Punters have identified a key contender in the lead-up to Saturday's prestigious $1.5 million Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot, rallying behind the veteran campaigner Western Empire.
Market Movers Point to Weight Advantage
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained gelding has been the subject of significant betting support, firming from an opening quote of $10.00 into $8.50 on Thursday morning. This move is largely attributed to the weight-for-age conditions of the feature race, which are seen to favour the seasoned $3.3 million earner.
Western Empire meets his stablemate, Railway Stakes winner Watch Me Rock, on 4kg better terms than in their last encounter. In that Group 1 handicap over 1600m a fortnight ago, Western Empire carried 58kg and finished a close second to Watch Me Rock, who had 54kg. Both will carry 59kg in the Northerly.
Short-Priced Favourite Holds Firm
Despite the support for Western Empire, the brilliant three-year-old King Of Light remains the clear favourite. Trained by Dan Morton, the unbeaten gelding tightened from $2.45 to $2.40 following a glowing report from his trainer.
"King Of Light is doing everything right and he's a happy horse," Morton told Racing WA. "He's nice to train and never gives us any headaches." The decision by champion jockey William Pike to stay aboard King Of Light, instead of switching to Railway Stakes winner Watch Me Rock, has further solidified his favouritism.
Interstate Raiders Also in the Mix
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare Vivy Air is also attracting strong attention from punters. The Sydney raider, who will be ridden by Victorian jockey Ethan Brown, was backed from $9.50 into $7.50. She arrives in Perth off a last-start victory in the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 8.
Melbourne-based jockey Billy Egan has secured the ride on Western Empire, adding further intrigue to the star-studded field set to contest one of Western Australia's richest races this Saturday at Ascot.
