The final Australian group 1 of the year proved another feather in the cap of trainer Ciaron Maher after Light Infantry Man defied a wide gate to seize an elusive elite-level victory in the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes (G1) going 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles) at Ascot, rounding out a clean sweep for Eastern raiders in the elite contests during the 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 finishing an agonizing short neck-second to recent Champion Stakes (G1) winner Anmaat in the Prix d'Ispahan 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, where he ran a promising sixth, beaten two lengths by dual group 1 scorer I Wish I Win.
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 (G1) at Randwick. The 6-year-old didn't manage to realize those ambitions immediately, his 11th placed-finish in the 1,600-meter contest behind Fangirl indicative of more somber 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 listed Chester Manifold Stakes last month under James McDonald, but he lined up Saturday still with something to prove following another wayward 12th-place finish when favored in the Railway Stakes (G1) 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 longshot Admiration Express (by My Admiration) to gain a deserved win by less than a length, with Maher's other contender, Queensland Oaks (G1) 2200m winner Socks Nation (by Sioux Nation), 2 1/4 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 program, joining Railway Stakes (G1) winner Port Lockroy (by Better Than Ready) and Overpass (by Vancouver), who snared his second straight Winterbottom Stakes (G1).
"To win today's race he had to get the first 400 meters 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.
"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 colors."
The result capped a stellar 2024 for Maher, this being an 11th win at the highest level in 2024.
Saturday's success provided the late Darley Stud sire Fast Company with his third group 1/grade 1 winner, after Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) heroine Jet Setting and Arlington Million (G1T) victor Robert Bruce.
Light Infantry Man was a €25,000 (US$26,250, €1=US$1.05) Arqana yearling, and was subsequently purchased by Blandford Bloodstock for £82,000 (US$104,509, £=US$1.27) 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).
