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Stanley's attempt for record breaking season continues at Kilcoy

27 January 2019

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By Glenn Davis

Popular provincial jockey Justin Stanley’s attempt for another record-breaking season will continue at Kilcoy on Sunday.

Stanley has only one ride at Kilcoy aboard the Jim Murdoch-trained Rainbow Spirit in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).

“It was a good run at Beaudesert when he ran fifth last start and I’ve had a bit of luck on the horse," Stanley said.

“He’s had four starts at Kilcoy for two wins and a second.”

Stanley, 44, claimed the Queensland Provincial Jockeys' premiership in 2017-18 with 104 wins.

The haul was a career best for Stanley who also claimed the national provincial premiership last season and was crowned Queensland Provincial Jockey of the Year.

Stanley is based in Brisbane but rarely gets opportunities in the metropolitan area forcing him to travel thousands of kilometres mostly to the northern coastal towns in Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville.

His “have saddle with travel” attitude has earned him the respect of trainers State-wide.

So far this season, Stanley has ridden 59 winners to lead the provincial jockeys’ premiership and is second on the Queensland jockeys’ premiership just two wins behind champion former South African Jeff Lloyd.

The season is just past the half way mark and Stanley believes he’s on track to better last season’s haul of winners.

“A lot of things fell my way last year with the retirement of Adrian Coome and Ash Butler being out for a long time at Rockhampton,” he said.

“I don’t see why I can’t beat last year’s effort.”

Stanley’s career has been plagued by injuries but retirement isn’t in his vocabulary.

He had a bad fall at the Gold Coast 16 years ago when he suffered serious head injuries as well as a broken leg and collarbone.

He also broke his jaw in two places, fractured his skull and had bleeding to the brain as well as requiring a knee reconstruction.

“I also hurt my shoulder and had to have surgery and injured a disc in my back when I was tossed in the Townsville enclosure in 2016,” he said.

“I tried to make a return a few times but I was out for about 18 months.

“All up I’ve probably had about a dozen falls in my career and four or five were serious.”

Racing Queensland webnews    January 27