Jockey equals career-best winning tally

Albany jockey Mitchell Pateman has equalled his best season in the saddle after finishing with 54 winners to his name when the 2016-17 WA racing season wrapped up on Monday.

Pateman, who was based in Albany for much of the 2016-17 season, notched 54 winners from August 1, 2016, to July 31, which equalled the same feat he achieved back in 2011-12 as an apprentice.

The talented hoop won the Great Southern Jockeys Premiership and his tally of 54 winners placed him 12th on the WA Jockeys’ Premiership.

Of his 54 winners, 47 of those came at provincial tracks while seven were scored at metropolitan meetings.

Pateman said it was a very fruitful season and hopefully could launch him into an even bigger 2017-18.

“It’s probably my best season so far, ending it with the best strike rate I’ve ever had,” the 21-year-old said. “Breaking into some good Perth stables has been a highlight since being back in Perth and the four wins on Boxing Day in front of a home crowd was definitely pretty special.”

Pateman had a winning strike rate of 20 per cent and to go with his 54 winners he also rode 74 minor placings from a total of 268 rides.

In her first full season of riding, Albany’s Shelby Colgate finished with 19 victories, seven of those at the provincials while fellow Albany apprentice Casey Hunter chalked up 21 winners.

Albany trainer Steve Wolfe enjoyed another impressive season, notching 39 winners to sit eighth on the WA Trainers’ Premiership standings.

Seven of those wins came at metropolitan level and his winning strike rate was 12 per cent after saddling up 331 runners during the season and adding to that he had 85 minor place getters.

Roy Rogers was the next best local trainer with 22 winners in a career-best season that included success four times at metropolitan level.

With a winning strike rate of 11 per cent, Rogers also had 29 minor placings.

Garry Delane (10 wins), Gerry Hughes (10), Paul Hunter (8) and Jonathon Jachmann (7) were the next best Great Southern trainers for victories in the past season.