RYAN COLLEY is hoping a trip Stateside can help him get a head start on a potential new career.

The 22-year-old, assistant trainer at Ruth Carr's Stillington yard, is on his way to America for eight weeks as the Northern Racing College's first representative in a new international scholarship.

Colley, son of former York Wasps player Mick, will leave on Monday for Lexington, in Kentucky, to study the work of raceday officials - and especially the role of the starter and his team - in a scheme introduced by the International Federation of Horse Racing Academies.

Providing reports on the venture for the Doncaster-based college and Carr stable’s monthly newsletter, Colley said: “I’m really excited. It’s my first visit to America, and I’m looking forward to seeing how their racing system operates. I’m told it’s very different from ours, so this is a fantastic opportunity to see it at first hand.

“Having been a stable lad and ridden as an amateur, it will be fascinating to learn new skills from the racing officials’ side. I’ll also be spending two days in Dallas taking a certificate in starting procedures, which will be a useful qualification on my CV.”

Colley had never ridden before he attended the 12-week foundation course at the NRC after leaving school. He completed his training qualifications at the college while working for trainers James Given, Alan King and Willie Mullins, before joining Carr, for whom he rode two winners from eight rides as an amateur.

His greatest day came at York Racecourse in the summer of 2014 when he steered San Cassiano to success in the John Wright Electrical Gentleman Amateur Riders' Stakes in front of a crowd of thousands on Knavesmire. Colley lives a stone's throw from the track in South Bank.

Standing at more than 1.8 metres tall, Colley's riding career was always going to be short and he has now set his sights on becoming a raceday official.

"My ambition is to become a starter in the UK and the experience I gain in America could provide me with a valuable foot in the door,” he said.

Stephen Padgett, NRC chief executive, said: "The scholarships are a tremendous new initiative and, as one of the first to be awarded, this is a great opportunity for Ryan, who will be an excellent ambassador for the college. We look forward to hearing about his experiences.”

The IFHRA scholarships are funded by the HH Sheikh Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival, which is based in Abu Dhabi, and Colley's programme has been arranged by Remi Bellocq, executive director of the North American Racing Academy.