Northerly, ridden by Patrick Payne, came with a great run down the Moonee Valley straight to win his second successive Carlton Draught Cox Plate, the Australian leg of the 2002 World Series, over 2,040 metres in Melbourne on Saturday.

The son of Serheed, who a week ago had won the Caulfield Cup, was always well placed in second with the nine runner field being taken along by the dual Cox Plate winner Sunline, the mount of Greg Childs.

As Sunline began to turn for home Northerly was at her side and took the lead a furlong from the wire and soon went clear. Defier, ridden by Chris Munce, had always been up in fourth place and came with a great run to take the second position.

Grandera, the current World Series points leaders after wins in the Singapore Airlines International Cup and the Ireland The Food Island Champion Stakes, raced in mid-division in the early stages under World Series Champion jockey Frankie Dettori.

The son of Grand Lodge was asked for an effort just over three furlongs from home and began to make progress on the outside. Turning into the straight Grandera began to mount a challenge to get into fourth place and stayed on to cross the line in third place just over a length from the winner.

After the race Dettori said, "The horse ran a super race. I was definitely on the best horse in the race, He just needed another 200 metres at the end to get going.

"The atmosphere here (Moonee Valley Racecourse) is mind boggling, the emotions for horses and horse racing is amazing," Dettori stated.

New Zealand's super mare Sunline was one paced after being headed by the eventual winner and finished fourth in what was her final racecourse appearance.

Winning trainer Fred Kersley said, "I am thrilled to bits to win this race, I am in awe of this horse (Northerly) as he has come along way. Sorry Sunline but it has been a pleasure to compete with her and to be able to beat her is fantastic."

When questioned about getting the horse ready after his win in the Caulfield Cup only a week ago, Kersley replied, "It was a challenge and one that I was happy to accept, I could have been a mug but I have come out alright."

After claiming the honours Payne said of his ride on Northerly, "He just kept going, he is a great horse. I just wish everyone could feel as good as I do now."

Second placed jockey Chris Munce said, "That was a super race, my horse (Defier) has run the race of his life and at the 600 I though we were going to run them down, but Northerly is a real fighter. I could not have been happier with the run."

Northerly was returned the 3-1 joint favourite along with the sixth place finisher, the John Hawkes-trained Lonhro. Defier was 7-1 with the international challenger Grandera going off at 8-1.