The most anticipated race anywhere on Wednesday was the match-up between three hugely impressive debut winners, Snow Patrol (Contributer), Akicita (Grunt), and Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in the Ladbrokes Hub (Bm64) (1300m) at Sandown-Hillside, and it lived up to the billing.
The three were at the back of the five-horse field on the turn. While Snow Patrol was stopped in his tracks when running onto heels, Southport Tycoon and Akicita sailed down the outside to fight out a titanic finish.
Akicita looked to have Southport Tycoon dead to the world when edging a neck in front. When the son of Grunt began hanging for Jye McNiel, the Written Tycoon colt Southport Tycoon was rallying under Harry Coffey to record an unlikely half-neck win.
Snow Patrol was three and a quarter lengths back in third after seeing daylight in the final 100m.
All
three may match up in the Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude on September 23.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Southport Tycoon dominated a 1230m maiden at Geelong on August 11.
Southport Tycoon was a $300,000 purchase for Bennett Racing from the Daandine Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was the syndicator's most expensive purchase.
"We thought he was the best colt in the ground, and so did our vet, so we paid $300,000 for him, but who knows, he might be a pretty nice one," Nathan Bennett told racing.com.
"We knew he would be a three-year-old, and he wouldn't be a two-year-old, he just had so much scope.
"He was pretty impressive, and well done to the Maher – Eustice team and congrats to all our owners. They have a nice colt for the future.
"To see him do that was even better than just running away with it because he's had to dig deep, and the other horse headed him and fought back.
"Dave (Eustice) and I had a bit of a chat, and while we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, the Guineas Prelude is only a couple of weeks away and then to the Caulfield Guineas after that. It's very exciting.
Southport Tycoon is the second winner 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.
Grace And Power 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 has been dogged 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) visited Farnan at Kia Ora Stud last spring.
