Ciaron Maher’s Light Infantry Man wins Group 1 Northerly Stakes

After winning the Group 1 Northerly Stakes, Ciaron Maher’s Light Infantry Man is now an Australian Group 1 winner.

The former Great Britain-based gelding delivered a professional run from out wide to win the $1,500,000-race at Ascot on Saturday.

Light Infantry Man, who was not one of the betting sites favourites, outlasted a late surge from huge betting outsider Admiration Express ($101) to win the marquee race by 0.75L.

“First 400m was crucial”

Light Infantry Man was one of the betting apps favourites for the Northerly Stakes weeks ahead of the race.

The gelding’s odds took a hit after he finished 12th out of 16 runners in the Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot on November 23. His odds dropped again down to $12 chances after drawing barrier five.

Jockey Ethan Brown said a strong start was key to Light Infantry Man overcoming the deficit of a bad draw and his recent poor form.

“To win today’s race, the first 400m was crucial,” the Victorian jockey said after the race.

“Once we got that right, everything else fell into place. I knew I was on a fit and genuine horse, even though he’s been a bit unlucky this preparation.”

First Group 1 win

Light Infantry Man has raced in four Group 1 races since coming to Australia in October. He had yet to win any until this weekend.

The son of Fast Company finished 11th in the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick in his first Australian Group 1 race.

He would not finish higher than 6th in his next five races at any grade. One of those poor runs was a disheartening 9th place finish in the Group1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.

Light Infantry Man again disappointed in the Railway Stakes, finishing 12th. However, Brown said that James McDonald, who rode the gelding in that race, told him that Light Infantry Man ran excellently at Ascot in that race.

“I spoke with James McDonald, who rode him last time, and he was adamant the horse should’ve won the Railway,” Brown revealed.

“The wider draw today worked in our favour. We secured a great position, controlled the race, and gave him the flowing ride he needed to show his true ability.”

Outsider impresses, favourites disappoint

Light Infantry Man was not the only horse to impress in Saturday’s Northerly Stakes. Jason Miller’s Admiration Express stunned the race-goers at Ascot with a late run seemingly out of nowhere.

The $101-rated mare was one of the biggest outsiders for the $1.5m race. She ended up finishing second by less than a length behind the winner.

Light Infantry Man’s stablemate Socks Nation ($13) finished third, while the rest of the major favourites failed to live up to the hype.

Daniel Morton’s Super Smink and Mitchell Freedman’s Attrition, who were the joint-top favourites with $4.80 chances, finished in 9th and 11th places, respectively. The third favourite, Storyville ($6), finished 15th out of 16 gallopers.