The adage ‘a strong couple can conquer anything as long as they work together’ rings truer than ever for Roy McCabe and Ashleigh Stanley.
The Bathurst-based duo are inseparable, with horse racing their life.
McCabe is a successful trainer and Stanley an in-form jockey, and together for six years, the pair have been through their ups and downs. Still, they have a sound system in place as they prepare a team of 11 horses, travelling all over the Central and Western Districts in search of a winner.
“I try and tell him what to do, but he’s the boss,” Stanley laughed.
“We work pretty well together; I ride all the track work, and he does all the training, but we get it done.
“It is really good when we get a winner; we’ll come home and watch the replays together, and we might go out to dinner to celebrate, and it’s really special.”
Stanley has found her mojo again, and since bringing up a winning double at Enngonia in September, she notched two more winners at Dubbo in September and victories at Mudgee and Wellington in October before a good win on the Andrew Ryan-trained Timmy at Dubbo on Saturday.
“I went through a very dry spell, and it happens, but that double (at Enngonia) kicked me off a bit,” Stanley said.
“I still struggle to get rides outside of what Roy, Andrew Ryan, and my dad give me, and they are my main supporters, but I’m definitely open to taking more and getting opportunities with other trainers.”
Many of Stanley’s recent wins have been for her fiancé, with the stable flying.
McCabe won with Virtual Legend at Mudgee before a double at Wellington with Our Orator and Monte Zoncolan late last month.
“We have some nice horses, and we also work hard; we’re there constantly, working them and looking after them, and it’s about the effort you put in,” Stanley said.
“Plus, it’s never just one of us; we do it together. I do avoid the boxes and leave that to Roy, but I help with other stuff,” Stanley laughed.
McCabe took advantage of Ronald Simpson’s claim at Wellington, with the apprentice riding Our Orator to victory, and Stanley admitted she had her moments when discussing other jockey appointments.
“It’s never an easy conversation, and it’s always an argument,” Stanley laughed.
“At the end of the day, he has to make the right decision, and I accept that.”
McCabe was the first to admit it was hard to put another jockey on when a claim was needed, and that’s because he is confident in Stanley’s ability.
“She is working hard, and in the six years we’ve been together, she’s missed just one morning,” McCabe said.
“Unfortunately, I can’t put her on everything, but she deserves more opportunities than what she gets; she is a good jockey.”
When asked about their recent winning run, McCabe said it made going to work in the morning much easier.
“We’ve got to enjoy it while we can, and it always changes, and next week is never promised,” McCabe said.
“Ash is riding well, the horses are going well, and we couldn’t be happier.
“It always means a little bit extra when she rides winners for us, too, because it pays off all the hard work we put in as a team.
“We both set our sights on a goal when we first get a horse, so when it does win, it’s not just my work, but both of our work and that makes it even better.”
McCabe did joke that he wore the pants and called all the shots around the stable, but he said he couldn’t be happier sharing the experience with his fiancé.
“I’m the boss unless she wants to start paying the feed bill,” McCabe laughed.
“But in all honesty, it’s been great. This is my sixth year as a trainer, and we just brought up our 50th winner, which is really exciting.”
The pair’s next most significant decision is the date of their impending wedding, and McCabe was happy for Stanley to take the lead.
“I bought her the ring and asked the question, so all she has to do is check the date, but there is no pressure there,” McCabe laughed.
On the track, McCabe heads to Sydney on Saturday with apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons to ride last-start winner Our Orator in the 1400m Class Three Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens.
The following day, Stanley treks to Warren, where she will take three rides.
