Courtesy the West Australian website.

WA champion Northerly is likely to fly to Melbourne on Tuesday for tomorrow week's C F Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Trainer Fred Kersley feared Northerly might miss the Orr because of a disruption to interstate air-cargo services.

The Orr is crucial to Northerly's preparation for the $1.25 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10, a race the horse won in 2001.

Melbourne horse air-transport agent Chris Calthorpe ended Kersley's fears when he told him of a direct flight to Melbourne on Tuesday morning.

Calthorpe said another flight would leave Perth on Wednesday, carrying leading WA pacers Baltic Eagle and Magic Albert. But he could not guarantee it would go direct to Melbourne and might be diverted to Sydney.

"The flight is available but I haven't locked myself in at this point," Kersley said. "I will wait and see how Northerly trials on Saturday."

Kersley was saved having to choose between riders for the Orr assignment when Greg Childs was booked for Fields Of Omagh in the Group 1 feature. Childs has ridden Northerly six times for six wins.

Kersley said heavyweight jockey Paddy Payne, who won the Cox Plate at his sole outing on the six-year-old, would be given the ride.

The WA Turf Club will stage a 1400m barrier trial for Northerly tomorrow.

The trial field will include Northerly's stablemate Heavy Nova, as well as the Lindsey Smith-trained pair Conspirator and Narcissism. It will be run at 3.50pm.

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