xanadu,
No doubt he is one of the greats. I also think he is a 'champion'. His record will probably show that in times to come. An interesting point to ponder is whether Sunline is/was a champion. I think she is and therefore Northerly must be defeating 4 from 4, two of them in her prime at her favourite course/distance...

I think he was trained magnificently by fred kersley. Highlighted by his caufield cup and cox plate victory's within 7 days. I think that there were races that he could have contested and won that would have made him eclipse certain records. Races such as the yalumba, mackinon and other G1's. Also the ranvet and Bmw two years ago. All of these would have given him more stakemoney and G1's to his name. Also when first up he was ridden quietly and perhaps was not fit enough however I believe he could have picked up some "easy" G1's like the Orr and Futurity. But perhaps if he was ridden harder or more trained up he may have hit a flat spot later on and not won the cox in successive years or the caufield. I think his record in the autumn shows that he was probably flat from his spring feats. But we will probably never know his full potential.

cheers
umrum

p.s watching him before he was a star is unbelievable. He was 3 wide in his first Australian cup and smashed the course record. Also his feehan stakes win over sunline makes the blood really pump. And his first cox plate he was off the bit 3 wide again(oliver loved racing him wide) and still won. Go the champ.

[ This Message was edited by: umrum on 2003-07-25 12:37 ]