Pateman returns to Great Southern

Leading Albany jockey Mitchell Pateman has returned home and will be based here for the new Great Southern racing season, which starts on Sunday in Mt Barker.

Pateman won the Great Southern Jockeys’ Premiership last season with 20 wins and moved to Perth to continue riding with great success over winter.

The 21-year-old has begun the 2017-18 in rich form, with 14 victories already, including four at metropolitan level, and has resisted temptation to remain in Perth and will again be based in Albany for the local calendar.

“It’s great to be back home again and based in Albany,” Pateman said.

“I am still hoping to ride as much as I can in Perth.

“I had tossed up whether to stay in Perth but I’m keen for another big local season and can’t wait for it to start.”

Pateman has a book of six rides for the opening meeting of the season on Sunday and will have two rides at Ascot the previous day.

He will partner Rich Empire, Highway Dancer and Return On Capital for Albany trainer Paul Hunter along with Niccatrice, Perazzi and Invincible Mode.

Fellow Albany hoop Natasha Faithfull will return to riding from a broken ankle, almost three months after her nasty fall in Kalgoorlie.

Meanwhile, in a major blow ahead of the local season, Albany apprentice Casey Hunter will be sidelined for at least eight weeks after breaking her thumb in a trackwork fall.

Hunter fell off a horse while riding for co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams last Friday.

After having surgery to wire and pin the thumb yesterday, Hunter is expected to be out of action for between 8-12 weeks.