FROM THE BUSH TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS

FROM Bedgerabong picnics to the bright lights of Melbourne!

It’s been some ride for William Stanley, who has been given the opportunity to win with his first mounts in the Victorian capital at Friday night’s opening meeting of the Cox Plate carnival at The Valley.

The former country apprentice, now indentured to leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, continues a successful association with his boss’ gelding Power Of The Brave in the 55 Second Challenge Series 1 Final (955m).

Whilst it’s his first time in the south, this will be the 66^th track new Dad Stanley – he and his wife, former jockey Chelsea Ings, are the very proud parents of baby daughter Layla, born just over a month ago – has ridden on.

This will be the last Cox Plate carnival on the current track (soon to be redeveloped), and it will be something special for 22-year-old Stanley; the lush turf surface a far cry indeed from some of the dusty outback tracks he cut his teeth on.

He began his riding career in the best possible manner by winning on his mother-in-law Wanda Ings’ gelding Dot The Eye at Bedgerabong picnics on February 13, 2021.

Bedgerabong is a small rural locality about 30km north-west of Forbes in Central Western NSW.

Stanley claimed 3kg on Dot The Eye, who carried 64kg, and took the Picnic Maiden Plate (1100m) at $7, and later in the day also won the Picnic Cup (1400m) on Song One ($3.80) for trainer Bryan Dixon.

“Dot The Eye came to us second-hand after three starts from his owner Peter Chapman when I was training at Bathurst,” Wanda Ings recalled today.

“Chelsea rode him at his first two runs for me in professional races at Wellington and Orange, and then he ran third at the Wellington picnics (at $13).

STANLEY WITH HIS WIFE CHELSEA & DAUGHTER LAYLA

“Staying at the picnics, I was confident he gave Will a good chance of winning at his first ride, and he did.”

Stanley, who transferred to Lees last year with the approval of his then master, Orange trainer Alison Smith, has formed a good association with Power Of The Brave.

He has ridden him six times for three wins; the latest at Newcastle on October 7 in a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (900m) when on resumption.

“Power Of The Brave is raced by a Prime Thoroughbreds syndicate, and I got a call from Joe O’Neill in Melbourne after that last win,” Stanley said.

“He congratulated me on the victory and asked if I thought he would be suited in a 55 Second Challenge race at Moonee Valley.

“Joe must have spoken with Kris and called back the next day to see if I would like to ride him in Melbourne.

“It’s exciting to get the chance to ride at The Valley at the Cox Plate carnival, and it will be great experience win, lose or draw.

“I ride Power Of The Brave every morning at the track, and he seems to go well for me.

“My first two rides on him were wins at Newcastle (900m) and Gosford (1000m) in March.

“Power Of The Brave can be a strong going bugger, but he’s getting better and is relishing these short course races.

“He can either lead or sit right on the speed, and has come up with a good draw (barrier two in a field of 12) on Friday night.”

Already the winner of 125 races (including a benchmark 42 last season and nine so far this season), Stanley has picked up two other rides for Warrnambool trainer Tom Dabernig at The Valley.

He is booked for last start Mornington winner Cavalry Girl in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1000m), and topweight Jabbawockeez in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (2040m).

Stanley will fly to Melbourne on Friday morning, and catch a 6am Saturday flight home before heading off again to ride at the Kembla Grange meeting.HOOFNOTE: Though it’s a new experience in Melbourne for his young rider, Power Of The Brave is an “old hand”.

After three consecutive placings in Sydney in the spring of 2023, he ran seventh in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m), run at Caulfield.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 23, 2025 - PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS