YOUNG JOCKEY’S BIGGEST DAY IN TOWN

WILLIAM Stanley was taken aback!

He admitted to being shocked when his manager Ryan Roberts told him he had eight rides at Royal Randwick tomorrow; easily his biggest book at a city meeting.

It’s some achievement indeed for the young man from the bush who made the bold move to transfer from Orange earlier in the season to join leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees – and an indication of just how far he has come (not just in distance either) in a relatively short time.

The 21-year-old apprentice is enjoying a benchmark season with 41 winners so far in a career of 115, and the former includes six in town.

Stanley rode his maiden provincial winner Dances With Hooves ($11) at Newcastle on December 14, and his first city winner was $19 chance Opal Fields for Randwick trainer John Thompson in a heat of the Rising Star Series at a midweek Warwick Farm program on February 5.

He has since ridden a further five in town – two at Warwick Farm, another two at tomorrow’s venue, and one on the Kensington track.

Stanley’s eight bookings tomorrow are for seven different trainers.

He rides both Ruby Flyer and Hasty Honey for leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup, along with Shaggy (Allan Kehoe), Forecaster (Paul Perry), Smart Jazz (Jeremy Sylvester), Diddle Dumpling (Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou), Ang Pow (Richard & Will Freedman), and Lonhro’s Queen for Dances With Hooves’ trainer Cameron Crockett.

Stanley led throughout on Hasty Honey to land a midweek Kensington Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) on July 16, and Widdup was sufficiently impressed to retain him for a slightly longer 1800m Benchmark 78 Handicap.

Stanley linked with Roberts only a couple of months ago, and is appreciative of the opportunities he is receiving.

“I never thought I would get eight rides in town on a Saturday, and I’m looking forward to it,” he said this morning.

It’s a safe bet though he will also be looking forward to putting his feet up when he finally gets home tomorrow night after a long day.

Stanley will arrive at Broadmeadow for trackwork around 4am, and leave at 7.30 as his first mount Shaggy runs in the opener, the 2YO Handicap (1100m) at 11.20am.

Fortunately, he has a friend who will drive him to Sydney, enabling him to run through o final check of the form in all his races.

Stanley secured the mount on star Wyong youngster Shaggy not only because trainer Allan Kehoe is impressed with the young jockey’s form, but also as he also hails from the country and knows his brothers Justin and Daniel well.

Modestly, Stanley says he is starting to feel he is beginning to establish himself in town.

“I’m getting there,” he said. “And I’ve still got another 14 city winners before losing my 3kg city claim.”

The young jockey’s emergence on the metropolitan scene is also helped by the fact he has got his weight down.

“I was walking around at 57.5kg at Orange, but it was much colder there,” he said.

“I’m walking around today at 55kg, and can comfortably ride at 54.5kg.”

Not that he will have to worry about that for his biggest day at Randwick tomorrow as his lightest ride is Lonhro’s Queen at 55kg after he takes his 3kg claim.

Story John Curtis, July 25, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos