Thrilling Junction Cup victory for Albany hoop Natasha Faithfull aboard Armed And Ready

Albany jockey Natasha Faithfull claimed the $15,000 Junction Cup after steering Armed And Ready to a narrow victory in the dirt feature race in WA’s north on Saturday.

Faithfull had a good day out in the saddle finishing with three winners on the six-race card.

The Peter Daly-trained Armed And Ready was squeezed up as the field jumped from the barriers in the 1900m race, forcing Faithfull to settle in last position.

However from the 1000m mark Faithfull circled the field to improve around the outside but was still four lengths off runaway leader Ombudsman at the 600m mark and two lengths back straightening for home.

Faithfull urged the gelding home in the last 200m as they levelled up with Ombudsman in the final 50m and then got the nose down to win by a long neck.

The Albany hoop teamed up with Daly in the opening event to claim victory on Prorated.

Faithfull bought up a winning double in the third event with the Dennis Couper-trained Denga, which prevailed by 1.8 lengths.