Natasha Faithfull has a chance to bring up her first metropolitan victory, when she rides Blomkvist for in-form trainer, and her master, Steve Wolfe, in the Westspeed Handicap (1300m) at Belmont today.
Faithfull has ridden 16 winners, (from 191 rides), on provincial and country tracks during the course of this season but a win in town has eluded her.
She finished second on Our Ol’Fella, on July 7, behind form galloper Bombora (who made it a hat trick of wins on that day) and her city victory for the fading season 2011/12 is not far away.
Blomkvist won with Peter Hall in the saddle, last month, and since then has finished eighth in the Belmont Guineas won by the classy Rohan.
The field today contains no galloper like Rohan and Black Romeo (Hall), Fanicio (Takahide Ikenushi) and Mia China Doll (Peter Knuckey) are the main dangers to the young apprentice’s mount.
Black Romeo broke his maiden status at his first start back from a spell, finishing on from 10th on the turn at Pinjarra on June 28; and Fanicio and Mia China Doll are both winners at their only race starts.
Topweight, My Bonny Lad (Jordan Mallyon), is another that has claims after resuming from a spell and finishing fourth behind Modello on June 23 at Belmont.
Wolfe believes Faithfull has a great future. “She is getting stronger as a jockey, loves race riding and continues to improve.”
Wolfe has put his faith in her this afternoon in the sixth race and Blomkvist has a good chance to record his fourth win in 17 starts.