Northerly Stakes History
18 October, 2018
Thoroughbred
The Crown Perth-Northerly Stakes is the headline event on a stellar opening day of racing at Ascot.
The Group 3 feature honours champion stayer Northerly, a two time Cox Plate winner and a Caulfield Cup winner.
Last year, the Adam Durrant-trained Silverstream took out the feature event, ridden by Chris Parnham for leading owner and breeder Bob Peters.
Parnham will ride another Peters-owned runner on Saturday in Perfect Jewel, while Durrant will also saddle up a Peters runner in Star Exhibit.
Galaxy Star is the third of the Peters runners in the race, to be ridden by William Pike.
Parnham, Pike and Craig Staples ride the three horses at the top of the TABtouch market, all three have ridden the winner of the race on one previous occasion.
Steven Parnham has tasted success in the race on three previous occasions, the same as Danny Miller and Rod Kemp.
The eldest of the three Parnham brothers can become the most successful jockey in the race if he can ride Ihtsahymn to victory on Saturday.
Five-year-olds have the best record in the race, however there are no five-year-olds in the race this year.
Silverstream was a six-year-old mare when she won the race last year, Galaxy Star is the lone six-year-old mare in the field this year.
Barrier three is the most successful barrier in the race, producing seven winners including last year’s winner Silverstream.
This year Galaxy Star jumps from that barrier.
Only two horses have carried more than 59kg to victory in the Set Weights and Penalties event; Megatic (60kg) in 2009 and Playing God (59.5kg) in 2013.
Star Exhibit and Great Shot both have 59.5kg this weekend.
Perfect Jewel has 57.5kg this weekend, which will be the most weight carried to victory by a mare in the race if she is successful.
The Northerly Stakes jumps at 4.40pm on Saturday.
Tim Walker