STANLEY SAYS WEIGHT’S RIGHT FOR A SATURDAY BREAKTHROUGH IN TOWN

NEWCASTLE apprentice William Stanley is confident weight will be right as he chases a Sydney Saturday breakthrough at Royal Randwick.

Stanley goes to town for two good rides, and is on course to partner both Power Of The Brave and Flying Embers at 54kg, meaning he will claim 2.5kg of his 3kg metropolitan allowance.

Power Of The Brave, trained by Kris Lees, tackles the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m), and Royal Randwick trainer John Thompson prepares Flying Embers, who lines up in the Midway Benchmark 7 Handicap (1400m).

Stanley, apprenticed to Lees, normally rides at 55kg but is making a concerted effort to manage his weight at 54kg in a bid to open up more city opportunities.

“I spoke with Kris this morning, and he said it would definitely be an advantage if I could keep my weight at 54kg,” he said this evening.

“I’m looking forward to riding both horses on Saturday.

“I’m having less regular meals this week, and whilst I’m not quite down to 54kg today, am confident I will there by tomorrow night and perhaps even a bit less.”

Stanley, who transferred from Orange with his wife Chelsea in the latter part of last year to join the Lees stable, has ridden 29 winners so far this season – only five short of his benchmark 34 last season – to boost his overall tally to 103.

Stanley at his first ride won on Dot The Eye at Bedgerabong picnics on February 13 2021, and also won the Picnic Cup that day on Song One in an unforgettable start to his career.

The young jockey rode his first city winner on February 5 when successful on $19 chance Opal Fields for Flying Embers’ trainer John Thompson in a midweek Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm.

So far he has ridden three Saturday second placegetters in town, and is hoping he can make his mark with either Power Of The Brave or Flying Embers, or both.

Stanley knows his two mounts well, having ridden Power Of The Brave at his last four starts for two wins (at Newcastle and Gosford) and Flying Embers at her last three starts for two wins (at Hawkesbury and Kembla Grange) and a photo-finish Canterbury second.

“Power Of The Brave wasn’t comfortable on shifty ground last start when fifth at the Saturday stand-alone meeting at Gosford, yet wasn’t beaten far,” he said.

“He is going well and working well, and I’m sure he will handle the heavy ground at Randwick provided it is compact.

“Flying Embers is a really nice filly, and I feel she is definitely up to Saturday grade in town.

“As with Kris, John Thompson has been a really good supporter of mine.”

. Provincial trainers Kim Waugh (Wyong) and Mitch Beer (Kembla Grange) had success at today’s Goulburn fixture, originally to have been held at Wyong.

Waugh won the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m) with $3.50 second favorite Jared (Ash Morgan) at his 15th start after being placed on eight occasions previously.

Beer took the Class 1 Handicap (1000m) with $4.20 chance Scissor Me Timbers, ridden by apprentice Holly Durnan.

Story John Curtis, May 22, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos