Getty turned Acton Grand Final Day into a showcase of grit, leading throughout to land the Sprinters Cup, an Open Handicap over 1206 metres, on Acton Grand Final Day. Beginning cleanly, the five-year-old gelding by Capitalist rolled to the top and travelled strongly. He was headed in the straight by the odds-on favourite Take The Rap, but refused to yield. Under a determined ride from Coriah Keatings, Getty rallied, regained the lead inside the final furlong and pulled away to score by three-quarters of a length from a quality field. The result headlined a milestone afternoon for Keatings. Getty’s victory completed her treble on the program and marked the 100th winner of her riding career. It was a family affair for the stable. Earlier in the program, trainer Matt Kelley’s father, David, saddled Sorastorm to win the 1080 metre Maiden Plate, also ridden by Keatings, setting the tone for a memorable card for the Kelleys and their supporters. Getty’s resilience was underscored by a quick turnaround. He was on a three-day backup after drawing barrier 10 at Albury on Tuesday, where he covered ground and finished down the track. Back to Canberra and onto the synthetic, he found his rhythm in front and showed the grit that has become his hallmark this campaign. The gelding has proven a shrewd buy. Picked up on Inglis Digital as a nine-start maidener, he broke his maiden at his first run for the stable and has continued to build. A late maturer who is now putting the pieces together, his overall career stands at 29 starts for 4 wins, 7 seconds and 4 thirds, with prizemoney beyond $200,000. Congratulations to all Connections: Mr E J Kelly, Mr P W Cassim, Mrs J G Cassim, Mr M C J Lane, Mr R J Spurway, Exo Racing, Mr G B Burke, Mr K O’rourke, Mr R N Wells, Mr L B Rankin, Mr D J Spratt, Mrs N Whiting, Mr B M Smith, Mr G Phillips, M Atkinson, Mr L K Southwell, Mr A Lees, Mr M J Beaumont, C J Smith.

Brutal Eyes made every post a winner on Friday, leading from start to finish in the RAW Potential Maiden Plate (1280m) at Thoroughbred Park. The 3YO filly by Brutal was having just her second start for the stable following a strong runner-up effort at Moruya on July 11. Sent forward early from barrier 7, Coriah Keatings rated her perfectly — slipping them at the turn and putting the race away with a powerful kick, winning by over 3 lengths. Since arriving from Victoria on May 31, Brutal Eyes has adapted quickly to her new surroundings and continues to improve. Friday’s win was her maiden breakthrough at start number six, and just her second time racing in the Sydney direction — a testament to her professionalism and ability. She looks a filly with genuine upside and adds to a growing list of tried horses that have hit form since joining the stable. ✅ Recent winners sourced as tried horses include: Stonecoat, Walk The Pier, Wish You Were Here, Ana Carolina, She’sadare, Maracaibo Sun, Kotaishi. 👏 Congratulations to her ownership group: Mr P. H. Lewis Mr A. B. Gardner Mr M. J. Forbes Mr T. M. Jackson Mr J. Savoria Mr J. M. Gercovich The stable continues to grow, with ownership opportunities now available in a range of tried horses and promising young 2YOs. If you're interested in joining the team, now’s a great time to get involved. Full steam ahead at Kelley Racing.

Honest as ever! - Stonecoat returned to the winner’s circle on Monday with a determined performance to take out Race 6, the Fox Dog Distillery Benchmark 82 Handicap (1660m) at Moruya Jockey Club. The five-year-old gelding by Pierro showed great tenacity under a clever ride from Jeff Penza, digging in deep over the final 200m to wear down his rivals and claim a well-earned win. It was the third run of his current preparation, and he’s continued to improve with each run. After a long spell and plenty of patience from connections, Stonecoat has repaid the faith with a brave effort — breaking through in a strong Benchmark 82 and holding off a quality field in the process. It’s been 12 months since the stable took him on, and he’s now building a solid platform for what looks to be a rewarding campaign ahead. 👏 Congratulations to all Connections Mr M W Littlefield Mr D J Stannard Mr L B Rankin Mr W Jones Mr A B Gardner Mr M Kelly The win brings up number 4 for the stable in July, who are finishing the season strongly with just over a week to go.

It was another sharp bit of buying from Peter Lewis and the Kelley Racing team, as Deepwater Artist stepped out for his first start and made an immediate impact — storming home late to win Race 3, the HIB Insurance Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1175m) at Albury on Friday, July 18. Piloted by Billy Owen, the 3YO gelding by Trapeze Artist showed a professional attitude well beyond his experience, settling just off the speed before peeling out wide and letting down powerfully. He hit the line full of running, putting the field away in slick time to collect a $15,000 payday for connections. Purchased for just $2,750 from the Inglis Digital platform, Deepwater Artist is another standout value pick for owner Peter Lewis — who earlier in the month also celebrated a win with Wish You Were Here, a $2,000 Zoustar filly who broke through on her second start for the stable at Canberra. That win kicked off a hot run for the yard, and Deepwater Artist has added further momentum. He looks a horse with real promise, already showing maturity and a strong finish that should see him take the next step. 👏 Congratulations to all involved in Deepwater Artist: The stable look to continue momentum through to the end of the season, having already broken last season’s record with 21 winners. The team now head to Moruya on Monday 21st July, with Stonecoat and Getty. Canberra on Friday 25th, and Horses Nominated in town on Saturday. It’s an exciting time for the stable, with a growing team of staff and horses — it’s full steam ahead at Kelley Racing.

First-up for the stable and straight into the winners’ stall — Walk The Pier made a strong impression on Friday, racing away with the $50,000 Adelaide Hotel Moruya Super Maiden Plate (1425m). The lightly raced 3YO by Alabama Express, out of the Pierro mare Amazing Pier, was purchased from the Inglis Digital Early June Sale and spent just four weeks in the stable before being sent out for his first assignment. 💪 Great ride from Jeff Penza — from barrier 1, he sat in behind the speed and showed a sharp turn of foot to put the field away by 3 lengths. He picks up $22,000 for connections and now takes his record to 5:1-1-0 — a win and a runner-up from just five starts. Lightly raced and still learning, he’s shown great maturity for this stage of his career and looks to have plenty of upside going forward. 👏 Congratulations to all connections: Mr & Mrs P H Lewis, Mr D V Kelly, Mr M Kaddoura, Mr R J Spurway, Mr R J Friend, Mr R J Rowlands, Mr C Hill, Mr G J Beaumont, Mr M Shoudra, Mr A Latina, Mr D A W Waite, Mr J M Schofield, Mrs R Dawson, Mr P W Cassim, Mrs J G Cassim. Earlier in the day, stablemate Brutal Eyes also had her first run for the stable, finishing 2nd in Race 2 – Maiden Handicap over 1200m. It was the 3YO filly’s first time racing in the Sydney direction, and she handled it with professionalism — showing all the right signs that she’ll continue to improve as she goes on. 🙌 Congratulations to all connections! 🎥 Race Replay: Watch the moment he burst through for a dominant win: 🎙️ Post-Race Interview – Jeff Penza: Hear from the winning jockey on how it all unfolded: 🎤 Trainer Matt Kelley on Sky Thoroughbred Central: Matt shares his thoughts with Kayla after a great first-up result:

Canberra Cheers Home Local Winner as $2,000 Zoustar Filly Breaks Through 🏆 There was plenty to celebrate at Canberra on Friday as lightly raced filly Wish You Were Here broke through for her maiden victory in the TAB Same Race Multi Handicap (1280m) — and sent the local crowd to the bar in the process. The three-year-old Zoustar filly was picked up for just $2,000 from the Inglis Digital Late April Sale by owner Peter Lewis, who clearly saw value where others didn’t. By one of Australia’s leading sires — Zoustar, who commands a $275,000 service fee and currently tops the national sires’ table — it was a savvy purchase at a fraction of what you’d expect for that kind of pedigree. After two unplaced runs in Victoria over staying trips, the filly was listed for auction and quickly snapped up. She joined the Canberra-based stable in early May and was reset straight away. Dropping sharply back in distance and lining up for just her second start for the new yard, she turned things around in style. Apprentice Coriah Keatings gave her a patient ride, settling one-out, one-back before peeling out on the turn and letting down with a strong finish to win by 2.5 lengths. 🥇 The win capped off a great result for the locals. With only three Canberra-trained runners in the field, the Canberra Racing Club had promised to shout the bar if two of them could run the quinella — and when they did, locals were lining up for a drink on the club. 🍻 All credit to Peter Lewis for identifying the filly. A $2,000 purchase, now with a win on the board and plenty of racing to come. Wish You Were Here looks to be a smart bit of business.

The Canberra Acton Synthetic track hosted its first meeting of the 2025 season on Friday, and the Matt Kelley Racing team delivered an outstanding performance — finishing the day with two wins, two seconds, and a third placing from six runners. 🥇🥇🥈🥈🥉 The day began in perfect fashion with She’sadare, a $7,000 purchase who joined the stable in March. She settled just behind the speed in Race 1 before letting down strongly to score her second win for the stable. The victory lifted her earnings with the stable to $24,495 — a fantastic return in 10 weeks. In Race 2, Ana Carolina made it a winning double for the team. The daughter of Dundeel jumped cleanly, took up the lead, and was never headed — kicking clear in the straight to score by two lengths. Since joining the stable earlier this year, she has now posted two wins and two placings from just four starts, and looks to be an exciting mare to follow. Souk was next up in Race 3 and produced an honest performance. After he was narrowly run down in the final strides to finish second — a tough effort and a sign that a win is just around the corner. In Race 5, Xceptional Fella was slow to begin and gave away a significant head start, but his finishing burst was one of the day’s highlights. Charging through the field late, he just missed in a fast-finishing second and lost no admirers with the run. The stable’s day concluded in the TAB Federal with Prophet’s Pride, who also had to overcome a race shape that didn’t suit. After settling further back than usual, she launched a strong run down the outside to grab third, beaten less than a length. It was an encouraging effort from her as she races on for a new group of owners. All told, it was a highly successful return to Canberra’s synthetic surface, with intermittent rain making conditions tricky throughout the afternoon. The stable’s six runners delivered consistently strong results across the board — a testament to the team’s preparation and adaptability. Attention now turns to Bathurst on Monday, where the stable will send out two runners. Chebici lines up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1800 metres, while Kotaishi resumes in the Benchmark 74 Handicap over 1400 metres. Both horses will be ridden by Coriah Keatings and head into their respective assignments in good order, as the team looks to carry momentum into the week ahead.

Promising filly Chebici continued her good form on Sunday, making it back-to-back wins by taking out the Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1610m) at the Sapphire Coast. Well rated by Coriah Keatings, Chebici settled last in running before producing a strong finish to claim the race in her first attempt at the mile. This preparation, Chebici has now had three starts for two wins and a second. The 3YO filly by Puissance De Lune (IRE) out of Jungle Fish has continued to improve this preparation and is now showing the potential the stable always believed was there. Raced by: Mrs N M Kelley, Mr W T Holdsworth, Mr A D Phillips, Mr B R Williams, Mr C T Newton, Mr D L Adams, Mr D J Snowden, Ms D J Blyton, Mrs I J Snowden, Mrs L S Venables, Mr M Witt, Mr M Lane, Mrs M S Johnson, Mr J M Schofield, Mr N Murphy, Mr P S Murphy, Miss S Adams, Mr T A Schofield, Mr A C Brooks, Mr W J Snowden. It was another consistent performance from Chebici and a rewarding result for her loyal group of owners, who have shown patience and support throughout her development. The stable continues a solid run of form in April and May, with more runners to step out in the coming weeks. 🎉 Congratulations to all connections.

Chebici broke her maiden in the Defence Force Cup – Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1460m) at Queanbeyan, arriving right on the line to claim victory at her second start this preparation. The 3YO filly by Puissance De Lune (IRE) out of Jungle Fish has returned a more furnished racehorse this time in. After a narrow second at Canberra earlier this month, she chased strongly through the line today and did just enough to grab victory in the final stride. She now holds a career record of 6:1-1-0 and continues to head in the right direction. Raced by: Mrs N M Kelley, Mr W T Holdsworth, Mr A D Phillips, Mr B R Williams, Mr C T Newton, Mr D L Adams, Mr D J Snowden, Ms D J Blyton, Mrs I J Snowden, Mrs L S Venables, Mr M Witt, Mr M Lane, Mrs M S Johnson, Mr J M Schofield, Mr N Murphy, Mr P S Murphy, Miss S Adams, Mr T A Schofield, Mr A C Brooks, and Mr W J Snowden. Earlier in the day, Macclesfield produced a solid effort to run 2nd in the 1000m Maiden, while Kotaishi followed up his Gundagai win with another 2nd placing in the 1600m Class 1 & Maiden Plate. Another good showing for the stable, which continues a consistent run throughout April. 🎉 Congratulations to all connections.

✌️ Back-to-Back Stable Doubles for Kelley Racing Kelley Racing capped off a big week with a second double—this time at Gundagai—making it four winners in five days, following Wednesday’s successes at Canberra with She’sadare and Xceptional Fella. Kotaishi kicked things off in Race 1, the Hahn 3.5 Maiden Plate over 1400m. The 4YO gelding by Snitzel bounced back from a narrow 0.03L defeat at Canberra last start, breaking through in style under Jeff Penza. A well-deserved win for a horse who’s been knocking on the door. Later in the day, stable debutant Ana Carolina lined up in the Ray Silburn Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 1800m. The 4YO mare was identified and purchased by Peter Lewis from the February Late Inglis Digital Sale for $15,000. She settled just off the speed and finished strongly, claiming the race and picking up $19,575 in prizemoney, including a BOBS Extra Bonus. Kotaishi raced by Mr E J Kelly, Mr P Lewis, Mrs R Lewis, Mr U Uelese, Mr S Uelese, Mr J Williams, Mr D V Kelly, Mr L B Rankin, Twist Tops, Mr P R Graf, Mrs K Graf, Mr R J Rowlands, Mr Z O'Collins, Mr L Tindale, and Mr M Atkinson. Ana Carolina raced by Peter & Rosemary Lewis. Congratulations to all owners and connections.