Equinics Race 6 – Northerly Plate

Race 6 of the Equinics card is for the fillies and mares, who assemble for the Northerly Plate over the mile on a Good Turf track.

Northerly (Serheed x North Bell) was the superstar of Australian racing in the early 2000s. Born without a heartbeat, he defied the odds from the very beginning and quickly rose to prominence in the West, claiming Western Australia’s most prestigious race, the Railway Stakes, before heading east to dominate some of Australia’s biggest classics.

A winner of nine Group 1 races across a remarkable range of distances and surfaces, Northerly was the definition of versatility. He could lead from the front or settle back and unleash his powerful finishing burst and was renowned as the “Fighting Tiger” for his extraordinary tenacity and will to win.

Along the way, he broke the hearts of champions including Sunline, Fields of Omagh and Lonhro. His greatest performances included a win for the ages in a grand Caulfield Cup and back-to-back Cox Plates, (he arguably would have made it three in a row had a severe tendon injury not ruled him out of the 2003 edition).  A champion who could win anywhere, anyhow, Northerly was one of the great all-rounders of his generation—and a fitting namesake for this mile feature.

A field of 13 Fillies and Mares line up for this feature, boasting four Grade 1 winners and an EOY crowned champion. With elite class, proven stars and plenty of firepower across the field, this shapes as one of the races of the Equinics series. Buckle up — we can’t wait for the call!

1. RENTED BEACH (AUS)                     5F        unreal             K.Hawkz          7/1

Unreal saddles up Rented Beach (Sepoy) for NORTHWEST RACING CIRCUIT (NRC). Out of the G1 winning mare Twisted Gem, Rented Beach is a 12-time winner from 32 starts. Her first stakes success came as a 3yo in the Dipper Turf Filly Memorial over 9 furlongs. She achieved moderate success in allowance grade races over the following 12 months, but it was towards the end of her 4yo season that she began to show her real quality. She posted a career-best SP of 115 in a NZ allowance over 9 furlongs when romping home by 7 ¼ lengths, before narrowly taking out the Deadly Con Turf Memorial to finish 2025 on a winning note.

She began her 5yo season with another stakes success over 9 furlongs in the Muzzle Marking Turf Mare Route, then stayed in NSW and made it four straight with a graded victory in the G3 Saint George. Ventured to North America for California’s G2 Santa Ana and made a heap of ground late when runner-up, before striking an off track and finishing just outside the placings in the G2 Black Betty Handicap. Stayed in California for a tilt at the G1 Ugly Breeders Bowl Distaff and couldn’t have been more impressive, defeating an elite field. Her last-start flop can be forgiven after being pushed out to 10 furlongs off a short break, where she failed to show her customary finish and finished last in the G1 Omicron.

First up today after a substantial break and the oddsmakers have her as a 7/1 equal favorite. She would prefer to be over slightly longer but brings outstanding credentials into this and has more than enough class to make her presence felt.

2. INVINCIBLE BRAVE (IRE)                 4F        gryffindor        S.DeBerg         10/1   

Invincible Brave (Invincible Spirit) profiles as a progressive and remarkably consistent filly for Supertaffy and the MIDAS residency. What she lacks in experience, she more than makes up for with class. From 11 starts, she boasts 7 wins and 4 seconds and today takes on an elitist field for the first time.

A brilliant juvenile debut saw her flash a devastating turn of foot to land a 6-furlong maiden as favourite. She resumed at three with a runner-up finish in allowance company before rattling off back-to-back wins over 8 and 9 furlongs, the latter a dominant 7 ¾-length wire-to-wire demolition. Two more seconds followed before she signed off the season with a win and career-best SP of 111 over the mile.

She has taken another step forward at four. After going down by just a length following a speed duel first up, she has reeled off three straight wins. She showed versatility winning from midfield over the Paris mile, then produced an eye-catching finish from well back at the half-mile to overhaul her opposition. Stakes company proved no problem last time, coming from just off the pace to win going away by 1 ¾ lengths and equal her 111 career-best SP.

Now comes the acid test. This is a massive class hike, and she’ll need to find another level to threaten this field, but she arrives in career-best form, possesses a potent turn of foot and has never finished worse than second. She may be the least proven runner here, but she’s earned her shot and this filly simply refuses to know how to run a bad race.

3. MILAN GF (IRE)                               6F        photonic1          R.Unoz          9/1

Craterus saddles up Milan GF (Milan) for FLORIDA RACING CLUB, one of two 6yo’s in the field. Unraced at two, this Irish-bred mare wasted little time making her mark, rattling off a hat-trick of claiming and allowance wins, including two wire-to-wire route victories. She continued to build her resume at four, placing on dirt before making a credible stakes debut on yielding turf with a 3^rd placed finish. A failed experiment over 16 furlongs was quickly forgotten as she returned to her preferred trips, posting three more allowance wins that season, all over 9 furlongs on turf.

Milan GF carried that form into 2025, opening the season with another 9-furlong allowance victory before placing in the Irish Local Championship Stakes as the lone mare in the field. Her season highlight came in Italy’s Her Ballots Turf Mare Route, where she never looked like losing over 9 furlongs recording an easy victory and a career-best SP of 114.

She has found the going tougher this season but has still mixed it with some quality opposition. Runner-up in the G3 Nakayama Lady after failing to reel in the wire-to-wire winner, she then acquitted herself well on the poly and at the highest level in the G1 English Rose, racing prominently before fading late. She again weakened late in the 10-furlong G3 Mezzanotte after facing early pressure, then appeared the winner turning for home in the Down Under Ladies Stakes before fading when back to the mile.

A natural pacesetter who likes to race on or near the lead, Milan GF is at her most effective over 9 furlongs. The mile may leave her vulnerable late, but if she gets the right trip up front, her proven route form and career-best 114 make her an interesting threat.

4. CULIQUITACA (IRE)                         4F        haack02           K.Damo           8/1                   

Haack saddles up Culiquitaca (Invincible Spirit) for LATINOS DEL MUNDO, a mare boasting an excellent winning strike rate and the consistency to rarely run a bad race. Out of a dam who was Group placed at 7 furlongs, she looked a superstar in the making early, winning 8 of her first 11 starts including a pair of Grade 3 victories, namely the Gemma Stakes and Singing Without Purpose Sprint, both over 7.5 furlongs.

She signed off last season in style, stretching to the mile for the first time and romping home by 4 lengths in allowance company with an SP of 114. Returned from a two-month break below par in the Pop Culture Turf Mare Memorial before stepping into G1 company in the Cool Classic, where she finished a credible 8th, beaten 5½ lengths without ever threatening.

She quickly bounced back, stalking the pace before finishing best over 7.5 furlongs in allowance grade. Narrowly beaten after charging home late in the Gold Forest Turf Mare over the mile, she was back in the winner’s circle last time out, landing a residency stakes race over the mile with an equal career-best SP of 114.

50% winning record at this distance. In form, proven at the trip and a genuine threat from start to finish. Expect her to be in the thick of it for a long way.

5.  CHYULU HILLS (IRE)                       5F        ebro                 R.Gibson          7/1         

Spinround brings the Irish-bred Chyulu Hills (Dark Angel) to represent EMPIRE STATE RACING (ESR). Highly impressive in her solitary start as a juvenile when victorious over 7 furlongs, she recorded her first stakes success in her final start as a 3yo, producing a well-timed run to overhaul the field in the Thirteenth Date Turf Filly over a mile, running an SP of 113.

She went winless through her 4yo season but produced some quality performances at the top level. A minor placing in the G3 Kyoto Highway was followed by a just-outside-the-placings effort in the Park Place Express at her home track. She failed to make any substantial ground when unplaced in the Foul Mouth Stakes on her first attempt at elite level but bounced back with consecutive minor placings in the G1 Start Up and PrixMarcel Boss, both over the mile. She never threatened in her final start as a 4yo when dropping back to the sprint course in the G2 Lone Valkyrie.

Dropped back to allowance class to commence her 5yo season, she suffered a narrow defeat on an off track before returning to stakes company and saluting as favorite in the Publik Enemy Turf Mare Mile, posting a career-best SP of 115. She then produced the biggest win of her career to date when taking out the G2 Blood Bond Stakes. A subsequent failure to make an impression in the G1 Weedy Establishment was quickly forgotten when another tilt at the Foul Mouth Stakes resulted in an eye-catching runner-up finish after making a heap of ground late.

A proven performer at the highest level, Chyulu Hills clearly loves the mile and arrives here in excellent form. She is a major player here.

6. YOU KNOW ME EM (FR)                 4F        eman               P.Rosportz        10/1

Cothill sends out You Know Me Em (Siyouni) for BRITISH AND EUROPEAN RACING CLUB (BERC). A 7-time winner from 19 starts, this French-bred filly showed plenty of promise early, breaking her maiden before landing a stakes race at just her second start over 6 furlongs. Sent straight into G2 company, she finished just outside the placings in The Cherry Hilton before breaking through in Surrey’s The Lowdown over 6 furlongs, posting an SP of 86 in only her fourth career start. Two unplaced black type runs rounded out her juvenile season.

Her 3yo campaign began with a quiet G3 effort before stepping up in trip for the Irish Guineas Trial, where she weakened late to finish 7th of 14 over 9 furlongs. She relished the rise to 10.5 furlongs in G3 The Adorable, settling just off the leader before letting down strongly in the straight to score her first graded victory. She failed to see out 12 furlongs in G2 Mallrat and was outclassed against older fillies and mares in the Scandinavian Distaff, although she outran her odds to finish a respectable 7th. Her only other win that season came in the 9-furlong Deputy Hunter Turf Filly Special, where she romped home by more than 5 lengths with a massive 113 SP.

She began this season in flying fashion with back-to-back stakes wins in Norway over 9.5 furlongs, the latter producing a career-best 114 SP. Below expectations in G3 Natacha Atlas, she was only fair next time over 9 furlongs before led for much of the way and weakening late to finish 3rd in the Out Under Cannon Turf Mare Route.

The drop back to a mile is the concern. Her best efforts post her juvenile season have come over longer trips, and this sharp cutback looks against her. Quality filly but happy to risk over this trip.

7. FULL SWING (KY)                            5F        xavier             G.Kehl              9/1

Crawf68 saddles up Full Swing (War of Will) for ORPHAN RACING. Commenced her career on dirt and went winless in four attempts before breaking her maiden as a 3yo at Maryland over the mile. After placing in her first allowance start, she put together a hat-trick of wins, culminating in stakes success in the Seductive Lass Turf Filly Special, again over a mile. Finished her 3yo season in fine style when placed in the G1 Queen Ascot Stakes, before achieving G1 glory when narrowly taking out the prestigious Vicky Guineas, running an SP of 111.

Began her 4yo season with a couple of unplaced efforts in G2 and G3 company when racing beyond the mile, but returned to form when dropping back to her pet distance to beat all bar one in the G3 Wilshire Boulevard. Followed up with a second G1 success in Kentucky’s Breeders Bowl Game, again over the mile. Never threatened in the Foul Mouth Stakes before returning to Kentucky for the G1 Last Woman, where she ran a credible third. The 11-furlong Breeders Bowl Fillies and Mares Turf proved beyond her, finishing well down the track, but she closed out the season with an eye-catching runner-up performance in a Turkish G1 when back to the mile.

Lightly raced this season with just two starts. Tackled the boys but again found the distance beyond her when finishing down the track in the 10-furlong Sydney Cup. Returned to her home track last time out and bounced back with a solid runner-up performance in the G1 Breeders Bowl Game. Now ventures back to the Southern Hemisphere but loves this distance and brings proven G1 form to the table. Definite threat.

8. XYIV (AUS)                                      5F        murrayspond   Be.Ward          9/1  

Newfydowns saddles Xyiv (Vancouver) for ELITE RACING CLUB (ERC). A winner of more than half her starts, she rattled off a hat-trick of juvenile victories before finding the boys too tough when tackling stakes company for the first time. She did little wrong at three, winning 3 of 7 and never finishing worse than fourth.

Her 4yo campaign began with her first attempt at a route, leading for much of an 11-furlong Queensland allowance before tiring late to finish just outside the placings. After another fourth placing, she found her groove with a five-race winning streak spanning claiming, starter allowance and allowance company. Stepped into stakes class against her own sex for the first time last time out in the 9-furlong Southern Cross Championess Route and acquitted herself well, finishing runner-up with an SP of 108.

Her trainer has been patient, and the return to a mild looks a positive, but this is another step up in class. Honest type who has plenty going for her, but she’ll need to go to yet another level to win here. Place chance at best.

9. BRAUHAUS (IRE)                             6F        teeceger          M.Mason         8/1        

Teece saddles up Brauhaus (Churchill) for UNIVERSAL RACING CLUB (URC). The most experienced mare in the field and one of only two 6yo’s, she has transformed since switching back to turf. A maiden winner on off dirt as a 3yo, she added another victory on a sloppy surface before finding her niche on turf, rattling off back-to-back 8.5-furlong allowances with matching SP 114s.

She then announced herself at stakes level, wiring the Maryland Maid Turf Mare Route before producing a career-best SP 116 to demolish the G2 Black Dahlia by 4¾ lengths, again dictating from the outset. Her first G1 attempt as a 5yo was forgettable, but she bounced back to lead throughout and romp home in the Rising Stakes over 8.5 furlongs. A runner-up finish in the Last Woman followed, before three unplaced G1 runs closed out her season.

Brauhaus returned in 2026 with a G3 Honey Bee Handicap victory and has since mixed solid placings with a few late fades. She chased home rival Chyulu Hills in the G2 Blood Bond Stakes after setting searching early fractions, then filled minor placings in the G3 Gallery Handicap and The Eastwood. She tired badly late in her latest outing in Denmark’s Brigitte Nielsen Vase over 8.5 furlongs. I doubt she’ll get it all her own way but if she does happen to get an uncontested lead, she might prove extremely hard to run down.

10. CANNELLONI PONY (AUS)            4F        stalbrabant16  J.Maris             14/1                 

Stalbrabant saddles up the well-named Cannelloni Pony (Churchill) for DOWN UNDER RACING (DUR). A winner from 5 to 8.5 furlongs, this scratchbred mare won 2 of 3 starts as a juvenile before putting together some credible performances over a wide range of distances during her 3yo season.

She made good ground when placed over 9.5 furlongs in the Otto You Do It Turf Filly Route at her first start as a 3yo, backing that up with another placing before a handful of unplaced efforts at stakes and G3 level. She showed her versatility when stakes placed against the boys in the Massive Turf Sprint over the sprint course of 5.5 furlongs, before claiming her first black-type victory in the Eat Your Greens Turf Filly Dash over 5 furlongs as a short-priced favourite. That proved to be her solitary win from 12 attempts during her 3yo season, with two further unplaced G3 runs rounding out the campaign.

Cannelloni Pony began 2026 with a minor placing in allowance company over 7.5 furlongs before three further unplaced stakes attempts over sprint distances. A win in the Artsinthealley Turf Mare Sprint Stakes finally broke a six-month winless run, and she followed that with her most impressive performance to date, taking out the G2 Call For Cash in California over the mile on an off track.

That was an excellent prep for this, and she looks to be hitting form at precisely the right time. Over the odds?

11. SANGUINE SHADOW (IRE)            4F        mmstable24    D.Coffey           13/1      

Millerfarm sends out Sanguine Shadow (The Gurkha) for EAST-WEST CONNECTION (EWC). Unraced at two, this talented filly packed plenty into her busy 3yo campaign with 12 starts. Runner-up on debut over 7 furlongs, she quickly greeted the winner’s circle twice over 8–8.25 furlongs before finding 9 furlongs beyond her comfort zone. A string of runner-up finishes over the mile followed before the trainer dropped her back in trip and it paid immediate dividends, blitzing her rivals going wire-to-wire to win by 6 lengths with a sharp 108 SP.

Chased hard in the Easy Candle Turf Filly Sprint at her first stakes attempt when runner up before closing the season with back-to-back allowance victories. Given a lengthy break, she needed the run on her 2026 return, holding on for a minor placing after being found wanting late.

But the mare has hit top gear at the right time. A narrow stalking victory in the Vast Pinkie Turf Mare Dash was followed by her biggest win yet — a G2 Twilight Stakes triumph over 7.5 furlongs, posting a career-best 111 SP.

Her best form has come sprinting, and she hasn’t ventured beyond 7.5 furlongs for over a year. Now more seasoned, in career-best form and seemingly primed for this assignment, she brings serious momentum into the feature. Don’t dismiss.

12. SCHNITZEL LADY (KY)                   5F        teacherlay10   S.Lee                13/1      

Teacherlay sends out Schnitzel Lady (Minister Eric) for EUROPEAN UNION RACING ORGANIZATION. A consistent sprinting mare, she won a claimer and two allowances as a juvenile before turning heads with four straight wire-to-wire wins at three, including a dirt allowance on her only attempt. Added four wins from eight starts at four in claiming and allowance company.

She resumed this season with a tiring run off a fast early tempo in the Joves Burg Turf Mare Dash but quickly bounced back with a runner-up finish before returning to the winner’s circle in front-running fashion, posting a career-best SP of 109. Took another step forward last time when finally landing black type in the Barbs Spooky Turf Mare Sprint over 7.5 furlongs, showing versatility by sitting just off the leader before striking.

Always gives her best and arrives in career-best form, but this is a significant class rise and she looks up against it here at her first attempt at the mile.

13. THE GIRLFRIEND (IRE)                  5F        gowansny        M.Cameron     7/1  

Gowans sends out The Girlfriend (Mehmas) for THE MECCA. Crowned EOY Champion as a juvenile, The Girlfriend is a winner of 11 of 21 career starts including multiple Grade 1’s and has amassed over $3.6 million in prizemoney. She was unbeaten through her first eight starts, including a perfect six-from-six juvenile season.

A natural speedster, she raced on the pace when breaking her maiden over 5.5 furlongs at her home track before immediately stepping into stakes company, where she proved too good as the favorite over 5 furlongs on an off track. She continued her rise at her first attempt in graded company, coming from midfield to narrowly capture the G2 Why You Buggin Stakes at Berkshire.

She then tackled the boys in Deauville’s G1 The More Nay and produced a blistering stretch run over 6 furlongs to overhaul the field. She backed that up with another G1 victory in The Chevel, coming from well back to score by a length. Sent to California for the first time and asked to stretch out to a mile against some of the best horses from around the globe, this bay filly could hardly have been more impressive, blitzing her rivals by 2 ¼ lengths to secure EOY Champion honors.

The Girlfriend commenced her 3yo season after a three-month layoff by maintaining her unbeaten record in the G3 Seven Sisters before making it eight wins from eight when too good in Newmarket’s 1000 Guineas. She finally tasted defeat in the G1 Cremation Stakes, followed by G1 placings in the Last Woman and Vicky Guineas.

She began her 4yo season with back-to-back victories, the latter coming in the G2 Coolmore over 7.5 furlongs. Although unplaced, she produced a tremendous late run in the G1 Weedy Establishment before putting together a hattrick of G1 placings over the mile in the Foul Mouth, Queen Ascot and Motherly Love Stakes.

The Girlfriend commenced 2026 with a runner-up finish in the Danehill Dancer Turf Mare Sprint Stakes before going unplaced in the G1 Cool Classic. Back to the mile, she again finished second in the G3 Board Game Distaff, albeit well beaten, before returning to the winner’s circle for the first time in over a year last time out in the Devens Return Turf Mare Sprint over 7.5 furlongs.

Comes into this as a 7/1 equal favorite on the morning line. An exciting multiple G1-winning mare, The Girlfriend undoubtedly has the class and resume to make her presence felt, but it is difficult to say she is going as well now as she was when she was the undisputed champion of her class. She has shown enough recently to suggest she remains a serious threat, and it would be fantastic to see her rediscover the scintillating form that made her one of the best fillies in the game.  

Veeman’s Selections

(1^ST)       5- Chyulu Hills     

(2^ND)      7- Full Swing             

(3^RD)       2- Invincible Brave              

(4^TH)       13- The Girlfriend  

Probable Speed Map

Front – 3, 9, 11, 12

Mid – 2, 6, 7, 8, 13

Back – 1, 4, 5, 10