Given the size of the "Northerly Returns" thread, thought I'd start a new one where members can post their comments or views on the great WA champion.

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All the best from the West

Sandgroper :smile:

[ This Message was edited by: Sandgroper on 2003-02-20 12:21 ]

Interesting interview with Fred Kersley on local ABC radio this morning.

Sees Fields Of Omagh as his main danger on Saturday and throughout Northerly’s current campaign in Melbourne.

Although a small field on Saturday (5 starters last count) he is concerned if run at a muddling pace could play into the hands of Fields Of Omagh – could be we might see Northerly going to the lead early.

What I found even more interesting, was Fred’s comments re Northerly’s reported Sydney plans.

Don’t seem to be set in concrete and Fred even stated that Northerly might return to Perth following his Melbourne campaign.


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All the best from the West

Sandgroper :smile:

[ This Message was edited by: Sandgroper on 2003-02-20 12:23 ]

Some interesting stuff there Perth Placegetter. Sticking my neck out a bit and wondering if Northerly might be vulnerable on Saturday :wink:

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Ta me go maith

Courtesy The West Australian website:

England has joined the growing list of leading racing countries keen to lure WA's champion galloper Northerly out of Australia.

Trainer Fred Kersley, who has put on hold many requests to race Northerly in Dubai's $13 million World Cup, the world's richest race, now has to entertain English hopes.

Like other northern hemisphere fans, Northerly has made the English heads spin, specially with his demolition of top European star Grandera in last season's Group 1 Cox Plate in Melbourne.

Nick Cheyne, Ascot director of racing, yesterday arrived in Melbourne and took Kersley and wife Judy, Northerly's half owner, to lunch.

But Kersley was typically non-committal about the English idea to run Northerly in the $2 million King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes over his 2002 Caulfield Cup-winning distance of 2400m.

The Guy Walter-trained Defier, runner-up to Northerly when the WA star won his second successive Cox Plate, is also high on the list of England.

"There's a lot of water to pass under the bridge before then," Judy Kersley said. "Fred has just added it to the list. He wants to concentrate on the Australian Cup and BMW."

Before Kersley thinks about Europe, Dubai or Singapore, he has Northerly aimed at the $1.25 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 10 and the $2 million BMW Classic in Sydney on April 12.

Northerly has his second run in his latest campaign in the $200,000 weight-for-age St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday when he renews rivalry with the Tony McEvoy-trained Fields Of Omagh.

Kersley has been pleased with Northerly's progress since his first-up Melbourne fourth to Yell in the Orr Stakes on February 8 when Fields Of Omagh ran a close second.

The 1400m was far too short for Northerly and he is favourite to return to the winners' list at the 1800m of the St George Stakes.

He is an odds-on favourite in early St George fixed odds markets and dominates betting with Fields Of Omagh.

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Ta me go maith

At around 10-11%, backing the others looks good to me. Stranger things have happened.

The rain in Melbourne should provide a chance for Mr Casanova to add value to the trifecta and if it is on the dead-slow side then Georgie Boy.

Magoo

never back against a champion!!!!

Northerly all the way no matter what the price. nothing will ever pass it in the straight, its a freak

Too good - no matter the track condition, Northerly is just too good and any slight hope of exploiting a factor against his class is generally a waste of time (ask B Martin trying his hardest to squeeze out a protest during the race call). With thanks to Kevin Costner: "Here endeth the lesson". Couldn't agree more Ra Sun and the lesson has been learnt. To give him his credit, Mr Martin did concede shortly afterwards his interest was beaten by a better horse, which adds weight to Ra Sun's comments.

Hi all,
just reading that the 1400m Futurity might be an option for Northerly as Kersley is worried with a 16day break to the Australian Cup the champ won't be at peak fitness. The other 2 options are the 2000m Gold Cup where he'd carry 60kg or strong gallops leading into the big race.
I hope Fred sticks to the strong gallops as he has Sydney and possible International campaign ahead. In fact I will be very interested to see how Northerly handles the Sydney(right handed) way of going, if it's a bother at all. Imagine how the STC will promote the first time appearance of the no.1 galloper of the last 2 years during their carnival. Should pack 'em in like sardines.

Courtesy The West Australian website:

Trainer Fred Kersley has sprung a surprise by announcing he will enter champion galloper Northerly for Saturday's $400,000 weight-for-age Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

The gelding, who boosted his stake earnings beyond $8 million when he brilliantly won Saturday's St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield, looked in top order yesterday.

He is nominal favourite for the $1.25 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10.

If Northerly tackles the Futurity, classy WA sprinter Old Fashion will be among his rivals. Old Fashion is booked to be flown from Perth tonight and his trainer, Vernon Brockman, has engaged Stephen Miller to ride the Railway Stakes winner on Saturday.

Kersley said yesterday he had added the Futurity to his options in the Australian Cup lead-up because he was worried that Northerly might not be at peak fitness for the rich Flemington race.

The trainer said after the St George Stakes that his star would be nominated for Saturday's $100,000 Victoria Gold Cup over 2000m, a distance which would suit Northerly's program leading to the Australian Cup.

Kersley's consideration of the Futurity Stakes comes as a surprise because stayers rarely switch back to a sprint when heading to a major middle-distance race.

"There is a risk Northerly wouldn't be in peak form at Australian Cup time if he did not start in the previous 16 days," Kersley said yesterday.

"I now consider we have three options in the next fortnight. The Victoria Gold Cup is a handicap over the right distance. It has a 60kg maximum but rivals will have light weights and Northerly is no longer suited by handicaps.

"The Futurity is probably too short for him to be a strong winning prospect but the race has weight-for-age conditions that are ideal for him.

"Our third option is to give him solid trackwork to ensure he's fully fit on Australian Cup day. We'll decide on Wednesday or Thursday morning whether he races at Caulfield again next Saturday."

Northerly, a winner at 13 of his 18 Melbourne starts, delighted Kersley in the St George Stakes. "He was fully tested by Field Of Omagh's challenge to the 200m post but then went to the line with something in reserve," the trainer said.

"Northerly was not stressed by the race and has benefited from it. He pulled up without cuts or bruises."

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Ta me go maith