Western Australian champion Northerly arrived in Melbourne this week and will contest the day’s feature event – the Group 2 $201,000 Silvan Australia Memsie Stakes.

Northerly faces eight quality rivals in the weight-for-age event over 1410 metres, all of whom will be hoping the champion is still vulnerable following his unplaced season debut at Belmont on August 17.

Amongst his principal challengers are the Tony McEvoy-trained Fields of Omagh who is chasing his eighth consecutive victory and leading Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup fancy Magical Miss.

Earlier on the programme, the flying Bel Esprit will be looking to extend his unbeaten record at Caulfield to four in the Group 3 $125,750 Selecta McNeil Stakes for three-year-olds over 1100 metres.

The race appears at the mercy of the exciting John Symons-trained speedster, although any chink in Bel Esprit’s armour could be tested by promising filly Before Too Long.

Damien Oliver’s mount finished a narrow runner-up last start at Moonee Valley to Innovation Girl, who franked that formline with a dazzling victory in the Quezette Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday.

PICS - Quentin Lang.

Media Release - MRC

fShare

Tweet