2025 Northerly Stakes Day Preview

There’s no reason to hop off ROYAL TORONADO (4) now that he drops back to the mile. 

The Williams-trained five-year-old has been ultra consistent this prep, just missing out on a place over the track and distance two starts back when settling a long last and eventually making up big ground to finish 2.5 lengths off. 

A similar story unfolded up to 1800m last start where he was caught wide and eventually seen flashing home late to rattle off some solid late splits. 

Fitter now with the blinkers on for the first time, he’ll be very hard to hold out.  

ACE QUEEN SUITED (9) has trialed up nicely in the leadup to her debut. 

By Snippetson, she showed sustained speed making up a decent chunk of ground in her latest trial, holding a narrow margin to the line after finding the front around the 200m mark.  

The gate might make this slightly tricky for Brad Parnham, but she looks as though she wants to get back and run on, so with even luck she’ll be going close if she produces that same turn of foot.  

GRAND RESERVE (6) looks ready to run a nice race fourth-up for Daniel Morton and connections. 

This son to Maschino has improved with racing as he gets out over further, storming the line off a five-wide sit last week to finish 1.3 lengths off Mississippi Dawn over 1800m. 

A winner over 2000m last prep, we saw him go on to run a place twice over this trip at Pinjarra and Northam to wrap up his campaign, and he should be one of the fastest into stride on Saturday in a race that packs a bit of early speed.  

CASTLE ROAD’S (1) class might prove the difference here. 

Still lightly-raced, he took on the older horses last week when beaten 3.4 lengths by the likes of Cessation and September Born in a much tougher race. 

The decision to go around on a quick backup is significant and he gets in pretty well at the weights thanks to the 3kg claim. 

Back not only trip but also class and age, he’ll be up on the speed early and one of the hardest to catch.  

SHMOOV MOOVA (8) is starting to run out of chances but appears to have found a winnable contest with the blinkers applied for the first time. 

Tim Clark took over in the saddle two weeks ago over 1200m, the pair finding no cover three-wide but still making up okay ground down the outside of a nine-week let-up. 

With scope for big improvement over further, there’s lots to like about his chances here with William Pike taking back over carrying only 54kg.   

Big watch here on AUTO CRUISE (9) now that she’s got a couple of runs under her belt.  

Holly Taylor’s talented mare was always too far back here a couple of weeks ago over the same trip, but that didn’t stop her from making a big impression down the straight for second, rattling off some of the quickest late splits of the meeting. 

She’s done almost nothing wrong in four starts to date and draws to do no work here from the inside gate. Clint Johnston-Porter sticks, and a handier ride closer to the speed would see her very hard to beat. 

RALLY THE TROOPS (8) has drawn a soft gate to make amends for a slightly disappointing fresh effort over 1200m at Belmont last month. 

The slow getaway cost the son of Blue Point when beaten 1.6 lengths, although he was also held up briefly down the straight from a tricky draw under William Pike.  

He’s been kept on ice with nearly a month between runs and now gets Fred Kersley taking over carrying just 56kg. This is slightly tougher than a Class 3, but he’s worth a flyer considering he’s won three times over 1400m. 

The gate makes this tougher but I’m of the opinion FOREVER BOY (10) will still be too good for these. 

Last Saturday’s triumph over 1800m was one of the wins of the meeting, tucking in behind the speed off a clean getaway, before pouncing three wide into the straight to prevail over his final few strides. 

By Charm Spirit, he’ll eat up further if that win was anything to go off, and we also saw him win from a similar position quite well three back at Pinjarra.   

Finding it harder and harder to get away from KING OF LIGHT (15) the more I look at this race. 

The unbeaten three-year-old is all the rage and rightfully so, storming home three weeks ago from midfield to claim the WA Guineas, winning only narrowly but still with a bit of authority with the race run to suit.  

He’ll obviously benefit immensely getting out over an extra furlong, and although the gate is of some concern, the drop right back to 52kg under William Pike is the key to his chances.   

Happy to give BLACK ORA (10) another chance. 

Her run a few weeks ago over the same track and trip was good without winning, finishing within half a length of Jaz Session with the wide trip in transit clearly playing a part in the end. 

Still, she put together some nice late times over the final 200m and gets in 3kg lighter this time with Pike still retaining the ride. Fitter for four runs back and always a key threat over the track/distance, she’s worthy of her status as favourite.