St John resumes in impressive fashion as Albany stables dominate season opening meeting in Great Southern

Albany trainers enjoyed a successful opening day at Percy Spencer Racecourse, winning six of the seven races on Sunday. Six local stables all scored a victory while Esperance’s Josh Brown was the only visitor to land his horse in the winners’ circle as the 2023-24 season started on a strong note in Albany. The meeting was moved from Mt Barker to Albany after the Frost Park track was deemed unsafe to race during an inspection last month. Albany trainer Samantha Faithfull joined forces with her daughter and local jockey Natasha Faithfull to score a narrow win with St John in race three over 1230m. St John ($10) settled midfield for Natasha Faithfull in running and then reeled in the Steve Wolfe-trained pair Yes Of Course ($4) and Penned ($4) in the home straight to win by a short half head. It was a strong first-up performance from St John, who had not raced for 153 days and resumed without a trial. The five-year-old gelding has won three of his 16 career starts, two of those coming for Samantha Faithfull. Magnaburma broke his maiden status at his ninth attempt, running on strongly in the ARC Welcomes Racing Back to Albany Maiden (1230m) for trainer Paul Hunter. The four-year-old jumped a $9 chance and was given a lovely run by hoop Jason Whiting to win by a length over the fast-finishing Crombie. Albany trainer Rebecca Bayliss began the new season with a bang, Final Siren blitzing his rivals in the first race, while Little Silver also dominated proceedings in race four. Local runner Oxbridge produced a commanding all the way win in the Congratulations Rod Kemp Spirit Of Racing Handicap (1100m). Apprentice rider Rosie Mahony sent Oxbridge ($8.50) straight to the front and they kicked clear on the home corner, charging away to win by five lengths. Avoidance from the Roy Rogers stable also saluted on opening day, leading from start to finish over 1000m to win by 0.8 lengths. Outsider Nitro Fred ($26) gave visiting trainer Brown plenty to cheer about in race five. Having not started for 254 days, Nitro Fred was forgotten in betting but the six-year-old sped across from barrier seven to hit the front by the 700m mark. Jockey Kyra Yuill led the field home and Nitro Fred had plenty to give in the concluding stages to edge out Speedy Pye by half a length. Race favourite Make Your Point ($2) finished plainly to be fifth across the line. It brought up the second leg of a winning double for Yuill.