LIGHT INFANTRY MAN WINS THE BATTLE OF NORTHERLY

After a plain Railway run, Maher's charge bounces back in Australia's last Gl in Perth

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PERTH - Australia's eastern states raiders made it a clean sweep of Perth's Group 1 races when Light Infantry Man rebounded to win the A$1.5 million (S$1.29 million) Northerly Stakes (1,800m) at Ascot on Dec 7.

Giving powerhouse trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Ethan Brown the final Group 1 of the Australian racing calendar, Light Infantry Man got one back after a luckless Railway Stakes (1,600m) on Nov 23.

The French-bred Fast Company gelding was a beaten favourite in the Railway, but with James McDonald aboard, raced without luck when 12th of 16 to Port Lockroy.

With McDonald in Hong Kong (and for good reason as he snagged two of the four majors, the Hong Kong Cup and Hong Kong Mile with Romantic Warrior and Voyage Bubble respectively), Brown grabbed his chance with both hands.

The Melbourne jockey was positive and assertive on Light Infantry Man, working across from a wide barrier (14) to sit outside the leader Marocchino (Jason Whiting).

Poised to strike at the top of the straight, Light Infantry Man shot clear and had enough in hand to fend off the fast-finishing Admiration Express (Lucy Fiore).