flemington second-up in March.

Betting suggested he wasn’t expected to match it with the top-line sprinters over the six furlongs in the Manikato but Maher and Zhara had come into the feature quietly confident.

Growing Empire may have suffered a late defeat, but he remains in the mix to secure a 2024 The Everest run moving onto the second line of all-in markets for the October 19 event through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Manikato third placed I Wish I Win is another confirmed The Everest contender representing Trackside Media.

He is the $5 favourite for The Everest having lost few admirers with his gallant Manikato placing from a wide alley with the speed on.

“Terrific. We just didn’t get a drag into the race like we probably thought, well, like we hoped we wouldn’t win pre-race, but he’s run sensational,” I Wish I Win’s jockey Luke Nolen said after the race.

“Bring on The Everest!”

Click here for the latest The Everest 2024 odds online courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2024 Manikato Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

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