Kersley set for big Melbourne move

Apprentice Fred Kersley can make his move to Melbourne more permanent after landing his required win at Sandown.

The grandson of West Australian harness racing legend and multiple Group One thoroughbred-winning trainer Fred Kersley needed one metropolitan win to be eligible to go on loan to Lindsay Park.

After two second placings at Sandown during the week while riding on a visiting jockey’s licence, Kersley, 18, achieved his goal when the Lindsay Park-trained Memory Bank won Saturday’s Chandler Macleod Handicap.

Backed from $8 to $7, Memory Bank scored a long-neck win over $2.70 favourite Holy Freeze, with Kasi Farasi ($8.50) a nose away in third.

The victory provided Kersley with his 20th metropolitan winner and reduces his city claim to 2kg.

Kersley says he does not have to go to back to Perth but will return for rides on Wednesday.

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He will be back in Melbourne riding at Moonee Valley on Friday night before another trip back to Perth for the Group One Kingston Town Stakes meeting next Saturday before making the move back east more permanent.

“Initially, it will be for three months,” Kersley said.

“If we are all happy it will become six months and then if we are all still happy the move will become permanent.”

Senior Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes said Kersley was a talented young rider.

“He’s got a lovely attitude and nearly broke through with a couple of winners on Wednesday,” Hayes said.

“It was good to see him win on a Saturday and that means he’s ridden his quota and he can start with us.”

Hayes said Memory Bank could make her way to the Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast in January.