Silks series takes audiences behind the scenes of racing

A new three-part miniseries, Silks, will debut today across Racing Victoria’s (RV) social media channels and take audiences behind the scenes of horse racing and life as a professional jockey.

Silks is a first-of-its-kind digital docu-series, commissioned by RV, which follows three Victorian-based jockeys – Ben Allen, Celine Gaudray and Jett Stanley - over the course of one week as they prepare themselves for the upcoming Spring Racing Carnival (SRC).

Viewers will be taken on the journey of three elite-level athletes as they reveal the dedication, resilience and personal sacrifices required week in, week out in their pursuit of excellence.

Fitness, injuries and weight management are just some of the many challenges that jockeys must contend with as they chase success on racetracks every day.

In Silks, the jockeys, aged between 22 and 28-years-old, each find themselves at different but equally critical stages of their careers as they aim to compete for opportunities at the 2026 SRC against some of the world’s leading riders.

Like many racing industry participants, the three jockeys come from vastly different backgrounds and each has their own story to tell away from the racetrack which the series has captured through new footage and interviews.

The three jockeys featured in the Silks series are:

Ben Allen

The popular 27-year-old grew up in Melbourne’s south-east and has steadily risen through the ranks to become one of the state’s leading riders.

The three-time Group 1 winner enjoyed his first major success in the 2022 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) with Marabi for champion trainer Ciaron Maher, a relationship that has helped shape his career.

Ben, a part-time cattle farmer and DJ, has previously struggled balancing his interests with the 24/7 demands of being a professional jockey and Silks will provide an intimate look into his journey preparing for the 2026 SRC.

Celine Gaudray

The daughter of two French parents who migrated to Australia and settled in Carrum Downs, Celine came to racing later than most jockeys but has quickly made up for lost time.

The 25-year-old, who last year competed in the Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) for the first time with Torranzino, this year temporarily put her own career on hold to support her partner Ethan Brown during his three-month riding stint in Hong Kong.

Silks will follow Celine, a natural lightweight rider, as she races the clock to prepare herself and secure riding opportunities for the SRC following her brief hiatus.

Jett Stanley

Emerging jockey Jett Stanley has made an impression on and off the racetrack with the colourful 22-year old boasting a strong racing pedigree.

Jett is the son of two racehorse trainers, with his father Brent also a former jockey, and it’s these experiences growing up around his parents’ stables that has helped shape his life and career.

Silks will document Jett at an important juncture in his career as he prepares to battle more seasoned jockeys for opportunities among Victoria’s ultra-competitive riding ranks.

Quotes attributable to RV Executive General Manager – Media, Content and Marketing, Andy Hoad

“RV is thrilled to launch Silks and provide a behind the scenes look at the Victorian racing industry and what it takes to be a professional jockey.

“Pound for pound, our jockeys rank among the world's most elite athletes, yet few people truly understand the demands they endure in their pursuit of success.

“A huge thank you to Ben, Celine and Jett for the access they have provided us, the insights they haveprovided to viewers is outstanding.

“There are so many incredible stories to be told of the tens of thousands of people working across our industry and we are privileged to be able to bring these tales to life.”

To watch the first episode of Silks and find out more, visit thisishowwespring.com