Group 1 racing continues in Perth this weekend with the recently renamed $1.5 million Northerly Stakes (1800m), and betting on the event is firmly led by the James Cummings-trained veteran Cascadian.
The James Cummings-trained Cascadian is favourite in 2022 Northerly Stakes for the Perth Group 1 this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The evergreen eight-year-old heads east on Saturday for the weight-for-age event – formerly run as the Kingston Town Classic – and is undefeated over the 1800m distance.
Having his first look at the Ascot track, the classy chestnut has been in fine fettle this preparation -including his Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) – Group 3 Craven Plate (1800m) double at Randwick in October.
His latest run was at Flemington over the Cup Carnival in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (1600m) where he was far from disgraced running under two lengths back fifth behind Alligator Blood.
The Godolphin stable have given the $5.6 million earner a trial in WA to bring him on with Cascadian winning a 1200m hit-out at Belmont on November 21 by over two lengths.
He and jockey James McDonald have work to do from barrier 12, into 11 with the early scratching of Last Of The Line (3), but the Northerly Stakes odds at Ladbrokes have him as the clear $2.90 top elect to get the job done.
Only two other runners join Cascadian under double-figures in Northerly Stakes betting with the rails-drawn filly Amelia’s Jewel ($3.40) the obvious danger along with fellow three-year-old Bustler ($9.50).
The Simon Miller-trained Amelia’s Jewel has won five of her six starts, all her wins being at Ascot, and she’s a dual Group 2 winner following her victory as the odds-on elect over the boys in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) on Railway Stakes Day.
The fillies have a top record in this event with recent victories by Perfect Reflection (2015), Arcadia Queen (2018) and Kay Cee (2019).
Also looking to beat home the older runners is Neville Parnham’s three-year-old gelding Bustler.
The youngster is bred to win being by Parnham’s dual Kingston Town Classic champion Playing God (2010, 2011), and he is looking to turn the tables on Amelia’s Jewel following his narrow second in the Guineas last time out.
Trainer Adam Durrant saddles-up the early Northerly Stakes market mover with Treasured Star ($13 into $10) drawn ideally in gate five with super hoop William Pike booked for the ride.
The four-year-old Toronado mare won the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) two back and was last seen running sixth when hampered by the outside alley (16 of 16) in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m).
The Railway Stakes winner, Trix Of The Trade ($12), is another key player in the Northerly on Saturday out to do the double for the first time since Sniper’s Bullet (2009).
The Colin Webster-trained son of Trade Fair has amassed over $1.2 million in earnings having won nine of his 14 starts and has a brilliant Ascot track record (9:5-2-1).
The 2022 Drummond Golf – Northerly Stakes is scheduled as Race 8 at 4:45pm (AWST) on Ascot’s nine-race card for Saturday.
