Coastal Express has fashioned a tidy record up to a mile and trainer Karen Zimmerman believes the five-year-old can further prosper over more ground.

The Otaki mare posted the eighth victory of her 23-start career on Saturday when she was a courageous winner of the Power Farming Handicap.

The well-related Coastal Express was nicely rated in front by stable apprentice Nivesh Teeluck and responded valiantly under pressure in the straight to account for a competitive line-up of Rating 85 performers.

“He did exactly what I told him and it was a lovely ride,” Zimmerman said. “I think she would get away with 2000 metres as well.”

A half-sister to the stakes winner Cauthen, Coastal Express has proved to be an excellent money-spinner for her connections. She was a $5000 Karaka purchase and has now returned more than $75,000 on that investment.

The daughter of Lucky Unicorn was making the fourth appearance of her campaign at Awapuni having finished third in an open handicap at Otaki at her previous start.

“She went a good race and she was only swamped by horses out wide – she didn’t see them and she likes a dog fight,” Zimmerman said.

That was evident on Saturday when she was clearly headed on straightening and rallied strongly to beat Landlord and the unlucky favourite Waikaha who enjoyed a good run in the trail before rider Rory Hutchings was frustrated for runs until too late.

Earlier in the programme, Opaki trainer Jim Wallace produced a promising type in Blitzkrieg to win the Nigel Sharkie Clark Memorial Maiden on debut.

“He’s done everything right and showed he’s a decent horse,” Wallace said. “There’s a lot of improvement in him and a mile might be his trip.”

Unbeaten in two trial outings, he was guided to an all the way win by Jonathan Riddell.

“Being in front probably isn’t his go, but we took luck out of the equation and he was too good for them,” he said.