Trainer Jason Miller is aiming to secure yet another Strickland Stakes triumph with his mare, Admiration Express, who narrowly missed out on taking him to the pinnacle of racing last year.

Miller is confident that Admiration Express can claim a fourth Strickland Stakes win for him in Saturday’s Group 3 Strickland Stakes (2000m) at Pinjarra, facing off against nine rivals.

His connection to the race runs deep—Miller won his first Strickland Stakes as a jockey riding Dedicated Miss in 2004, and later trained winners Naughty By Nature (2021) and Prince Turbo (2022).

Admiration Express is expected to reach peak condition third-up and at this extended middle-distance, where Miller says she will show her best.

She comes into the race following a solid performance in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot, and then hit form with a strong finish to place fourth in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m), trailing by just two lengths behind Western Empire.

“I think she’s definitely a good chance,” Miller told Racing WA. “Western Empire, Hemlock Stone, a few of them are going to be hard to beat, but she’s taken improvement from each run.

“Up to 2000m I think she’s as good a chance as any.

“Fitness is good, everything is good, I’ve just had to keep her happy.

“She’s bouncing around behind the scenes and I’m happy with her.

“She’s well, she’s fit, she’s in with a good chance.”

Drawn in barrier six, Admiration Express will be ridden by in-form jockey Lucy Fiore and has attracted market support, shortening from $9 into $6.

Stablemates Western Empire ($1.90) and Hemlock Stone ($4.80) are prominent in the market for trainers Grant and Alana Williams, who also have Bucket’s Ridge ($11) and outsider Starry Heights ($51) in contention.

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