By Brad McGrath
Melbourne Racing Club will commemorate on Wednesday the two champions of Australian racing to die last week – Vo Rogue and Northerly.
Two races will be named in their honour at the meeting held at Sportingbet Park, Sandown.
Race five on the card on the Lakeside track will be the Vo Rogue Handicap and race seven the Northerly Handicap.
As part of the tribute to each turf hero, the club will host the connections of both Northerly and Vo Rogue – the present trophies to the winners of each race.
Garry Roberts, who famously bought into the gelding after the horse had risen to prominence, will represent Vo Rogue.
Judy and Christopher Cain, widow and son of Bob Cain — who penned the 2005 book Northerly: The Unlikely Champion — will represent the Kersley and Duncan families, owners of Northerly.
Both horses enjoyed significant success on Melbourne Racing Club tracks. Northerly’s two group one wins at Caulfield included an unforgettable 2002 Caulfield Cup victory in which a modern-day weight-carrying record was set.
Vo Rogue won seven races at MRC tracks, including a trifecta of C.F. Orr Stakes, fittingly all run at the site of Wednesday’s tribute.
The Vo Rogue Handicap will start at 2.30pm and the Northerly Handicap at 3.40pm.
As with every midweek meeting at Sportingbet Park, admission is free.
