Northerly Stakes Tips & Preview 2023
Looking for Northerly Stakes tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2023 Northerly Stakes at Ascot.
NORTHERLY STAKES BETTING SNAPSHOT
It is the veteran galloper, Zaaki, that is the $2.60 favourite with Dabble after the barrier draw ahead of the last start Railway Stakes (1600m) runner-up, Alsephina, at $7. The winner of the Railway Stakes, Bustler, shares the third line of betting with A Lot Of Good Men at $10.
There are 16 contenders in the final Group 1 of the calendar year and Zipaway is next in the market at $11, while Dom To Shoot is $13. Zoumon ($17) and Trix Of The Trade ($19) head the rest.
NORTHERLY STAKES FORM ANALYSIS
Zaaki has competed against the best in the land and comes over after an eastern-seaboard campaign that has seen him have four runs. They include two placings at Randwick as well as a close 6th in the Cox Plate (2040m). At his most recent start, the Anabel Neasham-trained galloper led before running 4th in the Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, going 11 lengths faster than standard benchmark.
That is the best last start benchmark figure of any runner, just ahead of the 10 lengths faster that Bustler set when claiming the Railway. There are nine gallopers that had their last start in the first of the three Perth Group 1 races.
Bustler had a nice run just forward of midfield and held out Alsephina, who had come from just further back. Dom To Shoot produced the fastest last 200m of the race to grab 3rd, beaten just over a length. Trix Of The Trade didn’t see much daylight en route to running 4th. Mojo Rhythm was another that was held up and ran 5th. Hard to make a case for those that finished further back.
There are two horses aged three in the Northerly Stakes and they are Zipaway and A Lot Of Good Men. Zipaway held out the latter in the WA Guineas (1600m). He will have to do it from the wide barrier. A Lot Of Good Men looks suited up in trip but is likely to need to produce a personal best to take this out.
The Railway contenders rise in weight from the Handicap conditions to the weight-for-age, while the 1800m might test a few. Alsephina is one from one at the trip, having claimed the Starstruck Stakes at Ascot just under a year ago. The race favourite, Zaaki, is five from seven at the distance.
NORTHERLY STAKES TIPS AND BEST BETS
We can expect Zaaki to settle either in the lead or in the first few. Marocchino and Zoumon are also likely to push up. Beyond that, the speed doesn’t look to manic and Zaaki should get his chance to add another win to his collection. The question is his age and whether or not this is an afterthought but he was able to claim the Champions Stakes at the same stage of his preparation last year. Best of the local hopes is Alsephina, who should be ready to peak at her third run. She was solid late in the Railway Stakes and the 1800m should suit.