'She was bought for peanuts - and the owner had a few quid on her as well' - 2,200gns buy drifts from 9-1 to 40-1 before impressive win

'She was bought for peanuts, and the owner had a few quid on as well' - 2,200gns buy drifts from 9-1 to 40-1 before impressive win

Tony Coyle (right) and Kaine Wood
at Doncaster

Tony Coyle (right) and Kaine Wood: winning trainers of Zermatt StarCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

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Zermatt Star proved to be a shrewd bargain buy as she defied a huge market drift with a 40-1 success in the mile handicap to leave owner Gary Downie quids in.

The daughter of Lucky Vega was bought for 2,200gns in a Tattersalls Online sale by Downie after four runs in Ireland for Jessica Harrington, and she had beaten just one rival in both of her British starts since switching to joint-trainers Tony Coyle and Kaine Wood.

Having been a 22-1 chance overnight, Zermatt Star's odds had crashed into 9-1 over an hour before the race, but dramatically drifted to her starting price minutes before the off.

However, she stormed to a three-length triumph under David Nolan.

Coyle said: "She's always worked well, but it's as simple as she just needed soft ground. She ran well in a couple of good maidens in Ireland, so that gave us hope.

"Fair play to Gary, as he bought her online for peanuts – I wouldn't have done so! He had a few quid on her as well. We'll get her out ASAP again somewhere under a penalty.

"She's one of plenty we've got ready for now, as the rain has come. We must have about 20 or 30 to come out; we've been desperate for rain."

Excellent Elliott and Easterby

Rhys Elliott took his terrific course strike-rate this year to 33 per cent (6-18) with Yermanthere's win in the 1m2f apprentice handicap.

He kicked off a treble for trainer Tim Easterby, who also took the 5f nursery with May Bee In Profit and the 2m handicap with Zimmerman, both ridden by David Allan.

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