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46.
Northerly
Joins the Greats
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22/10/2002 |
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Northerly
put the seal on his greatness at Caulfield today with a typically authoritative
performance in the $2,150,000 Group 1 Carlton-Caulfield Cup. Conceding 4.5kgs to
the second placed Fields Of Omagh and 6 kgs to third placed Republic Lass, the
Fred Kersley-trained warrior took his earnings to over $5.8 million with his
half-neck triumph. With the announcement that Sunline will be retired after next
weeks Cox Plate, Australia’s WFA championship is shaping as a truly emotional
experience.
SERHEED
For Sunline’s old nemesis Northerly this is his time of year. When running
unplaced at his first two starts back from a spell at Belmont and Caulfield some
were questioning whether the six-year old gelding had come up. Four successive
wins in the Craiglee Stakes (G2), Underwood Stakes (G1), Turnbull Stakes (G2)
and the Caulfield Cup (G1) has proved there is plenty of fight left in the
terrier. While no doubt Northerly’s supporters would like to seem him have an
easy race for a change, his combined winning margin in his last 4 wins is barely
over a length, you have to believe that this incredible racehorse likes nothing
better than good old stoush. It was Greg Childs sixth win from six rides on
Northerly. The former kiwi loves to let Northerly run. When he hooks up in a
dogfight, eyeballing his opponent, there are few horses racing anywhere in the
world you would rather be on. It is Northerly’s tremendous fighting qualities
that, like last year, may well bring about the undoing of the champion mare
Sunline, Childs mount in the Cox Plate.
“My missus says that I don’t know what love is but I tell you what, I love
this horse, a clearly emotional Fred Kersley said. “He (Greg Childs) rode him
great and the horse responded. “I’m relieved, thrilled and just so proud of
this horse. “I just can’t say enough about him”.
As for Greg Childs, he rated Northerly’s win right up there with his two Cox
Plates and the win in Hong Kong by Sunline. “He relaxed beautifully. “We
took the lead at the 600m that was the plan, let them catch us because he is a
such a fighter. “ I saw them coming out of the corner of my eye at the 200m
but they could not get passed him. They had their chance in the straight to beat
me but couldn’t”, continued Childs.
Northerly’s win comes just over a week after the death of his dam North Bell.
The daughter of Bellwater died while giving birth to a Flying Spur colt, which
is reported to be in good condition.
Serheed, the sire of Northerly, was put down just over a year ago after failing
to recover from complications resulting from a hoof injury. One of the great
stalwarts of the WA industry since entering stud in 1985, Serheed is also the
sire of the outstanding filly Kim Angel winner of the 1998 WA Derby (G1). Kim
Angel earned $580,830 in Australia and a over a million when transferred to
Singapore.
Other stakes winners by Seheed include Beau Heed 15 wins inc. WATC C B Cox
Stakes (G2), Heed The Toll, WATC Perth Cup (G2), Timeless Action WATC Strickland
Stakes (G3), Bradson, WATC Guineas (G2), Hard Act WATC Blue Ribbon Quality (G3),
Future Edition, WATC Channel 10 Quality (G3).
A son of U.K. Horse Of The Year and Triple Crown winner Nijinsky, Serheed is out
of the wonderful producer Native Partner (Raise A Native- Dinner Partner by Tom
Fool) who’s foals include the champion sprinter Ajdal, a three-quarter brother
to Seheed by Northern Dancer, that thrashed a class field of sprinters in the
July Cup (G1).
Another of Native Partners foals Formidable (Forli) was a high-class winner of 8
races including the Middle Park Stakes (G1) and the Mill Reef Stakes (G2) before
establishing himself as a consistent sire of winners.
Flying Partner (Hoist The Flag) became Native Partners 3rd Group One winner with
a win in the Fantasy Stakes (G1) and she is the grand-dam of Champion Canadian
Turf horse Hero’s Love (Hero’s Honor).
Fabuleux Jane (Le Fabuleux) went close to becoming Native Partners 4th Group One
winner when she finished 2nd in the Prix de Diane however she still managed a
win in the Prix de Pomone (G3). Fabuleux Jane is the dam of stakes winner
Danseur Fabuleux who achieved fame as the dam of the Champion 2yo in Europe and
the USA, Arazi (Blushing Groom) and the recently retired Group 1 Sussex Stakes
winner Noveree.
Northerly is a half-brother to the stakes winners Northern Song (Rory’s
Jester) winner of 5 of her 24 starts for earnings of $284,245 including the
Chairman’s Club Stakes (G3) at Flemington, and North Boy the winner of 6 races
and earnings of over $1.2 million including the VRC Ascot Vale Stakes (G2),
Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Sprint (G3) and a close second in the VRC Newmarket
H. (G1).
With his 16 wins, 4 seconds and 2 thirds from 26 starts Northerly moves to
fourth place on the highest stakes earnings list in Australia with just Sunline,
Tie The Knot and Octagonal above him. With Octagonal at stud, Tie The Knot
retired and Sunline’s retirement immanent, the final chapter in the career of
the mighty West Australian champion seems a long way from being written.
By: Mark Smith
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