MAHER CHASING BACK-TO-BACK WINS IN THE GROUP 1 NORTHERLY STAKES AT ASCOT

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Trainer Ciaron Maher sends out Vivy Air on Saturday in search of back-to-back wins in the $1.5 million Group 1 Northerly Stakes which will be contested over 1800m at Ascot.

The stable was triumphant in last year’s edition of the race with Light Infantry Man, who overcame a wide draw to win at double figure odds under Ethan Brown. That result came after an unplaced finish in the Railways Stakes two weeks earlier.

Vivy Air is following a different route coming straight into the Northerly Stakes for her first and only run in the West this season. She also comes in into the race as a last start winner, having taken out the Five Diamonds at Rosehill a month ago.

In her other three runs this preparation prior to that Vivy Air finished second in the Group 3 Cameron, was a winner of the Big Dance Wildcard at Randwick and then finished second again in the $3 million Big Dance itself behind her smart stable companion Gringotts, who was winning the Big Dance for the second time in a row.
Gringotts went on to further frank that form of Vivy Air by winning The Gong next time out.

“She’s had a faultless spring really. She would have been three from three had she not bumped into Gringotts,” said Ciaron Maher’s travelling work rider Fergus Gregory, speaking to Racing WA about Vivy Air.

Gregory confirmed that everything has gone well with Vivy Air’s preparation for the big race.

“She came here two weeks ago. She settled in great,” said Gregory.

“The first week, or so, we just let her settle in … kept it very quiet. She was getting pretty fresh though, so Ciaron wanted her to do a bit of work.

“She has absolutely thrived. She has eaten all of her food … never missed a day. Her weight is good. She is happy and healthy, so we are very happy at this stage.

Vivy Air, like Light Infantry Man before him, has been allocated a wide barrier draw and Ethan Brown again has the ride.