KERSLEY'S HOME-COMING WIN

By Graham Potter | Saturday, November 22, 2025

It was a case of ‘Welcome Home Fred Kersley.’

Well, maybe not all punters greeted Kersley’s winning ride aboard the Grant and Alana Williams trained Simply in the Listed A J Scahill Cup with open arms, but it was a great homecoming result for the rider who left the west to ply his trade in Melbourne eight years ago.

The last time Kersley ride on a permanent basis in Western Australia he was a 3kg claiming apprentice.
And to salute on a horse at a starting price of $26, as well as keeping the rampant Willie Pike and his mount at bay in a hard-fought, stride for stride battle over the final 150m where Kersley’s strength and balance had to be pitch perfect … well, that was Kersley letting everyone know he was back, albeit temporarily.

“He was aided by an unbelievable ride by Freddie,” said Grant Williams post-race.

“He put him into the race … then, kept him out of trouble and gave him heaps of space … and today was his day.”
Williams also pointed out that Simply was not the easiest horse to train and ride.

“The whole family we have had have been hard work,” said Williams, “but what they have got is they have got good engines, and that does help. You actually put up with them when they are like that.”

Kersley confirmed he had been well briefed on the quirks that Simply might offer.

“They informed me that he can be difficult, but he is manageable,” said Kersley.

“It’s not easy to get past W. Pike at Ascot, especially on Railway (Stakes) day. I could feel Pikey breathing down my neck, but I knew I had at least a length up my sleeve when I pulled it through to the left, so that helped us.”

Simply was one of three runners that the Williams training partnership sent into battle in the Scahill and the stable duly saddled the race trifecta with the $2.15 favourite Captain Pluto finishing second and the $14 chance

Bucket Ridge finishing third, both finishing less than half-a-length behind the winner.

In fact, the end of the race was a cavalry charge with less than two lengths covering the first seven horses across the line.

Kersley was riding fresh here off a recent Melbourne Cup Carnival success which saw him take out the $500 000 Melbourne Cup Carnival country Final aboard the Lindsay Smith trained Guerite.

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