Natalia Gemelova
Slovakian-born Flat jockey Natalia Gemelova served her apprenticeship with Alan Berry at Moss Side Racing Stables, Cockerham, near Lancaster.
Slovakian-born Flat jockey Natalia Gemelova served her apprenticeship with Alan Berry at Moss Side Racing Stables, Cockerham, near Lancaster.
Born on March 16, 1980, she rode her first winner on Mamma’s Boy, trained by Berry, in a seven-furlong handicap at Musselburgh on May 21, 2001.
Born on March 16, 1980, she rode her first winner on Mamma’s Boy, trained by Berry, in a seven-furlong handicap at Musselburgh on May 21, 2001.
She was at her peak between 2004 and 2007. She achieved a double-figure score from 157 mounts in 2004 and had her best season in 2007 with 13 winners from 121 rides.
She was at her peak between 2004 and 2007. She achieved a double-figure score from 157 mounts in 2004 and had her best season in 2007 with 13 winners from 121 rides.
Although based in Yorkshire, having spent most of her life in Malton, she enjoyed much of her success on the southern tracks and struck up a winning partnership with Surrey trainer John Long, for whom she rode 26 winners, notably on Cativo Cavallino and For Life.
Although based in Yorkshire, having spent most of her life in Malton, she enjoyed much of her success on the southern tracks and struck up a winning partnership with Surrey trainer John Long, for whom she rode 26 winners, notably on Cativo Cavallino and For Life.
Between 2007 and 2013 she rode Cativo Cavallino in no less than 52 races, winning ten, while during the same period she partnered For Life 27 times and was on board for all seven of his victories.
Between 2007 and 2013 she rode Cativo Cavallino in no less than 52 races, winning ten, while during the same period she partnered For Life 27 times and was on board for all seven of his victories.
She gave birth to a daughter, Nicole, in 2008 but made a successful return to the saddle just nine weeks later with a winner on her first ride back. She thought it would keep going from there but, sadly, it did not.
She gave birth to a daughter, Nicole, in 2008 but made a successful return to the saddle just nine weeks later with a winner on her first ride back. She thought it would keep going from there but, sadly, it did not.
Instead, the rides began to dry up after 2010. Over the next five years she had less than 100 mounts. She rode just one winner in each of the four years from 2012 to 2015, the last of those being on the Keith Reveley-trained Affectionate Lady in a six-furlong handicap at Hamilton Park on July 11, 2015.
Instead, the rides began to dry up after 2010. Over the next five years she had less than 100 mounts. She rode just one winner in each of the four years from 2012 to 2015, the last of those being on the Keith Reveley-trained Affectionate Lady in a six-furlong handicap at Hamilton Park on July 11, 2015.
She reluctantly decided to retire from race-riding, aged 36, in March 2016, bringing to an end a career in which she rode 59 winners. She had her final ride on Gold Beau, trained by Kristin Stubbs, finishing third in a six-furlong handicap at Kempton on March 16, 2016.
She reluctantly decided to retire from race-riding, aged 36, in March 2016, bringing to an end a career in which she rode 59 winners. She had her final ride on Gold Beau, trained by Kristin Stubbs, finishing third in a six-furlong handicap at Kempton on March 16, 2016.