HONG Kong-owned Northern Drake proved himself the best weight-for-age horse in Australia by bolting away with the Group One A$400,000 Yalumba Stakes (2,000m) at Caulfield yesterday. His victory was a triumph for former Macau harness racing driver Kenny Man, who prepares the five-year-old. Northern Drake, who is raced by the Domeland Syndicate managed by Y. P. Cheng and C. H. Lam, was well ridden by former Hong Kong jockey Grant Cooksley. After going to the front at the outset, Northern Drake easily defied his rivals over the concluding stages to score decisively. Northern Drake, who paid A$11.30 for A$1, went across the line 4.5 lengths ahead of the odds-on favourite Tie The Knot. Aerosmith was third with the highly fancied Intergaze fourth. Northern Drake must now be regarded as nominal favourite for the A$1,816,000 BMW Cox Plate (2,040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday week. The inaugural running of the Hong Kong Cup (2,000m) on December 12 is also on his agenda.
