Dual Group 1 winner Southport Tycoon will return to the scene of his Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) victory when he contests Friday night’s Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
The Ciaron Maher-trained four-year-old finished second in last year’s edition of the Group 2, and assistant trainer Jack Turnbull believes Southport Tycoon is ready to go one better.
“He’s proven at The Valley fresh; he’s in good form and 1200 metres is not a problem. Fitness won’t be a problem,” he told Racing.com.
Turnbull added that the ownership group, including Widden Stud, and Maher would assess Southport Tycoon’s autumn targets, weighing the options of sticking to sprint trips or targeting feature mile races, given his other Group 1 win came in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).
“He will tell us whether, as an older horse, if he’ll be a better sprinter or if he’s looking for a mile; we will be guided by his form,” he said.
If they choose the 1600-metre route, Turnbull mentioned possible targets like the Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m) or the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) in Sydney.
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