Kate Witten’s comeback to racing took another step forward when rode Distant Memory to a sweeping victory in the XXXX Summer Bright Lager Handicap (1100m) at Bunbury yesterday
Distant Memory was held up and received a check early in the straight but Witten maintained her composure and brought the Fath mare to the outside of the track.
Distant Memory, prepared by Tom Widdeson, sprouted wings over the concluding stages and defeated The Dankster by a long-neck. Odds on favourite Hop On Hop Off ran third.
Witten’s win on her home track is a much needed confidence boost after she damaged her knee at track work and spent the majority of 2014 recovering on the sidelines.
The talented apprentice, indentured to her trainer father, Robbie, resumed at Bunbury in December before receiving a belated Christmas gift when she led and won by 7 ½ lengths on The Conjurer at Esperance on Boxing Day.
Witten continued a good day for the females after Kyra Yuill posted a riding double on Commodoro and Al Faisal.
Yuill dashed Commodoro to the front inside the final 200m and dashed clear to win by an easy two lengths over Return On Capital.
The Trade Fair mare broke through in the Sita Australia Maiden (1100m) after consecutive seconds at Albany and Bunbury respectively.
Yuill rode Al Faisal desperately and had enough in hand to hold out Oneofus and Studio Fifty Four who were making a late lunge in the Churchviews Wines Handicap (1200m).
Al Faisal, trained locally by Bruce Watkins, stepped up and completed a winning double after posting a dominant win at Narrogin on December 20.