Beaten but Admiration Express wins the hearts and minds after Northerly Stakes

Sometimes, even if you lose, you can still identify as a winner.

Admiration Express wasn’t successful in Saturday’s Northerly Stakes (1800m), but she won the hearts and minds of race goers after her against the odds second to Light Infantry Man.

There’s roughly $500,000 in prize differential between first and second and she doesn’t have Group 1 on her racing cv, but for popular trainer, Jason Miller and her group of loyal and admiring owners, Admiration Express was a winner in every other way at Ascot on the weekend.

For a teasing moment she loomed in the home straight and looked like doing the improbable at cricket score odds, but no matter how hard she was willed to the line by jockey, Lucy Fiore, Light Infantry Man, with the perfect run, proved a tough commodity to chase down.

A member of Ciaron Maher’s powerhouse stable set up, Light Infantry Man made certain Perth’s three Group 1 races and rich prizemoney were headed east for a third straight week after Port Lockroy won the Railway Stakes (1600m) and Overpass the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

Despite her brave defeat, Admiration Express stood tall and tried her heart out for the locals, leaving Miller in awe of what she was able to produce in top tier company.

“She was massive and very proud of her,” Miller said on Tabradio.

“I said if we could finish in the first half a dozen, we’d be happy.

“When you’re a 100 to 1 there’s no pressure and I said to the owners it’s a good experience to have a runner good enough to be in a Group 1 and to enjoy the day.

“Whatever else happens is a bonus and to run second, we were celebrating like we had won it.

“There’s a few first-time owners in her and it’s a good experience for all.

“It was a massive thrill and as a trainer you want a horse who can be competitive on the big days.”

Admiration Express has been a beauty for Miller, the stable’s flag bearer after winning the Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) and Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m).

She lost her way a little after her top three-year-old campaign, not helped with frustrating injuries, but showed positive signs winning the Coolgardie Cup (1760m) in September.

Racing since May, Miller hopes to get one more effort out of Admiration Express when she tackles the Listed La Trice Classic (1800m) at Ascot on January 1.

“Looking at the La Trice and then the paddock after that,” Miller said.

“She’s had a very long campaign with Kalgoorlie.

“We’re aiming for one more run and I think 1800m is her sweet spot.

“She’s run well over further, but it all depends on how the races are run.

“It’s always been the plan to head to the 1800m.”

Miller’s big face plans are not done with just yet, he’s looking forward to the final day of the Ascot Pinnacles carnival on Saturday with optimism when Bonjoy goes around in the Listed Starstruck Classic (1600m).

The Maschino mare ran a cracking race first-up when finishing hard for third behind The Boss Lady in the Jungle Dawn Classic (1400m), a key fitness run after she was a late scratching at the barriers in the Jungle Mist Classic (1200m) a fortnight earlier.

“She’s really well and has come on from that run,” Miller said.

“She’s really in good order and I thought her run was massive making up good ground.

“The sectionals and times were spot on.

“I’m very happy.”