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Jul 18, 2026
Kelley Racing may have unveiled a star of the future at Canberra last Wednesday when two-year-old Trapeze Artist gelding Flywire produced a remarkable performance to win at just his second race start.
Returning for his first start of the preparation, Flywire was sent out at $9.50 with Louise Day in the saddle. The stable had always held confidence in the youngster’s ability, although there was some concern that his erratic mindset could prevent him from realising his potential.
After beginning well in the 1080-metre event, Flywire showed good early speed before drifting back through the field and settling last, around 12 lengths behind the leaders.
Still with plenty of ground to make up as the field rounded the home turn, Day eased Flywire to the outside and gave him clear running. From there, the youngster did the rest.
Looking every bit the professional, Flywire swept past his rivals to defeat the $2.35 favourite, Jenni Moo Moo, by just under a length.
The performance carried additional merit on Canberra’s synthetic track, where backmarkers can find it difficult to make up significant ground.
Flywire is raced by an enthusiastic ownership group comprising Monaro locals David and Hamish Bottom, Bill and Moya Shanley and Mick Schofield, together with Mr A E Bowie, David Kelly, Peter and Mrs Cassim from Bowral, Mr S D Henden, Mr M Kaddoura, Mr S B Palmer, Mr G F Roach, Mr R J Rowlands and Mr N Segota, as well as Canberra-based owners Les Boag and Toni Guenther.
By Trapeze Artist out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Gladwell, Flywire was purchased by Kelley at the 2025 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The stable’s promising week continued at Randwick on Saturday, where stable star I’ve Bean Tryin’ produced a strong performance to finish a close fourth. His effort suggested that another metropolitan victory may not be far away.
Kelley was then back on the road on Sunday morning, travelling to the Narrandera Cup meeting with runners in each of the opening two races.
It proved to be a memorable trip, with both horses returning home as winners.
Tsarina Diamonds started the day strongly for the stable, leading for the majority of the 1400-metre opening event under apprentice Emma Ly.
Sent out at $9, she fought bravely in the closing stages to defeat the short-priced $1.65 favourite, Siyissa, by a half-head.
Tsarina Diamonds is raced by Cooma racing enthusiast Mrs Rosemary Lewis.
The victory was also a significant milestone for Ly, marking her first winner for the Kelley stable since commencing a three-month apprenticeship loan with the team.
Her two-kilogram claim proved valuable, with Tsarina Diamonds carrying 53kg compared with the runner-up’s 59kg.
The stable quickly completed a winning double when Roonami, ridden by Coriah Keatings, claimed the Fillies and Mares Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1400 metres in race two.
Starting at 9–1, the three-year-old enjoyed an ideal run one out and one back behind the leader before moving into contention in the straight.
Under a strong ride from Keatings, Roonami took the lead and fought strongly to the line, scoring by three-quarters of a length.
The victory marked an impressive return to form after Roonami produced an uncharacteristic performance on a heavy track at the Sapphire Coast at her previous start.
She had broken her maiden at Goulburn at the beginning of May and, back on a more suitable surface at Narrandera, again displayed the ability that had encouraged the stable to purchase her as a yearling.
Roonami is raced by the Yass Roos AFC Syndicate, Mick Schofield, Patty Thompson, Hani Sidaros, Exo Racing, Ms J Hocking, Mr R J Rowlands and the Headsdown Bumsup Syndicate, which includes Cooma locals Damien Smith and Chris Hughes.
By Golden Slipper runner-up and Group 1 Inglis Sires’ winner Microphone, out of the High Chaparral mare Miss Chaparral, Roonami was purchased by Kelley from the Willow Park Stud draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The stable’s winning run continued when Unmatched broke his maiden at Goulburn on Friday in a Class 1 and Maiden event over 2130 metres.
Having only his second start for the Kelley stable after previously competing on the Canberra synthetic track, Unmatched was partnered by senior jockey Alysha Collett.
Collett gave the gelding a strong and well-timed ride, and in a fitting result, Unmatched outmatched the Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained $1.55 favourite Portsmouth to score by half a length.
Unmatched’s victory was Kelley Racing’s fourth win from its past eight starters, capping an outstanding run of form during the back half of the season.
There is now plenty for the stable and its owners to look forward to over the next 12 months, with a promising group of yearlings preparing to enter their two-year-old seasons.
The emerging crop includes youngsters by exciting first-season sires Anamoe, State of Rest and Hitotsu, alongside progeny by established stallions Super Seth and Maurice.
With the stable in winning form and another talented group of young horses coming through, it is an exciting time to become involved with Kelley Racing.
Feb 25, 2026
A good few days at the races saw Kelley Racing land winners with Aristocrat, Deepwater Artist and King Edward, with the stable striking form across three meetings.
The run started Friday with Aristocrat, who broke through over 1600 metres with Jeff Penza aboard. While it was only a four-horse Class 1, the race didn’t pan out ideally. The speed came right out of it mid-race and Penza was forced to slide forward earlier than planned, taking up the running before the turn. The lightly raced son of Zoustar dug in late and held them off to score, showing the ability the stable has always felt he possessed.
Both trainer and jockey noted he is still learning and can do a few things wrong, but the upside is there once he puts it all together.
Sunday belonged to Deepwater Artist, who continued his strong form at Nowra with another tough win, charging home from the back to make it three wins from six starts. The $2,750 Inglis Digital purchase continues to prove a sharp buy and has quickly developed into a consistent performer for the stable. (Full race recap available here.)
The weekend finished Monday at Albury where King Edward delivered an impressive win over 2000 metres in a Class 1.
The five-year-old gelding by Vadamos, formerly trained in Adelaide for OTI Racing before joining Kelley Racing, showed clear improvement second-up for the stable. First-up at Sapphire Coast he raced greenly and hung badly, which led to a trial to straighten him out. Back on race day at Albury he travelled comfortably throughout and once Billy Owen angled into clear running at the top of the straight, the race was quickly over, with the gelding pulling away to win by a length and a half.
Owen said post-race he felt like the winner a long way from home once he had clear air.
Three winners across the weekend capped a strong patch for the stable, with the Lewis family colours becoming a familiar sight in the winner’s stall as the team continues to build momentum through the season.
Feb 25, 2026
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.
Feb 01, 2026
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.
Sep 20, 2025
Kelley Racing enjoyed a great afternoon at Thoroughbred Park on Friday, coming away with a winning double from four runners on the card. Picksix kicked things off with a solid third in the Benchmark 50 before Brutal Eyes and Stonecoat both delivered strong victories later in the program.
Brutal Eyes, a 4YO mare by Brutal, lined up in the Big River Trade Hume Plate (1600m) and settled just off the speed under Jeff Penza. She travelled kindly in the run before hitting the lead on the corner, was challenged and briefly headed in the straight, but dug deep to fight back and claim the prize by a long neck.
Raced by Mr Peter H Lewis, Mr Tony Gardner, Mr Martin J Forbes, Mr Tim M Jackson, Mr Joseph Savoria and Mr Jarrod M Gercovich, Brutal Eyes has quickly made her mark in her first preparation with the team. She has now put together 5 starts for 2 wins, a second and a third, banking over $35,000 in prizemoney.
Later in the day Stonecoat, a 6YO gelding by Pierro, stepped out in the Turners Building Supplies Handicap (1600m) and made every post a winner. Apprentice Claire Ramsbotham took the initiative from barrier nine, crossing to lead and rating him perfectly in front. Despite carrying 62kg (60kg after claim), Stonecoat kicked strongly in the straight to score by one and a half lengths.
The stable has now prepared four winners from its past dozen starters, with all horses running well and rewarding the team’s hard work behind the scenes. Attention now turns to Hops and Hooves at Thoroughbred Park on Saturday, September 27.
Looking further ahead, tickets are now available for Matt Kelley Raceday at Thoroughbred Park on Friday, October 10 — a feature day for the stable where all are welcome to join the team trackside.
Sep 16, 2025
Crunched late into the $3.80 favourite, I’ve Bean Tryin’ justified the support with a dominant win in a Benchmark 64 at Kembla Grange.
Given a patient ride by Coriah Keatings, he settled back in the field, peeled wide on the turn, and let down with his trademark finish to sprint clear and win by 2.5 lengths.
The victory takes his career tally to 8 wins and lifts prizemoney beyond $550,000 – a terrific result for connections and the stable. It also follows on from his brave 2nd placing at Randwick-Kensington last month, beaten just 0.3 of a length in a Benchmark 72.
Congratulations to all Connections
It was an encouraging first-up effort from newcomer Parting the Seas, who debuted at Queanbeyan on Tuesday and ran a strong 2nd behind the Bjorn Baker-trained Chilli Crab.
The 4YO gelding by Ocean Park showed good ability at his first outing and looks primed to break through in the coming weeks. He’s one to follow with confidence.
The stable is now gearing up for a big run into spring, highlighted by Matt Kelley Racing Raceday on Friday 10 October at Thoroughbred Park.
Hosted by Sam Williams, the day promises to be a fantastic occasion for owners, family and friends, with great hospitality, stable insights and giveaways — including a paid-up share in Souk!
Souk has been a model of consistency for the stable, with 4 starts for 3 seconds and a third in his first preparation. With his hoof on the till, he’s gearing up for his next campaign and looks a horse to follow.
There are a few shares remaining in our Latest Addition Step Quick, a 4YO gelding by Alabama Express out of Catch Me (Gr.3 Gimcrack S. & Blue Diamond Preview winner).
He went within half a length of winning a $60k Newcastle Super Maiden over 900m, finishing behind a horse that has since won over $100k and placed 2nd in a Saturday BM78 at Rosehill.
Tough, genuine, and over 50% already reserved, Step Quick is well-placed to build on that grounding this preparation.
📩 Contact for details:
➡️ Matt Kelley – Trainer | 📧 matt@kelleyracing.com.au | 📱 0430 062 224
➡️ Dan Kelly – Racing Manager | 📧 dan@kelleyracing.com.au | 📱 0416 175 827
Aug 22, 2025
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.
Jul 25, 2025
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.
Jul 21, 2025
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.
Jul 18, 2025
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.