Michael Owen celebrated one of his most memorable victories since setting up his own racing operation when his stable landed the Chester Cup.
There is no more important fixture in the calendar than the three-day May meeting at Chester, the local track to the ex-Liverpoll and England striker’s Manor House Stables in Malpas.
The yard had drawn a blank on the first two days but finally struck in Friday's £170,000 handicap with the 9-1 chance who had been runner-up for Owen’s trainer Hugo Palmer 12 months earlier.
“That’s pretty much a lifelong dream to win that race,” said Owen, who celebrated wildly after Zoffee scored in the colours of Alan Peterson. “He came second last year.
“I said I thought we’d win the big one this week. I am so pleased for the yard .I said to the owner before the race, ‘I know it’s your horse, but they’re all my horses!' This horse has always been a real yard favourite. This horse has done it. I’ve not breathed so heavily in 14 years!”
Zoffee was ridden to victory by 19-year-old Harry Davies, runner-up in last year’s apprentice championship, who was recording the biggest win of his career.
“I have to thank Hugo and the team so much,” he said. “I’ve had three rides in the Chester Cup, every time for Hugo and they’ve all been fancied.
“I am delighted to have delivered today. I thought the only way I was going to get beat was by being kept in.
“For my career this is fantastic but for the yard this is the race they want to win every year and to do it for Hugo who has been a supporter since I was a child is fantastic."
Davies’s mother Angie Shea works as an assistant to Palmer at Owen’s stables.
She said: “He’s my best achievement in life. He’s amazing. I am so proud of him. He works really hard. He’s been very dedicated since he was a child. He deserves it all.”