Jockey Natasha Faithfull rides three of six winners in Narrogin, first race void after starting gates problem

Jockey Natasha Faithfull dominated the first meeting of the season held at Narrogin Race and Pace on Sunday, scoring a winning treble. It was a big day for Albany-raised Natasha and her mother, trainer Samantha, the pair combining for a winning double on the six-race card. The meeting, which was transferred to Narrogin after track woes in Albany, had some controversy with the first event officially declared a non-race after it was run. Correct weight was delayed for race one as stewards reviewed the start of the race. Interviewing riders, starters and reviewing footage it was established that gates didn’t open when the starter triggered the remote starting device. Stewards said the starter then elected to utilise a manual start and after advising all riders that a manual start would be in operation, the gates again didn’t open. Shortly after this, the gates opened when all riders were not fully prepared for the start and were disadvantaged to varying degrees. Stewards were satisfied all runners were not given a fair start and it was determined to void the race, won by the Rebecca Bayliss-trained G’Day Bloke, under the provisions of AR205. Faithfull rode three winners, the first a $1.55 chance for co-trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce. Wineaclocksumwhere coasted to more than a two-length win for Faithfull before she went on to ride two more winners for her mum. Flick The Switch ($5) was too strong at the finish in the Become A Sponsor Handicap (1100m), winning by more than two lengths. Faithfull rounded out her treble in the last race, when Vonsnip ($6) held off her stablemate Blue Line by one length over 1100m. Blazing Tycoon was the winner of race four for trainer Brock Lewthwaite and hoop Victoria Corver and He’s Archie scored a third career win when getting up in race five with Alex Hearn aboard.