Albany jockey Natasha Faithfull finishes local season with a double

Albany jockey Natasha Faithfull capped off a stellar season in the saddle by landing a double on her home turf on Friday. Faithfull has enjoyed a successful season in the Great Southern riding 19 winners to finish second in the jockeys’ premiership. Now living in Perth and working for top metropolitan trainer Simon Miller, Faithfull booted home the first two winners at Percy Spencer Racecourse last week including one for her trainer mother, Samantha. Four-year-old mare Don’t Overtake was placed at her first four starts and added to her impressive record with a gutsy win in the Maurice Sheridan Maiden (1230m) for the mother-and-daughter combination. Don’t Overtake jumped a hot $1.90 favourite and was tackled by My Name’s Star in the straight before fighting back strongly to win by a neck. “I think Don’t Overtake was the most impressive of the two she’s been in for a long time now, she’s had five starts and two trials this preparation which is a good effort,” Natasha Faithfull said. “She’s only a small filly and I think she’s going to be a really nice little horse for Albany next season. “The 1200m was too short for her and she was run off her feet for most of the race but still manage dto find the line and fight for the finish. “Overall I’m really happy with my season I’ve had in Albany I would’ve loved to of got a few more winners for Wolfey but glad I could still get quite a few winners for other people, especially my mum.” Faithfull got her day off to a flyer aboard the Liam O’Loughlin-trained Blonde Warrior after climbing over the top of Magnuson Man in the shadows of the post. The three-year-old filly had run consecutive placings since joining the O’Loughlin stable but was able to break the shackles on Friday in the OBR Refrigeration Maiden (1600m) by a nose. Kendel’s Mee Dad produced a third straight win to showcase his talent, easily winning the Morrisons’ Denmark Newsagency Handicap (1600m). Jockey Chris Nicoll positioned the gelding fourth in running before gliding up to take the lead at the 200m mark and kicking clear to win by 1.8 lengths to make it three on the bounce since coming to trainer Roy Rogers. Leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe ended his brilliant season with a double after youngster Mr Mt Walker and consistent stayer Mass Effect both saluted. Mr Mt Walker relished a massive drop in grade to record a stylish 1.6-length win over Fangio in the Bremer Bay Resort Handicap (1500m) while Mass Effect charged home in the final 150m, coming from last on the corner to claim race five.