Zedfire Express ends long drought

Veteran trainer Paul Parsons has broken through for a deserving win with consistent-type Zedfire Express in the penultimate meeting of the Great Southern racing season last week.

Prior to last Friday, the Tenterden trainer had started Zedfire Express 15 times for four minor placings but eight of those runs she was beaten less than two lengths.

Starting a $12 chance on the tote, Zedfire Express was patiently ridden midfield by Peter Knuckey before angling to the outside in the home straight and timing the run perfectly to grab Friarfighter and Blizzard Express in the shadows of the post.

It was the first victory for Parsons this season and also broke a 1462-day winning drought for the Danehill Express mare, who won a Saturday metropolitan race as a three-year-old for trainer Jason Miller, as she edged out Blizzard Express by a head with Friar-fighter a long head away in third.

Meanwhile, leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe reached the magical 30 mark in the Great Southern Trainers’ Premiership after recording yet another treble.

Wolfe began the day with raging favourite Bentley’s Brother winning comfortably by more than a length in the Rural Focus Maiden (1500m) before War Ksar held out Ready To Fire and stablemate Mr Pago in a photo finish to race 5.

Red Noire completed the treble for Wolfe, who had already wrapped up another trainers’ title but has now 30 wins to his name in one of the most successful local seasons ever.

In total, Wolfe has 42 winners this season to sit sixth in the WA trainers’ standings and second behind Adam Durrant (47 wins) in the provincial ranks with 32 victories outside the metropolitan venues.