Northerly Stakes - 2022 tips, preview and runner by runner

2022 Northerly Stakes Race Details

Race 8 at Ascot on Saturday 3 December 2022.

The Northerly Stakes, previously known as the Kingston Town Classic, is an 1800 metre race for horses three-years-old and upwards run under weight-for-age conditions at Ascot. It is held by the Western Australia Turf Club in December two weeks after the Railway Stakes. It is the feature event of the day and has prizemoney of $1,500,000 this year. It is also the last Group 1 race in Australia for 2022.

You can read more about the race history, lead-up races and past winners on the Northerly Stakes page.

Northerly Stakes 2022 Preview

Track: Good Weather: Fine

Following the early scratching of Last Of The Line, 15 runners remain for the $1,500,000 Northerly Stakes. Nine of the runners had their last start in the Group 1 Railway Stakes over 1600m at Ascot on a good track two weeks ago, the two three-year-olds both ran in the Group 2 WA Guineas over 1600m on the same day while the other 4 runners all came through different races. There are 11 geldings, 3 mares and a filly with 2 three-year-olds, 4 four-year-olds, 4 five-year-olds, 2 six-year-olds, 2 seven-year-olds and a eight-year-old. Trainer Daniel Morton has two runners.

The early favourite is Godolphin runner Cascadian who has been in more Group 1 races than the rest of the field put together. He won the Craven Plate over this distance in October before 1.7 lengths 5th in the Champions Mile. Second favourite is 3YO filly Amelia’s Jewel who won the WA Guineas last start to give her 5 wins from 6 starts. Third favourite is the other 3YO Bustler who has 4 wins from 5 starts, and ran 2nd in the WA Guineas.

Treasured Star was held up from the turn to the 100m and finished 6th in the Railway Stakes after a win in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes at the start before. Trix Of The Trade was a strong winner in the Railway Stakes. Alaskan God disappointed when 10th in the Railway, while Steinem finished 2nd in the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington last outing. All other runners are currently 30 to 1 or longer.

2022 Northerly Stakes Runner by Runner

1. Cascadian (12)

Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: James McDonald
Has raced at Group 1 level 24 times for 2 wins (2021 Doncaster Mile and 2022 All Aged Stakes at Randwick) and 8 places. A very consistent WFA performer who won the G2 Hill Stakes and G3 Craven Plate in October, before finishing 1.8 lengths 5th in the G1 Champions Mile. Looked sharp winning a Belmont trial by over 2 lengths on 21 November, and is one of the main chances.

2. Dom To Shoot (7)

Trainer: Sean & Jake Casey
Jockey: Paul Harvey
Ran 3rd in this race in 2020 behind Truly Great and Inspirational Girl. He was a 3YO then carrying 52kg and now has 59kg. He is on a seven day back-up after a good win in a Rating 78+ Handicap over 1600m at Ascot last weekend. Not the worst.

3. Bad Wolf (2)

Trainer: Ashley Maley
Jockey: Shaun McGruddy
The oldest runner in the race this year. He has raced twice over this distance in the 2021 and 2022 Listed Luckgray Stakes and has finished 2nd both times. His latest start was 2.8 lengths 6th in the Carbine Club of WA Stakes where he was unsuited by the drop in distance. This is his first WFA race where he will carry the same weight as Cascadian. He has drawn nicely but this is a big rise in grade. Looking to others.

4. Startrade (8)

Trainer: Daniel Morton
Jockey: Chris Nicoll
One of 2 runners for Dan Morton. Had his first Group race on 29 October where he finished 0.3 lengths 2nd in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes, then ran in the Railway Stakes, which was country jockey Chris Nicoll’s first Group One ride, and ran 3rd with the best closing sectionals. Goes up 6kg from that run and has never won beyond 1400m. Looks impossible but the horse tries so hard that you can’t really write him off.

5. Kaptain Kaos (13)

Trainer: Michael Grantham
Jockey: Lucy Warwick
Hasn’t won beyond a mile and has finished in the second half of the field at all 3 runs this preparation. His best was 4.6 lengths 9th in the Railway Stakes. Looking elsewhere.

6. God Has Chosen (10)

Trainer: Donna Riordan
Jockey: Shaun O’Donnell
Was wide throughout when 7th in the Railway Stakes. Prefer to watch go around.

7. Ironclad (11)

Trainer: Will Clarken
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Finished 12th in the Railway after running 4th in the Cranbourne Cup the week before. Prefer others.

8. Last Of The Line (3) – SCRATCHED

9. Notorious One (15)

Trainer: Chris & Michael Gangemi
Jockey: Laqdar Ramoly
He ran 14th in the Railway where he did a few things wrong. He over-raced through the middle stages forcing the jockey to steady him at the 1200m and race wide from then on, then laid inwards in the straight. Winkers go back on (gear changes made at five of his last six starts). Looking to others.

10. Trix Of The Trade (16)

Trainer: Colin Webster
Jockey: Troy Turner
He was a strong winner in the Railway Stakes last outing and is the only Group 1 winner in the field apart from Cascadian. He has 9 wins and 4 places from 14 starts, and has 5 wins at this track. Gets the outside barrier, which is no help, but expect to see him in the finish.

11. Alaskan God (6)

Trainer: Daniel Morton
Jockey: Chris Parnham
Disappointed when 10th in the Railway second-up. He is way better than that and expect a big improvement from that run. Place chance.

12. Steinem (4)

Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: John Allen
This Frankel mare finished 2nd in the G2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington last outing and carries the same weight here. In the mix.

13. Searchin’ Roc’s (14)

Trainer: Jim Taylor
Jockey: Kyra Yuill
I like this mare but she is another that has drawn poorly. She got a Golden Ticket into the Railway Stakes by winning the G3 R.J. Peters Stakes which was her 2nd Group 3 win. Could run a place.

14. Treasured Star (5)

Trainer: Adam Durrant
Jockey: William Pike
She was held up from the turn to the 100m and finished 6th in the Railway Stakes after a win in the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes at the start before. She ran the fastest last 200m in the Railway when she got clear. One of the chances.

15. Bustler (9)

Trainer: Neville Parnham
Jockey: Steven Parnham
Has 4 wins from 5 starts, and ran 2nd in the WA Guineas last outing. Several 3YOs have won this race in recent years with Kay Cee (2019), Arcadia Queen (2018), Perfect Reflection (2015), Ihtsahymn (2013) and Playing God (2010). Drops 4.5kg from that run and should be a major player.

16. Amelia’s Jewel (1)

Trainer: Simon Miller
Jockey: Patrick Carbery
This 3YO filly won the WA Guineas last start to give her 5 wins from 6 starts. Playing God, Ihtsahymn and Arcadia Queen all won the Guineas before winning the Railway. Drops 4.5 kg from that run and has drawn the inside barrier. A genuine chance.