Cowcher pulls right rein with the Express
A speculative $10,000 yearling purchase by Glen Cowcher two years ago looks set to pay big dividends.
Cowcher's bargain buy was Zedfire Express, who has a bright future after an impressive win in the Westspeed 3YO Handicap (1100m) at Ascot yesterday.
Confidently backed into $3.60 favouritism, Zedfire Express showed electrifying gate speed to jump to the front from her outside draw.
The Danehill Express filly, ridden by Ben Kennedy, withstood pressure from Bangkok Express and a late dive from Diversicolor to score by a short head.
Diversicolor ($6.50) and Mireille ($6) filled the minor placings. Cowcher took a chance on Zedfire Express at the Magic Millions Perth yearling sale and sent her to Jason Miller, who is best known as the stable foreman for leading trainer Adam Durrant.
Miller trains a small team and shot to fame when preparing Fair Hunter to six straight wins at Belmont Park in 2012.
Fair Hunter loomed as a cups prospect before a crippling knee injury ended his career. Miller has high hopes for Zedfire Express, unbeaten in two starts.
"She's quick. She's got a bit of toe," Miller said.
"She's a strong, little nuggetty filly. If I remember rightly, her mum used to be a jump-and-run kind of horse so she's obviously taken after her. I think she will get 1200."
Miller has a dilemma with where to go next with Zedfire Express.
A top line-up, headlined by gun three-year-old Petrol Power, awaits if she tackles the $100,000 Magic Millions Perth 3YO Trophy (1200m) on February 15.
She will bump into unbeaten three-year-old Chinetti if she heads to a 1000m sprint against her age on Saturday week.
