Courtesy The West Australian website:

Lonhro will not be there but champion Northerly may face up to eight opponents in Saturday's Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, including Australian Cup placegetters Natural Blitz and Don Eduardo.

Trainer Doug Harrison will decide later this week whether to start three-year-old Natural Blitz in the Group 1 Ranvet or the Sky High Stakes (1900m) on the same program for his first Sydney appearance.

There were fears the presence of Northerly would scare trainers off but he will not have it all his own way if all the entrants start.

Republic Lass, who finished third to Northerly in the Caulfield Cup, will be there along with dual Group 1 winner Carnegie Express and Chipping Norton Stakes placegetter Dress Circle.

The John Hawkes-trained Freemason, fifth in the Caulfield Cup, is another definite starter. "Who knows, he could fluke second," Hawkes said.

Rounding off the nominations are Manner Hill and grand stager Ears' Ronny.



Champion galloper Northerly, to make his Sydney race debut in next Saturday's $400,000 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, yesterday passed a vital direction change test with flying colours.

The powerful six-year-old Serheed gelding, galloping clockwise for the first time under racing conditions, ran a fast-finishing second at the Warwick Farm barrier trials.

Race rider Patrick Payne said the $8.8 million stake earner comfortably handled his switch from Perth and Melbourne's anti-clockwise racing to the clockwise galloping in Sydney.

"I'm now much more confident that he will also be superior in Sydney races," Payne said after the trial. "He jumped well, settled behind leaders and was in fourth position, about eight lengths from frontrunners nearing the home turn.

"Northerly cornered very well although I could feel he was still learning how to handle his new direction. He ran on strongly near the rails to finish within a half-neck of the winner, without being extended. With the benefit of that experience, his clockwise galloping action should be spot on for the Ranvet Stakes."

Trainer Fred Kersley said he was delighted with Northerly's adaption to the clockwise direction.

"I'm very happy with how he went," Kersley said. "More importantly, Patrick Payne was most satisfied by the way he galloped in this direction. Everything is on target."

Northerly, a brilliant winner in the $1.25 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10, was flown to Sydney last Monday night and he is stabled at Warwick Farm.

His main NSW target is the $2 million BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 12. After the BMW, Kersley will decide whether to set Northerly for a showdown with star performers Lonhro and Defier in the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on May 3.

Current NSWTAB win odds for the RANVET STAKES (2000m) on Saturday:

107 Northerly $1.60 $0.00
100 Carnegie Express $7.50 $0.00
106 Natural Blitz $7.50 $0.00
108 Republic Lass $7.50 $0.00
101 Don Eduardo $12.00 $0.00
102 Dress Circle $16.00 $0.00
105 Manner Hill $17.00 $0.00
104 Freemason $51.00 $0.00
103 Ears' Ronny $151.00 $0.00

At this stage (pending final field line-up) I believe Northerly is not a good thing and poor value (at odds on) and have already backed a couple of others that I believe are realistic chances and good value at the moment. Will include Northerly in the exotics, as he is still obviously the one to beat.

(1) Northerly, (4) Dress Circle, (5) Manner Hill & (3) Carnegie Express

Paddy,if you followed your own advice you cleaned up. Have a smiling Sunday.

Yes red, I did do well & made a nice profit. I had an inkling that Northerly would be vulnerable first time the "opposite" way of going under race conditions.

You could see he lacked his usual confidence in the straight and was not comfortable, turning his head towards Republic Lass and having a good stare at such a critical stage of the race did not help.

Hopefully we will see the real Northerly next time around & we might even get better odds :wink:

Ah! paddy you are the best, if only I had your insight, must be great! Could you give me just "ONE" piece of advice that would either improve my strike rate, or at least put me OFF some losers??

Just one......never bet odds on.


:smile:

Let me add to that, never bet odds on on horses, one on one sports are a different matter.

Courtesy The West Australian website:

Champion racehorse Northerly needs more "match practice" if he is to win the $2 million BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 12.

That is the opinion of top trainer Fred Kersley following the defeat of Northerly in last Saturday's Ranvet Stakes, when he ran a short half head second to Republic Lass.

Kersley is following a plan that has proved a great success in the past with Northerly, who performs at his best when racing in consecutive weeks.

Kersley has nominated Northerly for Saturday's Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill and he will then race a week later in the BMW.

"He needs the match practice racing the right hand way of racing in Sydney and he also needs the racing to bring him to his top," he said.

"He pulled up well from the run, but he indicated he really needed the run."

Northerly is likely to carry top weight (61kg) in the Manion Cup.

"He prefers his racing when coming off a short break and I would feel more comfortable if he was going into the BMW with another run under his belt," Kersley said.

"The only other option I had was to run him against Lonhro and Defier in a 1500m race at Rosehill on Saturday, and that would not have been the best option."

Kersley was also aware that Northerly was a "little lost" on the home turn on Saturday, when having his first run in the Sydney direction of racing.

"He'll get a lot out of the run experience-wise, but it was obvious that it was new to him under the race conditions," he said.

"There were lots of things not ideal for him on Saturday. He was flown to Sydney, in new stabling, and the environment was all different for him.

"He was brave in defeat and certainly not at the top of his game.

"One thing that was overlooked on Saturday was how good the mare Republic Lass was in winning. She's a very good mare, but it will be different next time."

Northerly was one of 12 nominations yesterday for the Manion Cup, but the Sydney Turf Club has extended nominations until today.

Paddy,

You are an experienced punter, so don't you think that Fred may give his charge a run in an unsuitable race to "top" him up for future events?
He's done it before, so I suggest that we be wary about the champ's program as it can be a "wealth hazard" unless you invest in the ratio of 1w 5pl.

Cheers.