Angel,

You do't think that to Fred this was only a glorified track gallop with no real concern whether Northerly won or not? I suspect he only wanted to give him a hit-out.
Agreed, he had to go back in distance from his previous run but "champions" can do this. Kingston Town was able to mix distances against top quality opposition and still win.
It is open to conjecture whether Northerly is in "the King's" class.
I was wary of this race as I thought it may turn out as it did. As we say in punting circles, it was a potential "wealth hazard" although, at $1.10 place tote, it was better than you can get at any bank(btbi.....better than bank interest).

heers.