(33) Underwood Stakes-G1

Caulfield. September 22. $352,000. SWFA. 1800m.

1. NORTHERLY (G Childs 58) trainer: F R Kersley.

2. Magical Miss (S Arnold 54.5) b m 4 Danehill (USA) - Hooked Bid (CAN), by Spectacular Bid.

3. Don Eduardo (NZ) (D Oliver 57) b h 4 Zabeel - Diamond Lover, by Sticks and Stones.

Head. 4 len. 1m 48.9s. 13 strs.

NORTHERLY (9-a)

Bay gelding foaled 1996

Breeder: Mr N G Duncan, Oakland Park Stud, WA.

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

Click here for Tesio pedigree

Werk Nick Rating: B+

GP Inbreeding: Northern Dancer 3m x 5m, 4m. Flaming Page 3m x 5f. Raise a Native 3f x 5f. Menow 5f, 5m x. Dinner Partner 3f x 5m. Native Dancer 5f, 4m x.

Age	Starts	Wins	2nds	3rds
2	-	-	-	-
3	2	1	-	1
4	8	5	1	1
5	10	6	3	-
6	4	2	-	-
	24	14	4	2

Sire: SERHEED (USA) - Bay 1980. Winner of 5 races in England. Half-brother to AJDAL, FORMIDABLE, FLYING PARTNER, FABULEUX JANE. Closely related to champions DANCE PARTNER, DANCE IN THE DARK, HERO'S LOVE. To stud 1985. Died 2001. Sire of 234 winners of $20 million - 21 SWs inc NORTHERLY, KIM ANGEL, TIMELESS ACTION, HARD ACT, SUGARSTONE, BRADSON, FUTURE EDITION, SIGNPOST, SUDDEN BURST, BEAU HEED, POWER PLUS, A NATIVE EDITION, CLAN WEST, ORANGE SEED, COWRIE DANCER, BOARDWALK LADY, KEY TARGET, HILL WOOD, JEVANSWER, CELESTIAL SHOW, A CLASSIC TRIBUTE, also 21 stakes placegetters, etc.

Dam

NORTH BELL (1988). 5 wins, 1200m-1700m. Dam of 5 foals, 4 raced, 3 winners -

95 NORTHERN SONG, b f by Rory's Jester. 5 wins, $284,245, 1000m-1400m, VRC Chairman's Club H-G3, VATC Highways Tabaret H, MVRC Super VOBIS P, Dean Street H, Maree Children's Wear H, 2d VATC Mannerism S-G3, VRC the Vanity-LR, 3d VRC Yallambee Stud S-G3, Flemington Carnival of Champions S-LR, VATC Cranbourne Auto Daihatsu S-LR (d/h), 4th VRC Gateway Suites Quality H-G3, SAJC Christmas H-G3.

96 NORTHERLY. 14 wins, $4,266,450, 1400m-1600m, MVRC W S Cox P- G1, VRC Australian Cup-G1, VATC Underwood S-G1, twice, Caulfield S-G1, WATC Railway S-G1, VRC Craiglee S-G2, VATC T S Carlyon Cup-G2, MVRC John F Feehan S-G2, MRC St George S-G2, WATC R J Peters S-G3, Goodwood Sprint-LR, Aquanita S-LR, Starjo H, 2d VRC Australian Cup-G1, MRC C F Orr S-G1, WATC Farnley S-LR, Australia Day S-LR.

97 Boardwalk Bell, b/br f by Bellotto (USA). Placed in Perth.

98 NORTH BOY, b c by Rory's Jester. Co-Champion Australiasian 3YO Sprinter; 6 wins, $1,273,022, at 1200m, VRC Ascot Vale S-G2, Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Sprint-G3, VRC Aurias Diamond S-LR, MVRC Leslie Froggatt S-LR, VATC Vain S-LR, MRC Manfred S, 2d VRC Newmarket H-G1, Rory's Jester S-LR, 3d MVRC William Reid S-G1, VATC Guineas Prelude-G3.

02 (Unnamed) b c by Flying Spur.

Slipped in 1999; missed in 2000. Mare died foaling October, 2002.

2nd Dam

NORTH FLEUR (CAN). Winner in USA. Dam of 9 foals, 8 raced, all winners -

CANON SONG. 2 wins at 1000m, VATC Merson Cooper S-G3, VRC Neat 'n' Trim Uniform S-LR.

DUCHESS KATRIN. Won VRC Beck's Bier S-LR (1000m), 2d VRC Bloodhorse Breeders' S-G2, VATC Telecom Telecard H-LR, 4th VATC Jameson Irish Whiskey S-LR. Producer.

Japaco. 1 win at 1050m; 2d SAJC Ansett Australia P-LR.

Jester's Edge. 5 wins, $77,880, 1000m-1500m, SAJC Tango Miss H, Club Ten H, Planet Ruler H, Emblem Boy.

Big Tide. 4 wins, 1100m-1463m, SAJC 2YO H, 3YO H, TAB Radio H.

Keen Warrior. 2 wins at 1005m, 1100m, SAJC Legacy H.

3rd Dam

Yoka. 4 wins, 2d Woodbine Fury S, 3d Woodbine Whimsical S, Selene S. Dam of 4 foals, all winners inc -

Give'em Dickens. Winner in USA.

Gayoka. Winner in USA.

4th Dam

Royal Hula. 4 wins, 2d Golden Gate St Francis S, Bay Meadows Fair Mid-Peninsula S, Exhibition Park Royal Ascot Graduation H, Longacres Sub Deb H, 3d Exhibition Park Juvenile Championship. Three-quarter sister to Godessa. Half-sister to Eternal Queen, the dam of ETERNAL PRINCE ($424,362, Wood Memorial Invitational-G1, Gotham S-G2, 3d Preakness S-G1), THAKIB ($199,330, Glint of Gold S-LR, 3d Desmond S-G3). From GRECIAN SAINT (12 wins, $323,575, CCA Oaks, Astarita S, Monmouth Oaks, Demoiselle S, Prioress S, Saratoga Schuylerville S, Gazelle S, Marguerite S). Dam of 12 foals, 9 raced, 8 winners inc -

I'm Hot. Won Newmarket Arlington Maiden H (6f), 3d Newbury S-LR.

Royal Tri. 8 wins, $97,944, 3d Gulstream Honey Fox S.

Yoka. See above.

Exuberation. 17 wins, $100,724, in USA.

Concha Marina. Unraced. Dam of 6 winners inc -

DENVER. 3 wins, Milano Premio Campobello-LR.

SELL SEA SHELLS. 3 wins, River Downs Penelope S, 2d Delaware Parlo H. Dam of -

Zero Celsius (USA). 6 wins, 3d Ak-Sar-Ben Lady Sponsors' S. Dam of-

COOL CHOICE. 4 wins, $120,300, VRC Carbine Club S-LR, VATC Mercedes-Benz S-LR, 3d VRC Concept Sports S-LR, 4th VATC Blue Diamond Prelude-G3, VRC Martin of Melbourne P-LR.

Divine Santi. 15 wins in UK and Sweden, Newbury Theal S, 2d Ascot Duke of Edinburgh S-LR, 3d Taby International Sprint.

After finishing unplaced in Perth and again unplaced when battling for a clear run in his first up Melbourne run this season, the pundits were questioning whether Northerly had come back as good this spring. Earlier in September, he was back in the winner's circle with a fighting victory over Le Zagaletta in the Craiglee Stakes-G2, but Bart Cummings' Cups hope Magical Miss had a boom on her and she was widely expected to prove more than a match for Northerly in the Underwood Stakes-G1.

Instead of his normal position sitting just behind the pace, Northerly was forced into the lead well before the turn and left a "sitting duck" for Magical Miss who ranged up quickly to join Northerly 100 metres out. That is as far as she got. With true champion qualities, Northerly always seems to be able to pull out something extra when challenged, and the mare just could not get past the dogged battler, Northerly prevailing by a head. Last year's Australian Derby-G1 winner Don Eduardo ran an improved race but was a long four lengths behind the first two.

Northerly's trainer, Fred Kearsley, announced that his spring campaign was likely to be the Caulfield Cup-G1, possibly followed by a second tilt at the Cox Plate-G1, and a further clash with Sunline, with whom he has a 2-0 success rate.

Northerly's Underwood win took his earnings past the $4 million mark. His 14 wins include 13 stakes, six of them at Group I level. Subsequently Northerly has won the Turnbull stakes to become the first horse since Tobin Bronze in 1966 to win the Craiglee Stakes, Underwood Stakes and Turnbull Stakes in the same year.

On a sad note, North Bell, the dam of Northerly as well as North Boy and Northern Song, who had slipped and missed the last three seasons, died foaling early in October. Fortunately her colt foal by Flying Spur has been saved.