3 minute read

Racing and Sports look at the key chances in the third edition of The Pinnacles.

Week 4 is the penultimate Saturday of The Pinnacles and final Group 1, The Northerly Stakes (1800m). 

Run under Weight For Age conditions, The Northerly Stakes attracts some of the country's best middle distance horses and is the natural progression for those still up and running from the Winterbottom Stakes a fortnight earlier.

While The Winterbottom and The Railway are the premier Group 1's of the season, in terms of the five-year winning average The Northerly only sits a pound below the latter on the Racing and Sports scale.

Northerly Stakes (1800m) - $1.5 million

Dom To Shoot was a gift to bookmakers last year when arriving just in time at 20-1 to edge out four-time Group 1 winner hotpot Zaaki and then three-year-old Zipaway, who lines up again in this weekend's edition.

In recent comparison, Dom To Shoot was an above average winner of The Northerly but yet is still several lengths off the features best winners Niconero (David A Hayes), Stratum Star (Darren Weir) and Arcadia Queen – all catapulting over the winning range of 112-117. 

Favourite: Storyville (106)

Off her win in the W.A Guineas, this three-year-old from the G & A Williams stable has continued to attract plenty of market support. Getting in with just the 50kgs on her back as a three-year-old filly, Storyville will have to make somewhat of a ratings leap to fit the mould of an average Northerly winner, but it wouldn't be something we haven't seen before.

Highest rated: Attrition (117)

Already rated at the higher end of Northerly winners, the Michael Freedman-trained five-year-old won't have to reach any new heights to add a second Group 1 success to his resume. Edging out Kovalica two back in the Group 2 Hill Stakes is the A1 form. If he is presented anywhere near that level, the Northerly is his for the taking.

Best from the Railway Stakes: Super Smink (115+)

Out of the key lead-up, it's Super Smink that looks to hold the best opportunity of taking out the final Group 1 of the season. Running to 115+ on the Racing and Sports scale when rattling home up the inside to grab third in the Railway, it appears Super Smink will relish the rise to 1800m. From a middle draw (6), D Morton will be praying Chris Parnham can get his mare settling in the first half of the field. With even luck in the lane, she should be right there at the business end.

For a deep dive of the Group 1 feature you can head here, where you will find some quality inisght from one of our own Trent Crebbin.