Top o' the mornin' to you Paddy!

Your point in an earlier post regarding Northerly's history in handicap races is very valid and it confirms that the betting public maybe should have shied away from this race.

Good to ye!

AUSTRALIAN CUP - 2000m

No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
1 NORTHERLY Fred Kersley P Payne 8 58
2 DON EDUARDO (NZ) Lee Freedman D Oliver 4 58
3 FIELDS OF OMAGH Tony McEvoy G Childs 3 58
4 DISTINCTLY SECRET (NZ) Mark Walker Steven King 6 58
5 MR. TRICKSTER Mick Price N Callow 7 58
6 BORELLI (NZ) Robbie Laing 2 58
7 OSCA ERIC Gary Farrell D Nikolic 1 58
8 NATURAL BLITZ Doug Harrison C Williams 5 53.5



Looks a very disappointing field to me.

NORTHERLY to reign supreme.

I’ll be coupling with FIELDS OF OMAGH, DISTINCTLY SECRET, NATURAL BLITZ and DON EDUARDO in the multiples.

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Ta me go maith

fields of omah to win if northerly doesnt see it, the only way to beat it is if he doesnt know ya there otherwise northerly all the way. big quinella tip. two horse race

06 AUSTRALIAN CUP
2000 Metres
2:45pm


WIN/PLACE
1 1.60 1.20
8...............3.00
2.............N.T.D.

QUINELLA (1-8) 6.20
EXACTA (1-8) 9.60
TRIFECTA
(1-8-2) 54.50
FIRST 4
(1-8-2-5) 228.40

(1) NORTHERLY (PATRICK PAYNE)
(8) NATURAL BLITZ (C.WILLIAMS)
(2) DON EDUARDO (DAMIEN OLIVER)

SCR - 6

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Ta me go maith

Courtesy Thoroughbred News website:

The champion racehorse Northerly stood up to be counted on today and he did so in most impressive fashion by thrashing the field in the $A1.25m, Group 1, Australian Cup, WFA, 2000m by four lengths.

Northerly (Serheed-North Bell, by Bellwater) was beaten in his last start in the Victoria Gold Cup at Caulfield under a big weight but it was back to weight-for-age conditions at Flemington. Jockey Patrick Payne was taking no prisoners right from the barriers opening. Payne took the six-year-old to the lead and set a tempo that dictated to the field exactly what they would have to do to be better. Don Eduardo (NZ) came alongside as they cruised past the 900m mark and he then tracked Northerly to the entrance to the straight.

Payne quickened and Northerly was just idling waiting to go faster. Don Eduardo was burnt off and then Payne pressed the pedal. With his head held high Northerly showed a wonderful turn of foot and he was two lengths clear, three lengths and then four as the post went past. It was a galloping exhibition that was of the highest order and worthy of the Group 1 win.

The three-year-old Natural Blitz carrying 53.5kg went past Don Eduardo for second by a long head who faltered just 100m from the post after trying hard for the distance and taking the race to the champion. Mr Trickster was fourth, Fields Of Omagh a disappointing fifth and Distinctly Secret sixth. The time was 2.01.47, the last 600 in 34.84.

This remarkable horse was running his 31st race and he has won 19 of them, placed in another seven and taken his prize money to $A8,855,950. Sydney now beckons and the $A400,000, Group 1, Ranvet Stakes, 2000m at Rosehill on March 29th, 2003.

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Ta me go maith

Fields Of Omagh was found to be sore in the foreleg after the race and waiting on reports as to the extent of the injury.

I'm hoping it's not the same leg as injured before,otherwise could be out for quite some time or even retired.

Kudos to the champ Northerly though, who ran a magnificent race and won like a true Champion.

Only goes to prove my point.....why did Patrick Payne not take Northerly to the front the start before????? Where was Mr Trickster today,when he could not dictate his own terms in front????? Where would he have been laststart,if Northerly had led?????Too many unanswered questions for my liking.Why didn't the stewards query Payne's tactics the start before?No doubt if they had,would have told that Northerly is a better horse ridden from behind the pace.Where would that theory have stood after today' debacle?????? I rest my case.

Angel416 ,

Agree with you about Paddy Payne not taking Northerly closer to Mr Trickster the start before , but i think the weight might have been the difference in this race not the positioning of both horses in yesterdays race.

too true testarossa. youve hit the nail right on the head there. id say they were using the gold cup as a barrier trial of the aussie cup, i know which one id prefer win

Courtesy The West Australian website:

Northerly, who has thrived since boosting his stake-earnings to $8.8 million by brilliantly winning last Monday's Australian Cup at Flemington, will be flown from Melbourne to Sydney tonight.

He worked clockwise over 1800m for jockey Patrick Payne at Caulfield on Saturday morning.

"We are due to fly out at 7pm and he should be at his Warwick Farm stable within 2½ hours," Kersley said.

Northerly will contest Saturday week's $400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and the $2 million BMW (2400m) on April 12.

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Ta me go maith