Kelley starts training career with a bang

A life around horses, and experience across a range of equine disciplines, have honed Matthew Kelley’s skills and it is no surprise his training career has yielded immediate success.

Originally from Cooma, an hour south of Canberra, Kelley started riding horses when he was six years old. His parents including fellow Trainer David, would take him state-wide competing in Pony Club Gymkhanas, show riding events and rodeos but it was always racing that piqued his interest.

“Being a little kid growing up watching my dad train horses started my obsession.” Kelley said.

“My dad is a very good horseman and has had great success as a trainer, particularly in the early 2000’s, with a horse called Supreme Butterfly. Being around this success was great and taught me plenty.”

Kelley was a full-time carpenter before deciding to give it up to chase his dream. Train horses.

In 2019, he left Cooma for the Nation’s Capital where he rode track work for a number of Trainers before his father opened a satellite stable at Thoroughbred Park. Kelley become Foreperson and began to expand his expertise with the help of a number of Thoroughbred Park-based Trainers.

“It took awhile to get accustomed to the advanced training facilities and the method of training horses in comparison how we previously prepared horses out of Cooma with minimal facilities.” Kelley said.

“It has been great to receive assistance from other trainers that have trained out of Canberra for decade’s such as Gratz Vella on how to best utilise the facilities to your advantage.”

Kelley has hit the ground running as a Trainer in his own right with his first ever runner, I’ve Bean Tryin’ winning well at Wagga just a fortnight ago.

“It was an indescribable feeling.” Kelley said of I’ve Bean Tryin’s win. “He is a very exciting horse.”

Since then, he has secured his second winner from just six starters when Super View saluted on his home track in Canberra last week.

Not content with this brilliant start, Kelley aims to tick another item off his training bucket list in the coming weeks.

“I’m aiming I’ve Bean Tryin’ at a race at Randwick where I’m pretty hopefully about securing my first Metropolitan winner.”

Kelley currently has ten horses in work, a number he thinks perfect for this stage of his career.

“It allows me to be hands on with each of my horses and monitor them closely each and every day. This let’s me tick all the boxes to assure I’m getting the best out of every horse and perform at their best on race day.”