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The final Australian Group 1 race of the year will be run and won at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse as The Pinnacles continues with the Northerly Stakes 2025 where unbeaten three-year-old, King Of Light, is firm favourite to remain undefeated.
A capacity line-up of summer staying types take to the Ascot track in Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million Northerly Stakes (1800m) – a race won by a host of turf greats over the years including triple Cox Plate champ Kingston Town and the event’s now namesake Northerly.
This year it is the progressive Daniel Morton trained Earthlight gelding, King Of Light, sitting top of the Northerly Stakes odds online at $2.35 through Ladbrokes.com.au.
He has won all five of his starts to date having stepped up in grade to easily account for his fellow three-year-olds in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) over the mile here on November 22.
Dropping right back from 57kg there to 52kg at weight-for-age on the weekend, King Of Light has William Pike retaining the ride from gate eight in a big plus.
While the three-year-old fillies have an outstanding recent record in the race, the last three-year-old gelding to win was Ihtsahymn (2013).
Amelia’s Jewel ($2.90 in 2022) meanwhile was the last Northerly Stakes favourite to salute for the punters and also the last three-year-old to complete the WA Guineas – Northerly Stakes double.
Morton will also be represented by untapped Exceedance filly Pure Excess ($19) and roughie hope In Good Order ($61).
The three-year-old fillies have enjoyed four wins since 2014 most recently with Amelia’s Jewel (2022) and Pure Excess, who will be airborne with just 50kg, is looking to add to that imposing record.
Steven Parnham retains the ride on the narrow Group 3 Champion Fillies Stakes winner who ticks plenty of boxes to run a big race on the weekend but suffered a blow drawing out wide in gate 15.
Another key chance in Northerly Stakes betting at the other age of the age scale is the Grant & Alana Williams trained eight-year-old Western Empire ($10) drawn in barrier 6 for jockey Billy Egan.
Boasting a great record at the Ascot track (18:7-4-3), the $3.3 million earner contests the race for a second time having finished runner-up to Regal Power back in 2021 on the back of his win in that year’s Railway Stakes.
He showed he still had plenty of racing left in him last time out when second past the post in this season’s Railway Stakes results beaten three-quarters of a length by stablemate Watch Me Rock.
Watch Me Rock is also in the mix this weekend out to complete the Railway Stakes – Northerly Stakes double for the first time since Sniper’s Bullet (2009) and paying $9.50 to do so having eased out in the markets after a wide gate 16 draw.
A nine-time winner from 11 starts at Ascot and chasing a hat-trick on Saturday, Watch Me Rock has Nash Rawiller coming aboard for the ride with Pike opting to stick in the saddle of his younger rival.
Since the year 2000, Grant Williams is the most successful Northerly Stakes winning trainer with four victories including his latest three in partnership with his daughter Alana.
The Williams’ partnership saddle-up a total of three in the Northerly Stakes field in 2025 with Western Empire and Watch Me Rock joined in the starting line-up by 80/1 outsider Hemlock Stone.
Michael Grantham has another of the last-start winners in the event with Cosmic Crusader also being kept safe in betting currently at $5.50 following his lead-up victory here by a big margin as the odds-on favourite in the Listed Carbine Club Stakes (1400m).
Saturday has the Maurice gelding rise notably in grade and distance, but he oozes consistency and looks a genuine chance to handle his acid test especially since drawing gate nine.
The best fancied of the female gallopers to beat home the boys is the Ciaron Maher trained Vivy Air who is the early Northerly Stakes market mover backed in from $12 to $9.50.
Mares have a poor record in the race but there’s money coming for Maher’s five-year-old daughter of Hellbent to break the hoodoo after her $2 million Five Diamonds win over this distance at Rosehill on November 8.
Maher stole the show with his visitor Light Infantry Man (2024) last summer and now chases back-to-back Northerly Stakes wins.
The other standout interstate raider in the mix this season is the Ben, Will & JD Hayes trained Apulia at $18 with jockey Michael Dee given a tough task from gate 14.
The beautifully bred Fiorente entire has been putting together a nice record in Victoria and now heads west up in grade after his last start win in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes over the Flemington mile on Oaks Day.
He has won up to 2040m previously so should appreciate the 1800m at this stage of his prep.
The 2025 Northerly Stakes is set to run as Ascot Race 9 at 9 at 5:00pm (AWST) / 8:00pm (AEDT) as the penultimate event in Perth on Saturday.
Northerly Stakes 2025 Odds
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1. Western Empire (6)
J: Billy Egan 59kg
T: Grant & Alana Williams |
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| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up 5th of 11 at this track in the G2 Lee Steere on November 8 over 1400m, 2.25 len behind Super Smink carrying 59kg at $2.90. Second-up sat on the pace when 2nd of 16 at this track in the G1 Railway on November 22 over 1600m, 0.8 len behind Watch Me Rock with 58kg at $5.50. | ||
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2. Osipenko (17)
J: Fred W Kersley 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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| Most recently 7th of 16 at this track in the G1 Railway on November 22 over 1600m, 3 len behind Watch Me Rock carrying 55kg at $11. Before that ran on from midfield and won by a head at Randwick Little Dance November 4 over 1600m in soft going defeating Hollywood Hero carrying 62kg at $5. | ||
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3. Watch Me Rock (16)
J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
T: Grant & Alana Williams |
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| Chasing a hat-trick. Last start favourite; won by 0.8 len at this track G1 Railway November 22 over 1600m defeating Western Empire carrying 54kg at $3.30. The race before that favourite; won by a neck at this track G3 Asian Beau November 1 over 1400m defeating Rope Them In carrying 57kg at $7.50. | ||
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4. Apulia (14)
J: Michael Dee 59kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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| Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. First-up came home strongly from last on the turn and won by 0.5 len at Moonee Valley Vobis Gold Star October 24 over 1496m defeating Regal Azmon carrying 59.5kg at $4.80. Last start came from midfield and won by a neck at Flemington LR Chstr Manifold November 6 over 1600m defeating Detonator Jack with 56.5kg at $8.50. | ||
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5. Hemlock Stone (7)
J: Austin Galati 59kg
T: Grant & Alana Williams |
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| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming 8th of 11 at this track in the G3 Eurythmic on October 18 over 1400m, 3.5 len behind Diamond Scene with 59.5kg at $51. Second run from a spell ran last of 11 at this track in the G2 Lee Steere on November 8 over 1400m, 7 len behind Super Smink carrying 59kg at $61. | ||
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6. Diamond Scene (13)
J: Brad Parnham 59kg
T: Michael Grantham |
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| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 0.7 len at this track G3 Eurythmic October 18 over 1400m defeating Comfort Me carrying 57.5kg at $14. Second-up 4th of 16 at this track in the G1 Railway on November 22 over 1600m, 2 len behind Watch Me Rock carrying 54.5kg at $7. | ||
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7. Sentimental Hero (4)
J: Craig Newitt 59kg
T: Peter Fernie |
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| Last start 3rd of 16 at this track in the G1 Railway on November 22 over 1600m, 2 len behind Watch Me Rock with 54kg at $61. The run before that won by 2.25 len at Kalgoorlie LR Kalgoorlie Cup October 4 over 2300m defeating Royal Law with 60.5kg at $2.50. | ||
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8. Zipaway (1)
J: Laqdar Ramoly 59kg
T: Neville Parnham |
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| Most recently 5th of 10 at this track in the LR Carbine Club on November 22 over 1400m, 4.5 len behind Cosmic Crusader carrying 58.5kg at $26. The race before that 7th of 11 at this track in the G3 R J Peters on November 15 over 1500m, 3 len behind Storyville with 58.5kg at $41. | ||
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9. Ginger Baker (10)
J: Joey Azzopardi 59kg
T: Daniel & Ben Pearce |
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| At the latest run eased back early on 10th of 16 at this track in the G1 Railway on November 22 over 1600m, 4 len behind Watch Me Rock with 53.5kg at $201. Before that 6th of 11 at this track in the G2 Lee Steere on November 8 over 1400m, 3 len behind Super Smink with 59kg at $41. | ||
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10. In Good Order (5)
J: Shaun O'Donnell 59kg
T: Daniel Morton |
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| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up raced on speed throughout when 2nd of 11 at this track in the G2 Lee Steere on November 8 over 1400m, 0.5 len behind Super Smink carrying 59kg at $101. Last start 9th of 16 at this track in the G1 Railway on November 22 over 1600m, 4 len behind Watch Me Rock with 55kg at $17. | ||
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11. Cosmic Crusader (9)
J: Clint Johnston-Porter 59kg
T: Michael Grantham |
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| Recent form sound. At the latest run favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 2.5 len at this track LR Carbine Club November 22 over 1400m defeating Aztec Ruler carrying 56.5kg at $1.75. Before that 3rd of 11 at this track in the G3 R J Peters on November 15 over 1500m, neck behind Storyville carrying 56kg at $1.80. | ||
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12. Depth Of Character (2)
J: Chris Parnham 58.5kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
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| Last start 11th of 16 at this track in the G1 Railway on November 22 over 1600m, 4 len behind Watch Me Rock carrying 53.5kg at $11. The start before that 4th of 16 at Randwick Golden Eagle on November 1 over 1500m, on a slow track; 2.25 len behind Autumn Glow with 57.5kg at $91. | ||
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13. Vivy Air (12)
J: Ethan Brown 57kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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| Recent form sound. At the latest run settled well back; won by a head at Rosehill LR Five Diamonds November 8 over 1800m defeating Transatlantic carrying 54kg at $5.50. Before that made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 20 at Randwick in the LR Big Dance on November 4 over 1600m, slow going 1.2 len behind Gringotts with 54.5kg at $16. | ||
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14. Admiration Express (3)
J: Brad Rawiller 57kg
T: Jason Miller |
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| Most recently 8th of 16 at this track in the G1 Railway on November 22 over 1600m, 3.5 len behind Watch Me Rock carrying 53.5kg at $41. The race before that 8th of 11 at this track in the G2 Lee Steere on November 8 over 1400m, 5 len behind Super Smink with 57kg at $21. | ||
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15. King Of Light (8)
J: William Pike 52kg
T: Daniel Morton |
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| Looking to keep his unbeaten record intact. When well in the market, favourite; won by a long-neck at this track LR Fairetha November 8 over 1400m defeating Heeza Phoenix carrying 56kg at $1.80. Last start favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 1.1 len at this track G2 Wa Guineas November 22 over 1600m defeating Heeza Phoenix carrying 57kg at $1.75. Racing well. | ||
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16. Pure Excess (15)
J: Steven Parnham 50kg
T: Daniel Morton |
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| Form hard to fault. At the latest run won by a nose at this track G3 Champ Fillies November 15 over 1600m defeating Talkanco with 56kg at $7. Before that 3rd of 11 at this track in the LR Burgess Queen on November 4 over 1400m, 1.2 len behind Playin'it Sweet carrying 54kg at $26. | ||
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17. Bonjoy (11)
J: Shaun McGruddy 57kg
T: Jason Miller |
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| Last start made ground from midfield; 4th of 16 at this track in the LR Jungle Dawn on November 29 over 1400m, 3.5 len behind Toropa carrying 58.5kg at $3.80. The start before that 6th of 11 at this track in the G3 R J Peters on November 15 over 1500m, 1.5 len behind Storyville with 55.5kg at $5.50. | ||
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