August is a great month for women and it was appropriate that 26yo Gqeberha lady trainer Kelly Mitchley joined in the celebrations when saddling her first winner at Fairview on Friday.
Klaserie (Ryan Munger) is led in by Siphe Ngqabuko, Kelly Mitchley and Kyle Paddock (Pic – Pauline Herman)
A daughter of Flower Alley who races in the instantly recognised silks of another leading lady of the SA turf in Suzette Viljoen, the well-bred 4yo Klaserie confirmed her recent improvement to get her maiden win under the belt.
A lifetime horsewoman, Kelly was only saddling her eighth runner since taking out her licence last month.
She also runs a highly successful rehoming operation on her family’s De La Ranch, just 3km away from the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing headquarters.
She enjoyed a varied ‘apprenticeship’ with a variety of trainers including Johan Janse van Vuuren, Justin Snaith, Corne Spies, Gavin Smith, and also helped out at Yvette Bremner.
Kelly follows a daily routine of riding work every morning at Fairview and then returns to De La Ranch Equestrian from 11h00 until 13h00. She returns to her yard from 14h00 to 16h00 every afternoon.
The Westering High School graduate has her own house on De La Ranch and lives on the beautiful farm with her Mum and partner Clement, her sister Paige, and Mum’s ‘left and right hand’, Vonnie.
