Trainer Hannah Willis finding her honey

By Jordan Gerrans

Hobby trainer Hannah Willis’ stable silks stand out for their unique colour and pattern and they are now starting to rack up consistent victories. 

Willis’ Bee Exact was a striking winner at Kilcoy last Thursday, leading all the way to score by more than two lengths over 1200 metres on the country TAB program.

Racing Australia describes Willis’ stable colours as rainbow honeycomb, white collar, sleeves and cap.

The 28-year-old designed the silks herself as she has a passion for everything relating to bee’s. 

“My family picked colours and patterns that they liked and I like honey, honeycomb and bees,” Willis said.

“We put them all together and came up with that.

“I got them for my old horse Potawatomi who was pretty special and then we obviously named this horse Bee Exact because of the bee thing.

“I just love bee’s; the world wouldn’t be here without bee’s as they pollinate everything – they are pretty cool.”

Thursday’s victory was Bee Exact’s second of his career from 19 attempts, which include three other minor placings.

The Ipswich-based Willis has owned the gelding throughout his entire career, but he has been prepared by a few other trainers in recent years before returning to her team. 

Willis initially conditioned the galloper before she welcomed her son Cooper into the world and she stepped away from training. 

With Cooper now two-and-a-half years of age, the hobby trainer has taken back on Bee Exact and she is being rewarded for her efforts with the galloper. 

As well as preparing her own small team, Willis also rides work for Ipswich trainer John Hubbard as well as working on the ground at his barn.

“It has its ups and downs, but I have family here that helps me quite a bit,” she said of juggling her training and parenting.

“My boss John Hubbard and his wife help out and look after my little one while I work.

“I have got a lot of support in South East Queensland with him, which is very helpful.

“Cooper tries to make the feeds up himself in the stables (laughs).”

As well as riding her own trackwork and Hubbard’s, Willis also gives local trainer Phil Bobic a hand with his growing team. 

Bobic has also enjoyed a strong run of late, preparing two winners since late May. 

Willis has been training in her own name since May of 2022 after initially kicking off in North Queensland. 

She has five winners to her name so far, with the last two coming with Bee Exact. 

Long-time NQ trainer Tony Comerford suggested that Willis should go into training when she was based in Townsville a couple of years ago. 

In her early days in the industry, Willis signed up to be an apprentice jockey before eventually going down the training path. 

“I really enjoy it,” she said of training. 

“I don’t think I would have more than a couple of horses in work with a baby.”

Bee Exact won a Ratings Band 0 - 55 Handicap on Thursday with top apprentice Olivia Kendal doing the riding. 

The son of Wicked Intent had been knocking on the door for another victory as he had run in the first five at his last four appearances. 

“I was actually a bit shocked,” she said of the win. 

“Usually when he gets to the front, he will wait for his little friends behind him and prick his ears and not go so well.

“But, he got to the front and just kept kicking.

“I was very impressed with him and it was a very good ride by Olivia as she knows him well having ridden him in a few gallops.

“She gets along with him really well as you need soft hands to ride him.”

Willis likes to space out Bee Exact’s runs and will go searching for his next assignment soon. 

Before taking out her own training licence, Willis learnt under the watch of Matt Boland and Jake Capewell.