Stan racing to success as he follows in family footsteps (From Hereford Times)

Stan racing to success as he follows in family footsteps

8:10am Sunday 21st August 2011 in Sport

STAN Sheppard has taken the first step in what he hopes will be a journey to the summit in the horse-racing world.

After finishing runner-up in the 138 cm class of the West of England Area Pony Racing Championships in 2010, the 13-year-old son of Eastnor trainers Matt and Nicky Sheppard went one better when he moved up to the 148 cm group this season.

He became champion at the Albrighton Woodland Pointto- Point at Chaddesley Corbett.

With races at Didmarton, U p t o n - o n - S e v e r n , Maisemore, Andoversford (twice) and Chaddesley Corbett (three times) counting towards the championships, Stan made a steady start to the season on Talponica Solitare, but after he teamed up with Life of Sahara his season went from strength to strength.

He finished third at Maisemore and then clinched firsts at both Upton and Chaddesley, as well as winning at Hackwood Park in Hampshire, a race outside the West Midlands area.

Sheppard is now in the midst of a summer series of races over top racecourses.

He finished fifth, one place outside of the points, in his first race at Newmarket.

Competition will be fierce when he takes part in races at the likes of Ascot, Sandown, Goodwood, Doncaster, Stratford and Cheltenham.

His aim is to finish in the top 15 in order to qualify for the series Final which will be held at Aintree in October.

Stan attended a British Racing School five-day training course at Newmarket recently and it provided him with the highlight of his career to date.

As well as meeting top jockeys Jamie Spencer and Tom Queally, who were assisting with the mounted games, he was able to talk to and ride alongside the legendary flat jockey Frankie Dettori.

While he admires Dettori, his true love is jump racing and his heroes are Ruby Walsh and Kauto Star.

Stan is counting the months until he finishes school at John Masefield and can apply for his jumping and pointing licences.

His ambition is to ride at Point-to-Points and National Hunt level, possibly partnering his parents' horses.

His dream is to go one better than county rival Richard Johnson and become champion jockey one day.

Until then he will continue his path through the ponyracing circuit, while fitting his other interests of cricket, rugby and football into a busy sporting schedule.