Class mare Admiration Express recaptured her best form for trainer Jason Miller with an on-pace victory in the $100,000 Coolgardie Cup (1760m) on Sunday.
Admiration Express (5m My Admiration – Comme Ci by Verglas) had won the G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) as a spring 3yo and doubled up in the LR Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m) in the autumn for a syndicate managed by Miller’s wife Sarah.
She was placed 5 times in her next 10 starts without troubling the judge but there was no stopping the grey mare on her first visit to the Goldfields. Getting first run in the straight for Clint Johnston-Porter was winning move and the race was all over when she established a three-length lead approaching the furlong.
Starry Heights (Star Turn) cut into the margin but it was too late for the short-priced favourite who only got as close as the winner’s girth at the finish. “She handled the travel well and was straight back into her feed-bin,” Miller said on Monday. “I will let the dust settle before making any decisions.”
The two races being considered by her connections are the TABTouch Stakes (1600m) at Belmont on Saturday, 21 September or the LR Boulder Cup (2100m) in Kalgoorlie on Sunday, 22 September.
“We will probably nominate for both and it will depend on the weights and fields,” Miller added. “I’m not convinced she’s an out and out stayer. Her best distance range is between 1600m and 2000m but we will see how it unfolds in the next week.”
Admiration Express (Photo / Western Racepix) was bred and sold by Namerik Thoroughbreds owner Alan Bansemer for $60,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions. Saturday’s result boosted her returns to $472,00 in prizemoney with Westspeed accounting for $58,850 in bonuses.
She is a full-sister to multiple city winner Jaguar Grey (My Admiration) as well a half-sister to black-type performers Fred Dag (Patronize) and Janaura (Safeguard). Bansemer has their yearling half-sister from the first-crop of Darling View Thoroughbreds stallion Splintex.
He initially tapped into the family when paying $20,000 for second-dam Residual (Zeditave) at the 1999 Magic Millions National Sale.
Bansemer is based in Serpentine and he’s also flying high with Bravo Centurion who struck again for trainer Luke Fernie in the Perth Racing Staff Hcp (1000m) at Belmont on Saturday. It was his fourth win in a row since capturing a Belmont 3yo maiden in July.
Bravo Centurion (4g National Defense – Comme Ca by Authorized) cost $40,000 out of the Namerik consignment to the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. His second-dam Tease Me (Encosta de Lago) transferred to Serpentine after making $32,000 at the 2011 Magic Millions National Sale.
Admiration Express is one of 74 individual winners at a 60% strike-rate for her sire My Admiration (Encosta de Lago). He stands at Westbury Park for $4,400 alongside A Lot (USA) at $11,000. Both fees (inc GST). Contact studmaster Phil Ibbotson for bookings or further information to both stallions on (08) 9534 1215 or 0429 341 211.
