The final Group l of the 2025 calendar year is the Northerly Stakes (1800m) this Saturday at Ascot, where King Of Light dominates betting.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Northerly Stakes.
2025 Northerly Stakes Runner Preview:
1. Western Empire: Got a peach ride in the Railway and was there to win but Watch Me Rock was just too good at 1600m. Like him at 1800m, will be strong late and is a threat for sure. He is slight overs for mine.
2. Osipenko: Four wide the trip in the Railway and tired late. He’ll drag back from the wide gate and need luck. Can’t have him.
3. Watch Me Rock: Hungry Nash aboard is a big, big tick. But the draw is a nightmare and the end of 1800m is the knock. Happy to oppose.
4. Apulia: He is flying this horse and loved the way he let down to win at Flemington. Tick-over trial was good, he’ll need luck… but he has a motor.
5. Hemlock Stone: Has eyes on the Perth Cup so not for me here.
6. Diamond Scene: I think he’s dangerous, especially if ridden with intent. He was quite good late from off the speed in the Railway and was the eye catcher. Positive ride and he can win.
7. Sentimental Hero: Got a rail-hugging ride in the Railway and was good in defeat. Gets a similar run this time around and could pinch a first-four spot at a price.
8. Zipaway: Zipaway is the one that I am convinced is sneaky flying. He just hasn’t been suited by the sit/sprints this time in, the latest in the Peters behind Cosmic Crusader. He’ll bludge and do no work from the gate, he’ll be strong at the end… seen worse $101+ chances.
9. Ginger Baker: Sneaky good run in the Railway but not quite up to these I say.
10. In Good Order: Just fair in the Railway and have others ahead of him.
11. Cosmic Crusader: The #Darta says he wins the Railway if he gets a run. Instead, he brained them in the Carbine Club. He’ll eat up 1800m and I think will be ridden positively.
12. Depth Of Character: The bet for me here is Depth Of Character each way. Just forget his Railway run. It was a barrier trial given the race shape, the track pattern and the fact he was four wide from the nasty draw. Big rider upgrade, maps to settle 5–6 lengths closer at least and 1800m is no issue. I think he’s a great each-way gamble.
13. Vivy Air: She’s probably had some time at Bong Bong, got the nails polished and is here as a live threat after her Five Diamonds triumph. E Brown rides, she has strong form lines… a definite threat.
14. Admiration Express: Think she’ll run an improved race from the Railway but not sure she is good enough.
15. King Of Light: King Of Light is the hype horse and easy to see why given he is 5/5, the latest coming two weeks ago in the WA Guineas. He got the dream run/ride but even allowing for that, he was dominant. He doesn’t win by a space, but he just continues to get the job done. Hard to beat.
16. Pure Excess: If she drew soft, she’d be nearly top tip. But drawn the carpark in a slowly run race… I dare say she has a big task ahead.
17. Bonjoy (First Emergency): Racing well but I dare say has eyes on the mares races vs here.
2025 Northerly Stakes $100 Betting Strategy:
$10 Win / $40 Place Depth Of Character
$5 Win / $20 Place Zipaway
$25 Win Cosmic Crusader
Group l Strategy Outlay: $3200
Group l Strategy Return: $2723
Northerly Stakes Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WESTERN EMPIRE (NZ) | Grant & Alana Williams | Billy Egan | 6 | 59kg |
| 2 | OSIPENKO (NZ) | Chris Waller | Fred Kersley | 17 | 59kg |
| 3 | WATCH ME ROCK | Grant & Alana Williams | Nash Rawiller | 16 | 59kg |
| 4 | APULIA | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Michael Dee | 14 | 59kg |
| 5 | HEMLOCK STONE (NZ) | Grant & Alana Williams | Austin Galati | 7 | 59kg |
| 6 | DIAMOND SCENE | Michael Grantham | Brad Parnham | 13 | 59kg |
| 7 | SENTIMENTAL HERO | Peter Fernie | Craig Newitt | 4 | 59kg |
| 8 | ZIPAWAY | Neville Parnham | Laqdar Ramoly | 1 | 59kg |
| 9 | GINGER BAKER | Daniel & Ben Pearce | Joey Azzopardi | 10 | 59kg |
| 10 | IN GOOD ORDER | Daniel Morton | Shaun O’Donnell | 5 | 59kg |
| 11 | COSMIC CRUSADER (NZ) | Michael Grantham | Clint Johnston-Porter | 9 | 59kg |
| 12 | DEPTH OF CHARACTER | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Chris Parnham | 2 | 58.5kg |
| 13 | VIVY AIR | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 12 | 57kg |
| 14 | ADMIRATION EXPRESS | Jason Miller | Brad Rawiller | 3 | 57kg |
| 15 | KING OF LIGHT | Daniel Morton | William Pike | 8 | 52kg |
| 16 | PURE EXCESS | Daniel Morton | Steven Parnham | 15 | 50kg |
| 17e | BONJOY | Jason Miller | Shaun McGruddy | 11 | 57kg |
Northerly Stakes Odds
2025 Northerly Stakes Speed Map
There is zero early speed here from what I can see. So, do they revert back to on speed for Cosmic Crusader or opt for cover like they have done in recent runs? Diamond Scene can settle handy now it’s up in trip more, likewise Zipaway. But I think they’ll crawl in front.