Deepwater Artist added another win to his record at Nowra on Sunday, finishing over the top of them late to score over 1400 metres.

The gelding now has three wins and two seconds from six starts, taking his prizemoney past $53,000 and continuing a strong run of form for the Kelley Racing stable.

Things didn’t go his way early after he was a touch slow out and ended up back near the tail of the field. He still had plenty to do turning for home, but once he balanced up in the straight he started to close quickly and grabbed the leader right on the line.

Regular rider Billy Owen has partnered the gelding in all but one of his starts and has been encouraged by the way the horse continues to develop, he believes he is still learning his craft while showing a strong will to win.

Deepwater Artist was purchased unnamed and unraced through the Inglis Digital Sale in January 2025 for $2,750 by Peter and Rosemary Lewis, It’s the sort of buy that looks better every time the gelding goes around, and a credit to Peter Lewis for spotting value where others did not.

The family had already produced Russian Alliance (by Russian Revolution) who won five straight as a two-year-old including a Group 3 in Queensland, and it continues to hold up with another half-sister, Single Red, (by Vanbrugh) recently running third in the New Zealand Oaks.

Still lightly raced, Deepwater Artist continues to build a handy record and looks to have more to offer as he gains experience.

Deepwater Artist added another win to his record with a strong performance in the Bega Mower Center Class 1 Handicap at Sapphire Coast on Saturday, scoring by one and a half lengths, saluting in front of a massive crowd on Day 1 of the Sapphire Coast Carnival Meeting.

The gelding, by Trapeze Artist, was ridden by Billy Owen, who has now partnered him in four of his five career starts.

“There was a lot of speed inside us, so I had to do a bit of work early,” Owen said. “The leader dropped us at the top of the straight, but once he wound up, I thought he was always going to win.”

The victory takes Deepwater Artist’s prizemoney earnings to $40,000, a nice return for a horse purchased unraced as a three-year-old Gelding for $2,750 through Inglis Digital. He now holds a record of five starts for two wins and two second placings, proving a very nice buy for owners Peter and Rosemary Lewis.

Attention now turns to how far he can progress through the grades this preparation.

Bega Mower Center Class 1 - Owners & Sponsors.

Kelley Racing will field runners at Canberra this Friday before turning to Sydney on Saturday at Royal Randwick. One of those runners is Tarpaulin, who will have his second start for the stable in the same Lewis family colours.

Tarpaulin made a solid impression first up when finishing fourth, beaten 1.9 lengths, in a Benchmark 78 over 1100 metres on 17 January. After being tardy away, he closed strongly to record the second fastest last 600 metres of the meeting on a Heavy 8 surface. Jockey Alysha Collett was full of praise for the run. Tarpaulin will have his second start for the Kelley Stable in the Benchmark 78 over 1200 metres at Royal Randwick on Saturday 7 February.

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: