The Northerly knockers are most likely having a field-day. :sad:

I say a job well done champ, have a great break, and come back firing on all cylinders!!! :smile:



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All the best from the West

Sandgroper :smile:

[ This Message was edited by: Sandgroper on 2003-04-14 18:35 ]

Sandgroper,

No one on the east coast has ever doubted the heart and fighting spirit of this great horse, just how he has been handled.
Fred was on Racing Radio in NSW this morning and when asked, answered directly that he was unhappy with the ride on Saturday. This led to speculation by the program's host and other contributors that Greg Childs will replace P. Payne for Northerly's next preparation. That is after he has enjoyed a well-earned rest(although it must be said that the Sydney way of going may not entirely suit him).

Cheers.

I'm surprised it took Fred so long to realise that Paddy Payne just doesn't have any affinity with this horse.Four bad rides out of four just doesn't add up.I note with tongue in cheek Neils comment in the Propun news that connections and jockey would not be too upset,after all they collected $400.000 for running 2nd,but I can't agree with that.$2 million for winning is a big difference compared to 2nd money,so I reckon Fred would be pretty dirty!!!I stated on a previous post that if Greg Childs,Damien Oliver or Corey Brown were on his back,the results of his last 5 starts would be totally different,and I stand by that.

Well done Betty Boop and Ra Sun - nice pointer at the $66 mark. A deserved collect for you. Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
Cosmo

i think get darren beadman on board the mans a genius. although i like paddy i think hes a good jockey just may not be northerly's jockey.

Courtesy The West Australian website:

Racing NSW chief handicapper Mark Webbey has thrown the cat among the pigeons by selecting Northerly as his Horse of the Year, "far ahead" of Lonhro and Defier.

Lonhro's legion of fans in Sydney reckon victory in tomorrow's $750,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick - which would give Lonhro his fifth Group 1 for the season - would be enough to earn the black flash Horse of the Year honours.

"No hope in the world," Webbey said in response.

"Northerly is by far and away the best-performed horse this season."

Webbey's controversial comments are sure to spark furious debate, especially from the camp of Lonhro's trainer, John Hawkes, and owners, Jack and Bob Ingham.

Add the spectre of the West Australian champ's three defeats in Sydney this autumn and Webbey's opinion will have its detractors.

"Even if Lonhro won on Saturday and went on to win the Doomben Cup, I still couldn't have him overtaking Northerly, who beat Lonhro by about 25 lengths in the Cox Plate.

Northerly has won four Group 1s this season - the Underwood, Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup last spring and the Australian Cup this autumn.