AS one of the best trainers in the Central West region, Clint Lundholm knows talent when sees it.
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It’s a quality he sees in rookie apprentice Ashleigh Stanley, the Bathurst 19-year-old he will renew his combination with at Dubbo’s meeting this Friday.
“She’s a natural and a lovely kid - her dad Peter is a terrific trainer, she’s apprenticed to him, and her brother Justin has ridden a stack of winners,” Clint enthused.
“Ashleigh’s only been riding since December, but when they’re really capable and confident, that four kilogram claim is a big advantage anywhere. And she’s done a good job for me before.”
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With four winners so far, Stanley’s luxury claim has been utilised by trainers in four of the nine races at Dubbo.
She rides Lundholm’s performed veteran Any Blinkin’ Day in the 1,400 metres feature handicap.
The six-race winner, allocated 58kg, is now “thrown in” on the limit.
“Ashleigh rode him well when he finished a strong second to Joey’s Destiny here. So he’s back close to his best, really well in with the claim and is better out to 1,400 metres from 1,100 metres,” Lundholm said.
“He didn’t come up last prep but he’s always had a bit of quality about him. It’s a strong race, but on what he produced last start I like our chances.”
Stanley rides Lundholm’s maiden Poppy’s Freckle, one of his four stable representatives in the “Tunes on the Track” 1000m Maiden. Ben Shoof, Dusky Damsel and Beechal all have ability according to Lundholm and could get into the money at value odds.
“Beechal has the exposed form and had no luck last start. But they’re all improvers that have shown me enough to run races. Poppy’s Freckle and Beechal though have inside draws,” he said.
And Ashleigh’s proud father Peter Stanley, who trains out of Bathurst, had the final say on his daughter’s burgeoning career: “The kid is well educated, she knows what she’s doing out there, she grew up with horses,” he said.
“They travel for her, she’s always ridden work for me and learned like her brother. She’s ridden four winners in a short time and more to come, I reckon!”
