Albany jockey Natasha Faithfull enjoys career-best day with five winners from seven races in Kalgoorlie

In-form Albany jockey Natasha Faithfull enjoyed the most successful day of her career, riding five winners at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Racing Club on Sunday. Faithfull has been in wonderful form in the Great Southern this season and that extended to the KBRC as she rode five winners on the seven-race program. The 28-year-old won the opening race at the meeting and then added victories in races three, four, five and six in a dominant display. Her biggest day previously had been three winners and a couple of minor placings and Faithfull was thrilled with her career-best effort. “It was awesome, I was rapt when I got four because I’ve never ridden four before,” Faithfull said. “When I got five, it was pretty unbelievable. “I thought I had a pretty good book but they were all drawn a bit awkwardly and I knew I was going to need a bit of luck. “It can be hard at Kalgoorlie to get a spot on that first turn if you come from wide. “I was really lucky to slot in each time and I had some quality horses underneath me as well so it was a combination.” Faithfull broke her ankle in a nasty race fall in Kalgoorlie in 2017 and in 2019 was left fighting for her life after a horror fall from a horse at trackwork in Albany. A horse she was riding got spooked at Middleton Beach and she was flown to Perth in a critical condition with multiple bone fractures, collapsed lungs and a lacerated liver. There were doubts if Faithfull would return to the saddle but the Albany-raised hoop has not looked back and is now riding in career-best form. She has ridden 79 winners this season and sits fourth in the WA Jockeys’ Premiership behind Clint Johnston-Porter, William Pike and Chris Parnham. “I’m riding the best I ever had and feeling really good,” Faithfull said. “I’ve had some help from a few people and I’ve been working on a few things. “Every race I just try and zone in, really concentrate and give it my all. I think that has helped. “I’m also using the whip in my left hand, I haven’t done that before and I’m getting stronger at that.” Faithfull rode four of her five winners for Kalgoorlie trainer Gary Bowen, with whom she has established a strong relationship. “Tahitian Red was the pick of them, she was pretty dominant and is a horse to follow throughout the Kalgoorlie season,” she said. “It was really good for Gary. I’ve been riding for him since I was a apprentice and he’s always supported me much like Steve (Wolfe) has here in Albany. “I’ve been riding for Gary for about 10 years and was just grateful and honoured to be part of it for him, he had four winners from four runners, which is a huge effort.” Faithfull’s big day started with $2.50 winner Vranyo for trainer Rickie Brown. Kakadu ($9) won by a neck in race three for Faithfull and then Shadow Boom ($6) was a narrow winner of race four over 1100m. Roseicapilla ($7) got home well to win race five by a neck to give Faithfull four winners and she rounded it out with Tahitian Red ($3) in race six, who spanked her rivals by more than three lengths.