Extract courtesy the West Australian website:

Trainer Fred Kersley praised Northerly's toughness after the six-year old gelding was named Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year on the back of his stellar Melbourne spring carnival.

Northerly becomes just the second WA horse to win the award after Placid Ark in 1987.

Northerly proved he was the best weight-for-age galloper in the land with his second Cox Plate victory, just seven days after becoming the first horse in 22 years to carry 58kg to victory in the Caulfield Cup.

He also claimed the $1.25 million Australian Cup for the second time in the qualifying period among a seasonal stakes tally of $5.54 million

Northerly polled 132 of a possible 159 votes from racing administrators and media to convincingly defeat his only rival for the title, Sydney horse Lonhro. Northerly was controversially beaten for the title last year, due mainly to the Sydney vote for Sunline, a horse he beat every time they met.

At the awards ceremony at the Crown Casino complex in Melbourne last night, Northerly also won the Champion Middle Distance horse and the Magic Millions Bloodstock Most Popular Racehorse award, which is decided by a public vote.

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