Southport Tycoon, a son of Written Tycoon, raised a first group 1 success for syndicator Bennett Racing in claiming the Australian Guineas (G1) March 2 at Flemington.
Ridden superbly by Jamie Kah—her 11th top-tier success and second in eight days after Hayasugi's Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) win—Southport Tycoon sat behind the well-fancied Veight midfield in the run, and peeled off the back of that colt to storm home in the straight and beat him by a length-and-a-quarter. Ciaron Maher trains the winner.
Veight held second while Riff Rocket (by American Pharoah ) rallied from further back in the field to take third.
The win was a breakthrough triumph for Nathan Bennett and his team, who bought Southport Tycoon for AU$300,000 (US$218,520) from breeders Daandine Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2022.
"It's fantastic. It's just huge for Bennett Racing and what we've been trying to build on for the last five or six years," Nathan Bennett told Racing.com. "We've been thereabouts (in group 1s), and we just kept getting nailed. If you keep turning up, I think one's going to go your way eventually, and wow he's a pretty good colt.
Southport Tycoon is the best of two winners from as many runners for American mare Ready to Rule (by More Than Ready), a sister to stakes winner Grace and Power. Southport Tycoon is the 62nd stakes winner and 13th group 1 winner for Yulong Stud's fee-on-arrangement stallion Written Tycoon.
Randwick Group 1 Recaps
Elsewhere in Australia Saturday, Think It Over held sway over Fangirl through the stretch to secure victory in the Verry Elleegant Stakes (G1) at Randwick.
The 1,600-meter (about one mile) race for 3-year-olds and older formerly was contested as the Chipping Norton Stakes but was renamed this year to honor Verry Elleegant, who died Feb. 18 while foaling. She won the Chipping Norton in 2021 and 2022.
The victory marked the third group 1 win for Think It Over, an 8-year-old So You Think gelding. Think It Over is campaigned by his breeder, Bylong Park, and trained by Kerry Parker.
Fangirl was denied a fourth group 1 and group 1 winner Lindermann finished third.
In the Surround Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies going 1,400 meters (about seven furlongs), 2023 Flight Stakes (G1) winner Tropical Squall just edged Stefi Magnetica.
Tropical Squall, a daughter of Prized Icon, is campaigned by Gooree Stud and trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
With the placing, Stefi Magnetica earned the first black type of her career while third-place Tutta La Vita placed a the group 1 level for a second time.
The Randwick recaps are from BloodHorse staff reports.
