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.

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