Hall Of Fame jockey Paul Harvey faces his biggest career challenge when he could have been targeting a fifth win in Saturday’s $1.5 million Northerly Stakes at Ascot.

Harvey, a 12-time premier WA hoop, revealed on Wednesday he was determined to make a racing comeback despite recently undergoing complex shoulder surgery.

Many punters suspect Harvey has flagged retirement plans with his absence from the current Ascot carnival.

But behind the scenes, he is resolutely aiming long-term for more rides in an event which honours former Perth champion Northerly.

Titled as The Pontiff by an army of fans who revere the jockey’s deliverance of miracle wins with clever rides, Harvey has strengthened rumours of a racing exit in his four-month break from racetracks.

But the reclusive Harvey, 54, broke his silence to dismiss speculation he was “finished”, on the eve of his Northerly Stakes triumphs aboard Old Comrade (twice), Modem and Megatic.

“I’m undergoing intensive physio on the shoulder which was injured when a mount clipped heels and fell, 200m after a Belmont start last July,” Harvey said. “Shoulder surgery was performed eights weeks ago.

“This wasn’t a straight-forward injury and it’s a battle to regain full movement in the shoulder.

“However, I’m determined to make a comeback in the New Year. Because of complications which need to be overcome, I don’t know an approximate date yet for my return to race riding. But I’ll definitely be back, there’s no way I’ve retired.

“Though I haven’t been at the races for months, I’ve been viewing Ascot telecasts from afar and maintaining interest. I’ll watch the Northerly on Saturday.

“The physiotherapy schedule has been busy, and I’m focused on regaining shoulder movement, rather than attending race meetings as a spectator.”

Noted for his toughness and competitive nature, Harvey shrugged off pain after he was hurled to the turf when crashing with Noahqyuintilly at Belmont Park on July 13. He rode two more winners before stepping down from race mounts to have shoulder scans.

Punters have certainly missed Harvey at this year’s The Pinnacles, a carnival he has made his own in some seasons. In addition to the four Northerly Stakes victories, he boosted his Group 1 wins tally to 14 with memorable Railway Stakes wins on Willoughby, Old Comrade and Modem.

Harvey’s fame spread to Melbourne’s spring carnival mecca, Flemington, where he won the Victoria Derby on WA star Plastered. The Pontiff did not ride Northerly, but he brought off a legendary plot when piloting Old Comrade to topple the champ in an Australian Cup at Flemington.

Knowing the tenacious Northerly would lift when he saw a challenge issued, Harvey held Old Comrade back among rival cup runners and swooped late, catching the favourite off guard and narrowly beating him.

Meanwhile, Ladbrokes has installed William Pike’s ride Storyville at $4.20 favouritism for Saturday’s Northerly Stakes. Next in betting are Attrition ($4.40), Democracy Manifest ($6), Light Infantry Man ($7.50) and Super Smink ($7.50). Zipaway, to have blinkers added, is $18.

Victorian five-year-old Attrition, who won the $2 million Hill Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill on October 12, is widely-travelled. He was a Morphettville runner-up on August 24 and finished fourth at Moonee Valley five weeks later.

“Attrition thrives with travel,” trainer Mitchell Freedman said on Wednesday. “He’s bright and well.”