Australia’s latest star NORTHERLY tasted defeat for the first time in a Group 1 race in Melbourne when second to BARKADA in the C.F. Orr Stakes, 1400 metres, at Caulfield on Saturday.

There was plenty of pre-race drama surrounding NORTHERLY as the gelding reared over and took some skin from his near side knee and fetlock in a back parade ring before the race. He also had to be replated in the mounting yard before going onto the track after shifting a shoe.

Adding to the drama was a pre-race irregularity in a blood sample, but trainer Fred Kersley assured stewards that NORTHERLY had not been treated with anything illegal and was allowed to start.

Following the dramas in the parade ring before the race, NORTHERLY was inspected by Racing Victoria veterinary stewards in the mounting yard after being replated and again at the barriers before being allowed to take his place.

Kersley said after the race that he was happy enough with NORTHERLY’s run following all the pre-race disturbances.

Jockey Damien Oliver said he knew BARKADA would be hard to run down and for that reason was at NORTHERLY pushing him forward before the hometurn. Oliver added that NORTHERLY had raced a bit dour and showed his old habit of laying-in under pressure in the final stages of the race.

BARKADA added to the Group 1 haul of Scott Seamer who will take up a three month contract in Hong Kong in April.

A three-year-old, BARKADA, 5/1, controlled the Group 1 event from the outset to score a one-and-a-quarter length victory over NORTHERLY, the 6/4 favourite, with CENT HOME, 9/2, a half-head away third.
Trainer Lee Freedman said BARKADA had undergone a wind operation almost 12 months ago and didn’t race for seven months, but in eight races since has recorded five wins and missed a place just once. “We don’t have to tie his tongue back or anything,” Freedman said. “He’s a totally game and genuine horse who just goes to sleep.”

The win of BARKADA continued the great run of three-year-olds in the Orr Stakes in recent times. He became the fifth in succession to win the race following on from Special Dane (1998), Grand Archway (1999), Redoute’s Choice (2000) and Desert Sky last year.

BARKADA will be given the opportunity of taking more Group 1 glory by contesting the Futurity Stakes, 1400 metres, at Caulfield on March 2.


A week is a long time in racing. Following his win in the Group 3 Debonair, 1400 metres, at Flemington on February 9 trainer Rick Hore-Lacy was talking up Dubai plans with the winner DASH FOR CASH.

Following the colt’s win in the Group 1 Cadbury Guineas, 1600 metres, at Flemington on Sunday, Hore-Lacy said plans for DASH FOR CASH had been revised and he would be staying in Australia.

Hore-Lacy had been considering the Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Nad al Sheba on March 23 with DASH FOR CASH but said he would now target the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap, 1600 metres, at Randwick on March 30 with the son of Secret Savings, himself a winner of the 1997 Doncaster.

“The Dubai race was very tempting, but 22 hours on a plane is a long time,” Hore-Lacy said. “Even though he can put his head down now it’s still a long trip. Instead we’ll stay in Australia and run in the Doncaster. He looks an ideal Doncaster horse to me. He can take up a position and sprint quickly when he needs to,” Hore-Lacy said.

Before heading to Sydney to run in the Doncaster, in which he has 52.5 kg, DASH FOR CASH will run in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes, 1400 metres, at Caulfield on March 2.

Winning jockey Scott Seamer has a dilemma. He won the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes, 1400 metres, on BARKADA at Caulfield on Saturday and that galloper is also due to compete in the Futurity Stakes.


Seamer first teamed with DASH FOR CASH on the Gold Coast on January 12 when third behind Ha Ha in the Magic Millions for Three-Year-Olds over 1400 metres.

Impressed with the run, Seamer made himself available for the Guineas mount and was immediately book for the ride by Hore-Lacy, even though he had commitments in New Zealand at DASH FOR CASH’s two subsequent wins at Caulfield and Flemington.

“Full marks to Rick for keeping his word,” Seamer said. “At this stage I’m 90% certain I’ll be riding Dash for Cash in the Futurity. I don’t think Barkada is in the Doncaster while Dash for Cash looks a good hope. I don’t like my chances of getting back on him if I ride Barkada in the Futurity,” Seamer said.

Seamer’s stellar season continued with Sunday’s victory. It was his 10th Group 1 victory since June last year and his ninth for the 2001-02 season which began in August. Five of the Group 1’s have been in Melbourne with a further four in New Zealand.

Seamer gave DASH FOR CASH the run of the race from his good draw and sprinted quickly when he got into the clear with 300 metres left to run. He said that at the 200 metre mark he sensed ROYAL CODE coming at him and then urged DASH FOR CASH to let down and he responded.

Sent out a 13/4 chance, DASH FOR CASH scored a three-quarter length victory over Royal Code, the 11/4 favourite, with Ustinov, 6/1, a length away third.

The barrier draw probably cost the favourite ROYAL CODE victory in the event. Instead of being trapped wide and going forward, jockey Glen Boss elected to go back from the wide draw.

“It’s pretty hard to win here over 1400 metres or 1600 metres when you draw wide,” Boss said. “I had to make up my mind and elected to go back. “Then I had to go forward from the 700 metre mark to the home turn as the leaders were just starting to get away and that may have taken the edge off him,” Boss said.

To make matters worse Boss dropped his whip near the 400 metre mark. “I’m not saying that cost him the money, but it certainly didn’t help,” Boss said.

Trainer David Hall said the run was “huge” but was undecided on the colt’s immediate program. 

USTINOV, a son of Caulfield-Melbourne Cup winner Let’s Elope, was a betting ring drifter, easing from 3/1 to 6/1. He was at the tail early and ran on well through the field to finish third.

Jockey Patrick Payne thought he was a “live chance” in the straight but his run came to an end near the post. The Group 1 Australian Cup, 2000 metres, at Flemington on March 11 is Ustinov’s goal.

Rising star LONHRO continued on his winning way by taking out the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes, 1400 metres, at Randwick on Saturday. LONHRO’s victory was his seventh in succession and he remains unbeaten during his three-year-old campaign.

A son of former champion Octagonal, LONHRO was being aimed at the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap, 1600 metres, at Easter but trainer John Hawkes believes the colt is weighted too close to SUNLINE and may instead target the Group 1 AJC Australian Derby, 2400 metres.

“We’ll sit down and talk about it,” Hawkes said. “I haven’t ruled anything out yet. We’ll just have to decide whether to step him up in distance or keep him to the shorter races.”

LONHRO is weighted at 56 kg for the Doncaster with SUNLINE at 58.5 kg and there has been a public outcry over the weighting of the mare. Jockey Rod Quinn has no doubt LONHRO will handle the extra ground.

“He’s so relaxed, he just goes to sleep,” Quinn said. “I waited for them to come, then let him go a bit. There’s no use pushing him.”

Owned by the Woodlands Stud Syndicate, LONHRO’s victory went some way to easing the pain following the retirement of stablemate VISCOUNT who strained ligaments in a joint during trackwork last week.

Bill Waterhouse, one time the world’s biggest bookmaker, has won back his licence and is expected to begin fielding again next weekend. 

Waterhouse had his licence revoked, along with his son Robbie, in November 1984 over his part in the infamous Fine Cotton ring-in. The New South Wales Bookmaker Cooperative rejected both Waterhouse’s application but they were granted approval by the New South Wales Racing Board.

It is expected Waterhouse will begin fielding at Warwick Farm next Saturday on interstate races.