NORTHERN EXPRESS FLASHES HOME

By Graham Potter | Saturday, January 27, 2024

If ever there was a value trainer to follow in the first month of the new year it was Michael Nolan.

When Northen Express became the fifth stable winner for the month of January by taking out an Open Handicap over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast on January 27, the son of Better Than Ready became the third horse of Nolan’s to salute at double figure odds of those five winners.

It had started off with New Joy’s win on January 1 ... at $61. Granite Prince returned $13 on January 17 and now it was Northern Express’s turn to make light of an $18 betting label in what was a first-up run following a five month break from race action.

The number ten barrier draw was never going to do Northern Express any favours, but Taylor Marshall negotiated that disadvantage well, asking Northern Express to go forward out wide at a measured gallop until he found place to slip in behind the two leaders and settle in a perfect third position, a little over two lengths off the speed.

One of those leaders was the $1.25 Golden Boom who supposedly had the race at his mercy according to the betting but, even as Golden Boom tried to establish an outright lead for himself early in the home straight, his challenge was immediately decked by Northern Express, who pounced early, went straight past Golden Boom at the 200m mark, and proceeded to sustain a strong run to the line to keep Wanda Rox ($10), who had emerged from behind to become Northern Express’s only danger over the concluding stages, at bay by a length.

It was a telling success by Northen Express on his return as he had to put in an effort at both ends.

Credit is also due to Taylor Marshall, an underrated rider, who guided Northern Express with a real professional touch every step of the way.

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