Courtesy The West Australian website:

NORTHERLY'S stunning barrier trial at Ascot on Saturday lifted the veil of seriousness - if only for a few seconds - from trainer Fred Kersley.

The champion galloper's stunning win dispelled any lingering doubts over the gelding's fitness. He cruised to a 2¼-length win in 1min. 23.71sec., with pacemaker Narcissism ensuring a fast first 800m by sizzling out in a slick 48.17sec.

Kersley had been a sombre man recently but after the trial he even found time for a moment of light-heartedness.

Jockey Stephen Miller, also in a jovial mood after unsaddling WA's pin-up idol, had a quick shot at Kersley over his superstar, saying: "He is a different horse from the first time I rode him."

Kersley quipped to nearby media: "It's a funny thing, Stephen has never ridden a winner for me, so I thought I'd give him a chance to do it on Northerly.

"The first day he rode him in a race he did say to me, 'I am available to ride him in a Perth Cup, if ever it should happen'.

"It hasn't happened but at least he has now won on him."

Miller's sole ride on Northerly was at his debut when he ran third to Old Habits in a Class Six 1500m handicap at Ascot on March 29, 2000.

Kersley, who finds media interviews much harder than training winners, confirmed that Northerly's trial performance was impressive enough to ensure a run in Saturday's C F Orr Stakes.

"His time was very good and he did it well," Kersley said. "He surprised us a little on being so forward in his preparation because he didn't indicate that in his training.

"Before the trial I was reluctant to go into the Orr Stakes because I thought he wasn't forward enough. But by the way he went today, he is not far away."

Northerly put all other performances in the shade last spring with his amazing winning spree that included successive wins in the Cox Plate and his first Caulfield Cup.

Kersley's prime Melbourne target this campaign is the $1.25 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10.

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