Elly Chapple: Moonbi trainer-reinswoman relishing Sydney move

The Moonbi teenager is working for KerryAnn and Robbie Morris's Lucky Lodge stables at Menangle.

She is thriving in the environment, including race-day exposure at Menangle.

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"Everyday there is something new to learn," she said. "It is a great experience. It was something I wanted to have a go at."

Chapple, 19, said she was taking the COVID restrictions "as they come".

"There is nothing else we can do," she said, adding: "It was a little bit hard being away from the family."

The last time Chapple returned to Moonbi was in May. She caught up with her parents, Dean and Julie, and her younger brother, Jack.

Dean is a veteran trainer-reinsman who drives out of Tamworth Paceway.

Elly Chapple is enjoying the challenges and rewards of hard work.

The young trainer-reinswoman took one horse to Sydney, Don't Tell Dorothy, with the John Street North gelding winning at Bankstown in April.

Chapple has also introduced Don't Tell Dorothy to Menangle Paceway, with a nice second on Tuesday.

Don't Tell Dorothy finished four metres behind New Yorker, from the McCarthy stables and driven by Jack Callaghan, with a mile rate of 1min 55.4sec for 1609m. Don't Tell Dorothy clocked 1.55.7.

"I brought him down with me and he is doing a good job - considering he didn't look like a Menangle horse when I came here," Chapple said. "He is very competitive."

Don't Tell Dorothy has had 13 starts starts since Chapple moved to Sydney, and has had a win and a second-placing at Bankstown, two second-placings and a third-placing at Penrith and the second-placing at Menangle.

The gelding was the first winner Chapple trained, triumphing at Tamworth in April.

The Morris stables have 50-plus horses in work.

Chapple said: "I work about 10 horses a day and have had a drive on most of them. It all just depends on their racing schedule."

While in lockdown in Sydney, the teen has been a keen observer as her father approaches 700 winning drives back home.

"I'm so excited for the old boy," she said. "He deserves it.

"It will be such an achievement for him - he has devoted a lifetime to the sport."

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