Light Infantry Man finally breaks his Group 1 duck
Maher-trained import lands first top-flight win with an impressive victory in the Northerly Stakes
The final Australian Group 1 of the year proved another feather in the cap of trainer Ciaron Maher after Light Infantry Man (Fast Company) defied a wide gate to seize an elusive elite-level victory in the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes (Gr 1, 1800m) at Ascot, rounding out a clean sweep for Eastern raiders in the elite contests during Perth Pinnacles Carnival.
The imported son of Fast Company (Danehill Dancer) had come close to Group 1 glory in Europe – placing five times at the highest level – including when finishing an agonizing short neck-second to recent Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 1m 2f) winner Anmaat (Awtaad) in the Prix d’Ispahan (Gr 1, 1800m) in May 2023 when trained by British trainer David Simcock.
The gelding made his first Australian appearance prior to that in the 2022 Golden Eagle (1500m), where he ran a promising sixth, beaten two lengths by dual Group 1 scorer I Wish I Win (Savabeel).
After a final second-placed effort in a Haydock Group 3 last September he was sent to Maher permanently and ambitions for the move made clear when he quickly lined up against the best milers around in the King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on Australian debut.
The six-year-old didn’t manage to realise those ambitions immediately, his 11th placed-finish in the 1600-metre contest behind Fangirl (Sebring) indicative of more sombre efforts to come over the next 12 months.
A glimmer of hope emerged after five more unplaced attempts when Light Infantry Man bounced back to take the Chester Manifold Stakes (Listed, 1600m) last month under James McDonald, but he lined up on Saturday still with something to prove following another wayward 12th-placed finish when favourite in the Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Ascot last time.
This time around under an enterprising ride by Victoria-based Ethan Brown, Light Infantry Man was able to use his wide draw in barrier 15 to his advantage, sitting outside the lead before racing clear down the Ascot straight.
He fought off the closing $101 chance Admiration Express (My Admiration) to gain a deserved win by 0.69 lengths, with Maher’s other contender, Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2200m) winner Socks Nation (Sioux Nation), 2.15 lengths behind her winning stablemate in third.
With his successful Perth raid, Light Infantry Man also made it a full house for the visitors in Ascot’s lucrative summer programme, joining Railway winner Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready) and Overpass (Vancouver), who snared his second straight Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) last Saturday.
“To win today’s race he had to get the first 400 metres right,” said Brown, who was landing his sixth Group 1 win. “After that it was easy. We got it right and that’s how it worked out. I knew I was on a fit horse and he’s a genuine horse, he’s just been a bit unlucky this prep.
“I spoke to James [McDonald] and he was adamant it should have won the other day [in the Railway Stakes], which it did look like that.
“Drawing out today really helped us, he was able to lob in a beautiful spot, we were able to control the race and that’s what he wanted, just a flowing ride. He showed his true colours.”
The result capped a stellar 2024 for Maher, this being an 11th win at the highest level in 2024, with the victories highlighted by Pride Of Jenni’s sensational Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) win in April and a historical across-the-card double in October’s The Everest (Gr 1, 1200m) and Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) courtesy of Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) and Duke De Sessa (Lope De Vega).
Despite it being a remarkable 51st career Group 1, the Northerly provided the trainer with a maiden elite-level win in Western Australia.
“Things actually went to plan, to go out and be positive,” Maher’s stable representative Will Bourne said.
“His asset is a high cruising speed and that’s what he showed today and that’s what he used. The horse has done a very good job today and Remi [Delage] who has looked after him the past month has done an amazing job. I’ve never seen him so relaxed and so gloaming in the coat.”
Saturday’s success provided the late Darley Stud sire Fast Company with his third Group/Grade 1 winner, after Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) heroine Jet Setting and Arlington Million (Gr 1, 10f) victor Robert Bruce.
Light Infantry Man was a €25,000 Arqana yearling, and was subsequently purchased by Blandford Bloodstock for £82,000 from Mocklershill’s draft at the Goffs UK 2YO Breeze Up Sale.
He is one of three winners for Kyllachy (Pivotal) mare Lights On Me, herself a four-time winner and half-sister to Listed winner Choose Your Moment (Choisir).