NORTHERN EXPRESS CLAIMS HIS SECOND, VERY COMFORTABLE WIN FROM ONLY FOUR STARTS

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, May 3, 2022

The lightly raced two-year-old Northern Express made it two wins from only four starts when he won a Class 1 Handicap over 1100m with ease at Warwick on May 3.

In his three previous runs, Northern Express had run second on debut at the Gold Coast over 900m on December 11, 2021, before following up, just eleven days later, with a fine 4.30 length win in a Two-Year-old Maiden Handicap over 1050m at Toowoomba.

The stable then tested the water in town, taking him to Doomben on January 1 where he competed in a Two-Year-Old Handicap over 1200m. He finished unplaced there, six lengths back, but there wasn’t that much wrong with that result considering the fact that the first two runners past the post that day … Golden Artie and Soaring Ambition … were passing through on their way to contest the rich $2 million Magic Millions Two-Year-old Classic, which was ultimately won by Coolangatta.

The form from those three runs marked Northern Express as a standout in the race at Warwick and bookmakers and punters alike did not miss him as he dominated the betting just as he would dominate the race. Northern Express started at $1.85 and only three other runners, all hovering around the $9 mark, were quoted under double figures.

In truth, as the betting indicated it would be, the race was never a serious contest,

Northern Express landed in the leading line and Jaden Lloyd pushed the Nolan runner forward to lead briefly before settling in a close up third place, saving ground, along the inside.

With a lot of moves coming out wide in the approach to the home turn, Lloyd was content to bide his time until straightening where he angled Northern Express out into clear air.

Even then, Lloyd still allowed Northern Express a little time to find his feet in the straight before asking his mount to quicken … from which moment it was ‘race over’ as Northern Express accelerated with meaning to put daylight between himself and the chasing pack.

Country class racing … maybe … but a strong, confidence building win nevertheless for a horse showing good signs early in his career.

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