Southport Tycoon to start autumn preparation in Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley

Friday night’s Australia Stakes could be the springboard to a plethora of autumn options for the Ciaron Maher-trained dual Group 1 winner Southport Tycoon.

Dual Group 1 winner Southport Tycoon will start his autumn preparation in Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Michael Klein

The Ciaron Maher camp knows where dual Group 1 winner Southport Tycoon will start his latest campaign but the destination is still up in the air.

Southport Tycoon has won Group 1 races in his last two campaigns, claiming the Australian Guineas as a three-year-old last autumn before taking the Manikato Stakes in the spring.

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Maher will give Southport Tycoon his first run of 2025 in Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley after two Cranbourne jumpouts.

Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said the Australia Stakes was the perfect starting point as it will be run over the same course as Southport Tycoon’s Manikato Stakes win.

“He’s obviously proven at The Valley,” Turnbull said.

“He’s fresh and he’s in good form so fitness won’t be a problem.”

While Southport Tycoon will start his campaign over 1200m, Turnbull said Maher and Southport Tycoon’s owners had many autumn options with the versatile performer.

Trainer Ciaron Maher has many options with Southport Tycoon after Friday night’s Australia Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Southport Tycoon has won at Group 1 level over 1200m and 1600m with that distance range providing targets in both Melbourne and Sydney.

Turnbull said the stallion’s performances early in his preparation would determine the goals for the second half of his autumn foray.

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“We’re going to kick off over six (furlongs – 1200m) and whether we target something like the All-Star Mile or we take him up to Sydney or run in something like a Doncaster (Mile), he’ll probably tell us,” Turnbull said.

“Whether or not he’s a better sprinter now as an older horse or whether or not he’s a middle-distance horse, we’ll be guided by how he’s running.

“He’s now a valuable stallion so we just need to be mindful of that as well.

“First and foremost, he’ll kick off on Friday and, depending on how he performs, we’ve got aspirations to do those other options.”

Southport Tycoon is the highest rated of 14 entries for the $350,000 Australia Stakes.

Smart four-year-old Steparty is the only other runner rated over 100 in the nominations.

Sydney trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have entered Schwarz while the Dominic Sutton-trained Band Of Brothers could tackle the older horses in the Australia Stakes.

Originally published as Southport Tycoon to start autumn preparation in Group 2 Australia Stakes at The Valley