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By Ray Hickson

There’s a sense from the Ciaron Maher stable that Group 1 winning colt Southport Tycoon could be an even better horse racing in the Sydney direction.

Johann Gerard-Dubord (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Feedback from jockey Jamie Kah after his second Sydney trial suggested as much and Maher’s foreman Johann Gerard-Dubord said it’s an encouraging sign for a horse already highly thought of.

A lot of form has come through the colt’s Australian Guineas win that makes his belated Sydney debut in the Group 1 $1.5m Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick even more intriguing.

Of course he beat Veight and Riff Rocket in that 1600m contest, that’s the now Group 1 George Ryder winner and the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby winner.

“At his last start at Flemington he was hanging a bit in the straight,’’ Gerard-Dubord said.

“Jamie said this way of going he’s very straight. I don’t know whether it is this way of going or a bit of maturity too but he was very comfortable going the Sydney way.”

Southport Tycoon, $6 with TAB on Friday, was meant to tackle the Doncaster Mile two weeks ago but he was pulled out when the track came up heavy, following the early morning deluge on race day.

Maher sent him back to the trials last week and he ran a close third in a 1207m heat at Warwick Farm.

Three-year-olds have a handy record in the All-Aged Stakes, particularly since the switch to 1400m was made in 2004, with Atlantic Jewel (2012), English (2016), Trapeze Artist (2018) and Giga Kick last year all successful.

With a solid tempo expected, Gerard-Dubord said from an ideal barrier Southport Tycoon should get his chance to add his name to that list.

“He puts himself on speed, he’s a bit of a fighter,’’ he said.

“He loves winning, he loves racing, he’s a tough sort of horse. He should get a good run and be there for a long way.”

Stablemate Tiz Invincible is due for a change of luck and Gerard-Dubord said she shouldn’t be overlooked in the All-Aged after making good ground from an impossible position to finish midfield in the George Ryder last month.

The filly has come up with barrier one and that could be significant to her chances if she does everything right.

“We thought she was a lot more mature this time in but nothing has gone right this prep,’’ he said.

“First-up she drew wide and had to go back and she was wide all the way, she quickened well but peaked a bit late. Then James (McDonald) tried to give her a dig out of the gate to be a bit closer and she over raced the whole time.

“Last start the instructions were to make sure she settled and she was a bit slow away, found herself a long way off the leaders. From that far back it was too hard to make up ground.”

Import New Energy also contested the George Ryder, finishing 14th, but Gerard-Dubord said it was a run of a horse looking for more ground hence he steps up in trip into the Group 3 $250,000 Toyota Forklifts JRA Plate (2000m).

Nobody missed his Australian debut second in the Liverpool City Cup and while he finished closer to last than first in the Ryder he clocked the second fastest last 200m of 11.41 (Punter’s Intelligence).

“It was a funny race for him, he looked like he was going to run out the back and at the 200m he started to quicken and through the line and past the line he was very strong,’’ he said.

Southport Tycoon runs third in a Warwick Farm trial on April 12

“He just runs through them past the line which is why we were keen to go up in trip.”

Since then New Energy has trialled under James McDonald and while he’s drawn out in the JRA Plate, Gerard-Dubord said it’s hoped he won’t concede such a start with the increase in distance.

“Hopefully we can be a bit closer, the gate is a bit tricky but hopefully he doesn’t find himself last,’’ he said.

“The way he attacked the line last start going up in trip you’d think he will be very hard to beat. He’s got a lot of talent and once he puts it all together he’ll be a very good horse.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting