AS we approach 2024 with more speed than Think About It in The Everest, the Spring Racing Carnival that we have been lucky enough to experience in Australia is coming to an end. This conclusion is echoed with the breeding season, as it draws to a close and breeders prepare for the upcoming yearling sales.

The Northerly Stakes, one of the last Group 1 races of the year, was recently run in Western Australia. Zaaki, the poster boy for European imports to Australia, was narrowly defeated by Dom to Shoot, who gave his trainer and jockey their first Group 1 win as well as earning nearly A$1 million in prize money for his efforts.