Northerly was a champion who excelled under both weight-for-age and handicap conditions. His hallmark was courage and an indomitable will-to-win.

Biography

TRAINER: Fred Kersley

OWNERS: Mrs J A Kersley, N G Duncan, Mrs S M Duncan, R G Sayers, P M Bartlett, T M Patrizi, I F Grljusich

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 37 starts: 19 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds/$9,341,850

About

Northerly was bred at Oakland Park Stud, Western Australia, in 1996. His first win came in the listed Aquanita Stakes at Ascot in April, 2000, followed at the end of the year by his first Group 1 success in the Railway Stakes. Taken to Victoria in the autumn of 2001 he swept all before him, winning the Group 2 Carlyon Cup and the Group 1 Australian Cup in record times.

The spring of 2001 saw his dramatic clashes with champion mare Sunline, culminating in his victory in the Cox Plate. In the spring of 2002 he dominated Australian racing with 5 consecutive wins including the Caulfield Cup and a second Cox Plate, and in the autumn of 2003 he added a second Australian Cup. His triumphant season earned him the title of Australian Horse of the Year.

When injury forced Northerly's retirement in July 2003, he had won 19 of 37 starts, including 9 at Group 1 level. His earnings of $9,341,850 placed him second in the list of all-time Australasian stake-winners.

Northerly was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.

Northerly passed away at the age of 15 on 9 May 2012 after suffering a colic attack.

Image Source: Slickpix