Courtesy The West Australian website:


Trainer Fred Kersley has stepped up champion galloper Northerly's trackwork and the horse should be close to his best for tomorrow week's $200,000 St George Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.

The $7.8 million stakes earner ran an impressive first-up fourth for jockey Patrick Payne in last Saturday's $300,000 weight-for-age C F Orr Stakes (1400m), won by Yell.

"Northerly is now doing quite a lot of work," Kersley said yesterday. "He's had a solid gallop this week and will do another relatively hard work-out on Saturday morning.

"The horse has now settled back into Melbourne's environment. He is doing well and everything is going ahead on target.

"There is no need for gear changes and Patrick Payne will continue to ride him."

Northerly is expected to hit peak form in the $1.25 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10.

He is scheduled to have his first Sydney race, in the $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 29. His main Sydney mission is the $2 million BMW (2400m), at Randwick on April 12. Northerly is also likely to be entered for the $750,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on May 3.

South-East Asian racing officials have asked Kersley to take Northerly to Singapore for the $3 million International Cup (2000m) on May 17.

__________________
Ta me go maith