Northerly
Encyclopedia
Northerly, foaled in 1996, was arguably Australia
's best middle distance Thoroughbred
horse of the early 2000s. Northerly, trained by Western Australia
n harness racing
legend Fred Kersley, won nine Group One
(G1) races, including the Australian Cup
twice, and the Cox Plate
, regarded as the Weight for Age
championship of Australasia
, also on two occasions.
This bay gelding
was bred by Oakland Park Stud, Western Australia
and was sired by Serheed (USA) from North Bell by Bellewater (FR). Serheed was the sire of 27 stakeswinners that had 84 stakeswins, mostly in Western Australia
with Northerly being his best perfomer. North Bell was the dam of five named foals which included two other stakes winners, North Boy and Northern Song, both by Rory's Jester. Northerly was inbred
to Northern Dancer
in the third, fourth and fifth generation (3m x 4f x 5f).
in his native Perth
where he accounted for the state's best milers by nearly three lengths.
Following a first-up second in 2001 in the unsuitably short Australia Day Stakes in Perth, Northerly arrived in Melbourne
for an autumn campaign aimed at the Australian Cup. He won his first race in Melbourne, the Carlyon Cup
over 1,600 metres, by almost four lengths, in course record time, and began a successful relationship with New Zealand
jockey Greg Childs.
Following a third, carrying 59 kilograms (9 st 4 lbs), in the Victoria Gold Cup, Northerly headed to the Australian Cup
over 2,000 metres at Flemington
- his first weight-for-age race against top class opposition. Despite racing three-wide, he won by just over three lengths in course record time. Greg Childs said "On that run today, to break the track record after racing three-wide, you'd have to say he's already on the way up to Sunline
's status. He's not quite Sunline yet, but he's got all the hallmarks of a champion." Sunline, a champion New Zealand mare
, had won the Cox Plate for two years running, and the spring clash with Northerly was now widely anticipated.
Not meeting again before the Cox Plate, Northerly added Group One wins in the Underwood
and Caulfield Stakes
, while Sunline edged to favouritism for the Cox Plate with her victory in the Turnbull Stakes.
The stage was now set for the 2001 Cox Plate. In typical style, Sunline led the field to the home turn, but - unlike the previous two years, when she raced clear in the straight - the Sydney three-year-old Viscount refused to give in, while Northerly loomed wider on the track. Nearing the line, the three horses buffeted one another on several occasions, and, while Northerly narrowly edged past Sunline and Viscount, the roughhouse conclusion to the race sparked three separate protests - second (Sunline) against first (Northerly) and third (Viscount) against first and second. After lengthy deliberations, stewards dismissed all three protests, and Northerly controversially retained the race. Nonetheless, Northerly had had an outstanding campaign, and the Cox Plate was his fourth win in-a-row.
Northerly returned to Perth, and his trainer Fred Kersley chose to run him in the Railway Stakes, which had been moved forward on the calendar. Unfortunately for the "home" crowd, the Cox Plate winner wilted badly in the home straight under 61.5 kilograms, and he finished an uncharacteristic 11th of 16 behind the Lindsey Smith trained Old Comrade, who again defeated Northerly in the Australian Cup
in March.
Northerly had shown strong lead-up form to the Australian Cup, including a close second in the C F Orr Stakes
over 1,400 metres at Caulfield and victory in the St George Stakes
at the same venue a fortnight later, but Old Comrade came with a well-timed run to win the Cup in a boilover. After a tough campaign, with very little rest and stretching from August to March, Fred Kersley decided to give Northerly a good spell in the lead-up to his spring campaign.
, but tried to bite one of his rivals, Fields Of Omagh
, and was unplaced. Backing up a week later, in the Craiglee Stakes, Northerly returned to the winner's circle, and made it three on the trot with wins in the Underwood
and Turnbull Stakes. By running in the Turnbull, Kersley opened up the possibility of running Northerly over 2,400 metres for the first time, in the Caulfield Cup
.
Well-positioned by Greg Childs in the first five runners, the incredibly slow pace helped Northerly overcome the big weight of 58 kilos, and sprint to victory from Fields Of Omagh
and Republic Lass, while Freemason, who had led into the straight, faded to finish a close fifth. Northerly's weight carrying feat eclipsed Sydeston's modern day record of 57 kilos (set in 1990), while Fields Of Omagh
won two Cox Plate
s over the next four years. Northerly started favourite, and the typically fighting win was well-received by the crowd on the day. Jockey Greg Childs said "With 58 kilos, the way the race was run, he was always open to be run down by a lighter-weighted horse. I let him stride at the 600 metres which is what Fred wanted. I knew he would be vulnerable to a lighter-weighted horse in the last 50 metres but he just kept going."
The next week the Caulfield Cup winner returned to Moonee Valley
and repeated his feat of the previous year in winning the Cox Plate. In a high quality year, Northerly raced past Sunline (fourth) at the top of the straight, and held off Defier and Grandera
, with Fields Of Omagh and equal-favourite Lonhro
further back. Speaking after his amazing spring, legendary Racing Steward Des Gleeson said that Northerly was "The champion of his era. His Caulfield Cup win was brilliant with the big weight, and he backed up in the Cox Plate and blitzed them. He has a big motor."
Trainer Fred Kersley ruled out running Northerly in the 2002 Melbourne Cup
and reasoned that because he would have to carry 60 kilograms over 3,200 metres, and the fact that he possibly might not have stayed the trip, it may have taken too great a toll. In the week leading up to the Cox Plate, the eventual Melbourne Cup winner, Media Puzzle
, had burst into calculations by winning the Geelong Cup
by more than three lengths, and Northerly would have been conceding 7.5 kilograms to the imported galloper.
After a brilliant spring, Northerly's campaign autumn in 2003 failed to reach the same heights. Wins in the St George Stakes and the Australian Cup (by four lengths) were interspersed with defeats in the Orr Stakes and the Victoria Gold Cup, where he was defeated as a long-odds-on favourite by the hitherto unheralded Mr Trickster. In Sydney, Northerly was also odds-on favourite in his three starts, but failed to win. In the Ranvet Stakes
, he was run down by Republic Lass; in the Manion Cup, he was unplaced; in The BMW Stakes, Freemason set a course-record pace, and Northerly was unable to run him down, as the two horses dueled over the final 800 metres.
Nonetheless, Northerly was a decisive winner of the Horse of the Year Award.
, and with it, Northerly's career seemed over.
Legendary racing writer Les Carlyon
wrote of Northerly:
"He fools you every time he races. He has the body language of a loser and a heart as big as the Nullarbor
. He invariably looks to be struggling, a shambles of a horse blundering around on memory while his jockey pumps and blusters. Then he gets going. One instant Northerly looks beaten, the next he looks unbeatable. The closer he gets to the post, the harder he tries. He grinds on. And on. And on. He simply refuses to be beaten."
.)
Caulfield 1,600 m, 1:35.1 (Carlyon Cup 2001)
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's best middle distance Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse of the early 2000s. Northerly, trained by Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
legend Fred Kersley, won nine Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
(G1) races, including the Australian Cup
Australian Cup
The Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March...
twice, and the Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
, regarded as the Weight for Age
Weight for Age
Weight for Age is a term in Thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. It means that a horse will carry a set weight in accordance with the Weight for Age Scale. This weight varies depending on the horse’s age, its sex, the race distance and the month of the year...
championship of Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
, also on two occasions.
This bay gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
was bred by Oakland Park Stud, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and was sired by Serheed (USA) from North Bell by Bellewater (FR). Serheed was the sire of 27 stakeswinners that had 84 stakeswins, mostly in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
with Northerly being his best perfomer. North Bell was the dam of five named foals which included two other stakes winners, North Boy and Northern Song, both by Rory's Jester. Northerly was inbred
Inbreeding
Inbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
to Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
in the third, fourth and fifth generation (3m x 4f x 5f).
Racing career
Northerly had 37 race starts, for 19 wins, 7 seconds and 2 thirds, earning prize money of A$9.34 million. Northerly was a favourite of punters for his ability to win after appearing defeated, and this trait, in combination with his racing colours of yellow, black Maltese Cross and quartered cap earned him the nickname of "The Fighting Tiger".Three and four year old seasons: 1999-2001
After winning a string of minor races in Perth, Northerly burst on the scene with his victory in the 2000 Railway StakesRailway Stakes (Australia)
The Railway Stakes is a WATC Group 1 1600 metre Thoroughbred horse race under handicap conditions. The race is held at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Australia in November. Prizemoney was increased to $1 million in 2007.-Distance:...
in his native Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
where he accounted for the state's best milers by nearly three lengths.
Following a first-up second in 2001 in the unsuitably short Australia Day Stakes in Perth, Northerly arrived in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
for an autumn campaign aimed at the Australian Cup. He won his first race in Melbourne, the Carlyon Cup
Carlyon Cup
The Carlyon Cup is a Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred open horse race held under set weight conditions with penalties, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne in February...
over 1,600 metres, by almost four lengths, in course record time, and began a successful relationship with New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
jockey Greg Childs.
Following a third, carrying 59 kilograms (9 st 4 lbs), in the Victoria Gold Cup, Northerly headed to the Australian Cup
Australian Cup
The Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March...
over 2,000 metres at Flemington
Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
- his first weight-for-age race against top class opposition. Despite racing three-wide, he won by just over three lengths in course record time. Greg Childs said "On that run today, to break the track record after racing three-wide, you'd have to say he's already on the way up to Sunline
Sunline
Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive...
's status. He's not quite Sunline yet, but he's got all the hallmarks of a champion." Sunline, a champion New Zealand mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
, had won the Cox Plate for two years running, and the spring clash with Northerly was now widely anticipated.
Five year old season: 2001-2002
Northerly was spelled for the winter, and started his campaign in Perth, where he won first-up and was defeated second-up with 62 kilograms. He then travelled to Melbourne, where he met Sunline for the first time in the John F Feehan Stakes in mid-September. This time, Damien Oliver took the ride, as Greg Childs was committed to Sunline. The great mare raced clear approaching the home turn, but Northerly rallied in the straight for the narrow, fighting victory that would become his trademark. Greg Childs said "Sunline was at peak fitness. We took off early and he looked a beaten horse. But he nailed us on the line. It was his determination. Often he looked to be struggling but he kept coming".Not meeting again before the Cox Plate, Northerly added Group One wins in the Underwood
Underwood Stakes
The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne Australia. It is run over 1800 metres under weight-for-age conditions in late September each year...
and Caulfield Stakes
Caulfield Stakes
The VATC Caulfield Stakes is now a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, at Caulfield Racecourse. The race was previously known as the Caulfield Stakes but since 1997 it has been referred to as the...
, while Sunline edged to favouritism for the Cox Plate with her victory in the Turnbull Stakes.
The stage was now set for the 2001 Cox Plate. In typical style, Sunline led the field to the home turn, but - unlike the previous two years, when she raced clear in the straight - the Sydney three-year-old Viscount refused to give in, while Northerly loomed wider on the track. Nearing the line, the three horses buffeted one another on several occasions, and, while Northerly narrowly edged past Sunline and Viscount, the roughhouse conclusion to the race sparked three separate protests - second (Sunline) against first (Northerly) and third (Viscount) against first and second. After lengthy deliberations, stewards dismissed all three protests, and Northerly controversially retained the race. Nonetheless, Northerly had had an outstanding campaign, and the Cox Plate was his fourth win in-a-row.
Northerly returned to Perth, and his trainer Fred Kersley chose to run him in the Railway Stakes, which had been moved forward on the calendar. Unfortunately for the "home" crowd, the Cox Plate winner wilted badly in the home straight under 61.5 kilograms, and he finished an uncharacteristic 11th of 16 behind the Lindsey Smith trained Old Comrade, who again defeated Northerly in the Australian Cup
Australian Cup
The Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March...
in March.
Northerly had shown strong lead-up form to the Australian Cup, including a close second in the C F Orr Stakes
C F Orr Stakes
The C F Orr Stakes is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Prizemoney in 2010 is A$400,000...
over 1,400 metres at Caulfield and victory in the St George Stakes
St George Stakes
The St George Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged two years old and upwards, over a distance of 1800 metres. It is held at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne every February. Total prize money is A$200,000.-Distance:1900 -...
at the same venue a fortnight later, but Old Comrade came with a well-timed run to win the Cup in a boilover. After a tough campaign, with very little rest and stretching from August to March, Fred Kersley decided to give Northerly a good spell in the lead-up to his spring campaign.
Six year old season: 2002-2003
After beginning his campaign in an unsuitably short sprint in Perth, Northerly arrived in Melbourne for the Memsie StakesMemsie Stakes
The Memsie Stakes is a Group 2 weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Caulfield Racecourse over 1,400 metres . The total prizemoney for the race is A$201,000...
, but tried to bite one of his rivals, Fields Of Omagh
Fields Of Omagh
Fields Of Omagh was a champion middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the early-mid 2000s. He was a half-brother to the stakeswinners, King Brian , Malcolm and Timeless Grace .Fields Of Omagh was trained at Lindsay Park, South Australia by Peter...
, and was unplaced. Backing up a week later, in the Craiglee Stakes, Northerly returned to the winner's circle, and made it three on the trot with wins in the Underwood
Underwood Stakes
The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne Australia. It is run over 1800 metres under weight-for-age conditions in late September each year...
and Turnbull Stakes. By running in the Turnbull, Kersley opened up the possibility of running Northerly over 2,400 metres for the first time, in the Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
.
Well-positioned by Greg Childs in the first five runners, the incredibly slow pace helped Northerly overcome the big weight of 58 kilos, and sprint to victory from Fields Of Omagh
Fields Of Omagh
Fields Of Omagh was a champion middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the early-mid 2000s. He was a half-brother to the stakeswinners, King Brian , Malcolm and Timeless Grace .Fields Of Omagh was trained at Lindsay Park, South Australia by Peter...
and Republic Lass, while Freemason, who had led into the straight, faded to finish a close fifth. Northerly's weight carrying feat eclipsed Sydeston's modern day record of 57 kilos (set in 1990), while Fields Of Omagh
Fields Of Omagh
Fields Of Omagh was a champion middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the early-mid 2000s. He was a half-brother to the stakeswinners, King Brian , Malcolm and Timeless Grace .Fields Of Omagh was trained at Lindsay Park, South Australia by Peter...
won two Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
s over the next four years. Northerly started favourite, and the typically fighting win was well-received by the crowd on the day. Jockey Greg Childs said "With 58 kilos, the way the race was run, he was always open to be run down by a lighter-weighted horse. I let him stride at the 600 metres which is what Fred wanted. I knew he would be vulnerable to a lighter-weighted horse in the last 50 metres but he just kept going."
The next week the Caulfield Cup winner returned to Moonee Valley
Moonee Valley Racecourse
Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club...
and repeated his feat of the previous year in winning the Cox Plate. In a high quality year, Northerly raced past Sunline (fourth) at the top of the straight, and held off Defier and Grandera
Grandera
Grandera is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire who was bred in Ireland and trained in the United Kingdom and Dubai during a racing career which lasted from 2000 to 2003...
, with Fields Of Omagh and equal-favourite Lonhro
Lonhro
Lonhro was a champion Australian racehorse who is now standing at stud. Nicknamed "The Black Flash", Lonhro was from the first crop of the champion Octagonal out of the Group One-placed Shadea , who also produced the Group One winner Niello...
further back. Speaking after his amazing spring, legendary Racing Steward Des Gleeson said that Northerly was "The champion of his era. His Caulfield Cup win was brilliant with the big weight, and he backed up in the Cox Plate and blitzed them. He has a big motor."
Trainer Fred Kersley ruled out running Northerly in the 2002 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
and reasoned that because he would have to carry 60 kilograms over 3,200 metres, and the fact that he possibly might not have stayed the trip, it may have taken too great a toll. In the week leading up to the Cox Plate, the eventual Melbourne Cup winner, Media Puzzle
Media Puzzle
Media Puzzle , foaled in the United States was an Irish horse bred by Walter Haefner's Moyglare Stud Farm and owned by Dr. M. W. Smurfit. He was sired by Theatrical, the 1987 U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse, and out of the mare Market Slide by Gulch, the 1988 U.S. Champion Sprint Horse...
, had burst into calculations by winning the Geelong Cup
Geelong Cup
The Geelong Cup is an annual Australian Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race. The race is open to horses of all ages and sexes. The race is held over a distance of 2400 metres at the Geelong Racecourse on the fourth Wednesday of October, and was first run in 1872...
by more than three lengths, and Northerly would have been conceding 7.5 kilograms to the imported galloper.
After a brilliant spring, Northerly's campaign autumn in 2003 failed to reach the same heights. Wins in the St George Stakes and the Australian Cup (by four lengths) were interspersed with defeats in the Orr Stakes and the Victoria Gold Cup, where he was defeated as a long-odds-on favourite by the hitherto unheralded Mr Trickster. In Sydney, Northerly was also odds-on favourite in his three starts, but failed to win. In the Ranvet Stakes
Ranvet Stakes
The Ranvet Stakes is a 2000 metre weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds and over, run at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney Australia, early in March each year...
, he was run down by Republic Lass; in the Manion Cup, he was unplaced; in The BMW Stakes, Freemason set a course-record pace, and Northerly was unable to run him down, as the two horses dueled over the final 800 metres.
Nonetheless, Northerly was a decisive winner of the Horse of the Year Award.
Seven year old season: 2003-2004
In August 2003 swelling was found in his off-foreleg. This revealed a torn tendonBowed tendon
Tendinitis/tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon. Many times, the tendon tissue is torn. A bowed tendon is a horseman's term for a tendon after a horse has sustained an injury that caused the tendon fibers to be torn, and then healed with "bowed" appearance.-Description of a Tendinitis in...
, and with it, Northerly's career seemed over.
Eight year old season: 2004-2005
Attempting to buck the odds, Northerly returned to the track in August 2004. Months of speculation ended when he galloped and then trialled successfully. A crowd of 30,000 descended on Belmont racecourse in Perth to see his return. Carrying 64.5 kilograms, Northerly was fourth most of the way and got to the lead in sight of the winning post, only to be swamped on the line. After he turned in substandard performances in the Underwood and Turnbull Stakes (both of which he had won in previous campaigns), Fred Kersley retired him.Legendary racing writer Les Carlyon
Les Carlyon
Les Carlyon is an Australian writer, who was born in northern Victoria in 1942. He has been editor of Melbourne's journal of record, The Age, as well as editor-in-chief of The Herald and Weekly Times Ltd, and has twice won the Walkley Award for journalism...
wrote of Northerly:
"He fools you every time he races. He has the body language of a loser and a heart as big as the Nullarbor
Nullarbor Plain
The Nullarbor Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north. It is the world's largest single piece of limestone, and occupies an area of about...
. He invariably looks to be struggling, a shambles of a horse blundering around on memory while his jockey pumps and blusters. Then he gets going. One instant Northerly looks beaten, the next he looks unbeatable. The closer he gets to the post, the harder he tries. He grinds on. And on. And on. He simply refuses to be beaten."
Course records
Flemington 2,000 m, 1:59.4 (Australian Cup 2001) (This race and track record was broken in 2005 by Makybe DivaMakybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
.)
Caulfield 1,600 m, 1:35.1 (Carlyon Cup 2001)
Race record
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | 29 Mar 2000 | 3yo Hcp Restricted | Ascot | NA | 1500 m | 53.5 | S. Miller | 1st - Old Habits |
| Won | 08 Apr 2000 | Aquanita Stakes | Ascot | LR | 1400 m | 52 | P. Carbery | 2nd - Mr Callahan |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 11 Nov 2000 | 3yo & Up Hcp Restricted | Ascot | NA | 1400 m | 53.5 | P. Carbery | 1st - Great Beau |
| Won | 30 Nov 2000 | 3yo & Up Hcp Restricted | Ascot | NA | 1400 m | 56.5 | P. Carbery | 2nd - Echoes |
| Won | 23 Dec 2000 | R J Peters Stakes | Ascot | G3 | 1500 m | 52 | P. Carbery | 2nd - Special Jester |
| Won | 30 Dec 2000 | Railway Stakes Railway Stakes (Australia) The Railway Stakes is a WATC Group 1 1600 metre Thoroughbred horse race under handicap conditions. The race is held at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Australia in November. Prizemoney was increased to $1 million in 2007.-Distance:... |
Ascot | G1 | 1600 m | 51 | D. Miller | 2nd - Old Comrade |
| 2nd | 27 Jan 2001 | Australia Day Stakes | Ascot | LR | 1200 m | 58 | P. Carbery | 1st - Exit Lane |
| Won | 17 Feb 2001 | Clyon Cup | Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G2 | 1600 m | 58 | G. Childs | 2nd - Oval Office |
| 3rd | 03 Mar 2001 | Victoria Cup | Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
NA | 2024 m | 59 | B. Prebble | 1st - Greenstone Charm |
| Won | 12 Mar 2001 | Australia Cup | Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | G. Childs | 2nd - Hit the Roof |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | 11 Aug 2001 | Goodwood Sprint | Belmont | LR | 1300 m | 61 | P. Carbery | 2nd - Prince of Pop |
| 2nd | 25 Aug 2001 | Farnley Stakes | Belmont | LR | 1400 m | 62 | P. Carbery | 1st - Corporate Bruce |
| Won | 15 Sep 2001 | J F Feehan Stakes | Moonee Valley Moonee Valley Racecourse Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club... |
G2 | 1600 m | 58 | D. Oliver | 2nd - Sunline Sunline Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive... |
| Won | 23 Sep 2001 | Underwood Stakes Underwood Stakes The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne Australia. It is run over 1800 metres under weight-for-age conditions in late September each year... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1800 m | 58 | D. Oliver | 2nd - Universal Prince |
| Won | 13 Oct 2001 | Yalumba Stakes | Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | D. Oliver | 2nd - Shogun Lodge Shogun Lodge Shogun Lodge was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won three Group One races, and had each of his 58 starts in Group races... |
| Won | 27 Oct 2001 | Cox Plate Cox Plate The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia... |
Moonee Valley Moonee Valley Racecourse Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club... |
G1 | 2040 m | 58 | D. Oliver | 2nd - Sunline Sunline Sunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive... |
| 11th | 24 Nov 2001 | Railway Stakes Railway Stakes (Australia) The Railway Stakes is a WATC Group 1 1600 metre Thoroughbred horse race under handicap conditions. The race is held at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Australia in November. Prizemoney was increased to $1 million in 2007.-Distance:... |
Ascot | G1 | 1600 m | 61.5 | D. Oliver | 1st - Old Comrade |
| 2nd | 16 Feb 2002 | C F Orr Stakes C F Orr Stakes The C F Orr Stakes is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Prizemoney in 2010 is A$400,000... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1400 m | 58 | D. Oliver | 1st - Barkada |
| Won | 02 Mar 2002 | St George Stakes St George Stakes The St George Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged two years old and upwards, over a distance of 1800 metres. It is held at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne every February. Total prize money is A$200,000.-Distance:1900 -... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G2 | 1800 m | 58 | D. Oliver | 2nd - Old Comrade |
| 2nd | 11 Mar 2002 | Australia Cup | Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | D. Oliver | 1st - Old Comrade |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 17 Aug 2002 | Goodwood Sprint | Belmont | LR | 1300 m | 60 | P. Carbery | 1st - Tribula |
| 4th | 31 Aug 2002 | Memsie Stakes Memsie Stakes The Memsie Stakes is a Group 2 weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Caulfield Racecourse over 1,400 metres . The total prizemoney for the race is A$201,000... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G2 | 1410 m | 58 | D. Oliver | 1st - Magical Miss |
| Won | 07 Sep 2002 | Craiglee Stakes Craiglee Stakes The Craiglee Stakes, renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes, is a 1600 metre Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race at Set Weights with Penalties conditions. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in September... |
Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G2 | 1600 m | 58 | G. Childs | 2nd - Le Zagaletta |
| Won | 22 Sep 2002 | Underwood Stakes Underwood Stakes The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne Australia. It is run over 1800 metres under weight-for-age conditions in late September each year... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1800 m | 58 | G. Childs | 2nd - Magical Miss |
| Won | 05 Oct 2002 | Turnbull Stakes Turnbull Stakes The Turnbull Stakes is a 2000 metre Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, run under set weights with penalties conditions. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne in October. Total prize money is A$502,000. It is one of the important races of the Spring Racing Carnival along... |
Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G2 | 2000 m | 59 | G. Childs | 2nd - Dash For Cash |
| Won | 19 Oct 2002 | Caulfield Cup Caulfield Cup The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 2400 m | 58 | G. Childs | 2nd - Fields Of Omagh Fields Of Omagh Fields Of Omagh was a champion middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the early-mid 2000s. He was a half-brother to the stakeswinners, King Brian , Malcolm and Timeless Grace .Fields Of Omagh was trained at Lindsay Park, South Australia by Peter... |
| Won | 26 Oct 2002 | Cox Plate Cox Plate The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia... |
Moonee Valley Moonee Valley Racecourse Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club... |
G1 | 2040 m | 58 | P. Payne | 2nd - Defier |
| 4th | 08 Feb 2003 | C F Orr Stakes C F Orr Stakes The C F Orr Stakes is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Prizemoney in 2010 is A$400,000... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1400 m | 58 | P. Payne | 1st - Yell |
| Won | 22 Feb 2003 | St George Stakes St George Stakes The St George Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged two years old and upwards, over a distance of 1800 metres. It is held at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne every February. Total prize money is A$200,000.-Distance:1900 -... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G2 | 1800 m | 58 | P. Payne | 2nd - Fields Of Omagh Fields Of Omagh Fields Of Omagh was a champion middle distance Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the early-mid 2000s. He was a half-brother to the stakeswinners, King Brian , Malcolm and Timeless Grace .Fields Of Omagh was trained at Lindsay Park, South Australia by Peter... |
| 2nd | 01 Mar 2003 | Victoria Cup | Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
LR | 2020 m | 60 | P. Payne | 1st - Mr Trickster |
| Won | 10 Mar 2003 | Australia Cup | Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | P. Payne | 2nd - Natural Blitz |
| 2nd | 29 Mar 2003 | Ranvet Stakes Ranvet Stakes The Ranvet Stakes is a 2000 metre weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds and over, run at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney Australia, early in March each year... |
Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
G1 | 2000 m | 58 | P. Payne | 1st - Republic Lass |
| 6th | 05 Apr 2003 | Manion Cup | Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
G3 | 2400 m | 61 | P. Payne | 1st - Grand City |
| 2nd | 12 Apr 2003 | The BMW Stakes | Rosehill Rosehill Gardens Racecourse The Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located in the Western Sydney suburb of Rosehill, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is home of the Sydney Turf Club. Rosehill holds horse races for thoroughbred gallopers on a grass surface. It is one of the two premier racecourses in Sydney, the... |
G1 | 2400 m | 58 | P. Payne | 1st - Freemason |
| Result | Race |
|---|---|
| Nil | Northerly was unraced as a seven year old due to a torn tendon |
| Result | Date | Race!!Venue!!Group!!Distance!!Weight (kg)!!Jockey!!Winner/2nd | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 11 Sep 2004 | Walter Brooke Hcp | Belmont | NA | 1600 m | 64.5 | P. Carbery | 1st - Royal Minx |
| 10th | 19 Sep 2004 | Underwood Stakes Underwood Stakes The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne Australia. It is run over 1800 metres under weight-for-age conditions in late September each year... |
Caulfield Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs... |
G1 | 1800 m | 58 | P. Carbery | 1st - Elvstroem Elvstroem Elvstroem was an outstanding bay Thoroughbred racehorse, by world champion sire Danehill from the former champion three-year-old filly, Circles of Gold.-Dam:... |
| 9th | 02 Oct 2004 | Turnbull Stakes Turnbull Stakes The Turnbull Stakes is a 2000 metre Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, run under set weights with penalties conditions. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne in October. Total prize money is A$502,000. It is one of the important races of the Spring Racing Carnival along... |
Flemington Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River... |
G2 | 2000 m | 59 | M. Flaherty | 1st - Elvstroem Elvstroem Elvstroem was an outstanding bay Thoroughbred racehorse, by world champion sire Danehill from the former champion three-year-old filly, Circles of Gold.-Dam:... |