Justin Stanley racks up unprecedented kilometres

By Tony McMahon

The moniker “have saddle will travel” sits comfortably astride Brisbane jockey Justin Stanley who has just completed an extraordinary eight days of race riding throughout Queensland.

From Saturday, January 23 up to and including Sunday, January 31, he rode at seven different race meetings from as far north as Cairns to Beaudesert - some 1699km away in SEQ.

During that hectic time, Justin had 50 race rides for nine winners and five placings.

By documenting his travel and jockeying itinerary for the eight days, it speaks volumes for Stanley’s dedication and explains why he is so in demand in regional racing centres.

Last Saturday week, he flew from his Brisbane base to Rockhampton landing three winners before having as Justin puts it a “quiet few days off.”

On Australia Day last Tuesday, he drove the 140km round trip to Beaudesert to ride before returning home and flying to Mackay on Wednesday morning where he scored another winner.

Stanley backed-up at Eagle Farm in Brisbane - 968km south - the next day for the one ride on Rocky-trained third placegetter Bustedup.

Just 24 hours later on Friday morning, Stanley was back at his second home, the Brisbane Airport, for the 75-minute flight to Rockhampton where he rode another wining treble.

However, Justin’s riding week was far from over as he had rides at the Cairns TAB meeting the following day - Saturday.

The 1066km drive from Rockhampton to Cairns was out of the question and there were no direct flights available but Stanley believed he had the solution covered.

He and fellow Brisbane jockey Nathan Day would fly from Rocky back to Brisbane early Saturday morning and then take the direct two-and-a-half-hour flight to Cairns.

They had the airfares booked well in advance but as they were about to board from Rockhampton Airport, they received advice that the Brisbane to Cairns flight had been cancelled.

That threw a spanner in the works but not for long as Stanley got his mobile phone into action and sought another flight.

Another flight from a rival airline departing Brisbane on Saturday morning bound for Cairns was found, but it would be a tight schedule.

“I booked it from the tarmac and Grubby (Nathan Day) said I don’t believe you have done this,” Stanley said.

“We just had enough time to land in Brisbane, get our baggage and make the other flight - we got to Cairns racecourse in time.”

It was a case of all’s well that ends well as both Stanley and Day rode a winner a piece at Cairns.

If you think that’s enough wait for this!

Justin Stanley lobbed at Gatton races 1745km south of Cairns less than 24 hours later on Sunday to ride Little Albert - the 8YO winner of the Maiden at its 48^th start.

After riding for six consecutive days and having completed 15 hours air travel, one would suspect Justin could hang his saddle up for a while.

However, this morning he made the round trip flying from Brisbane to Rockhampton again to ride at the Callaghan Park trials.

It’s no surprise that Stanley leads the Queensland Jockey’s premiership with 74 winners and sits in fourth placing in the Australian premiership.

Stanley’s riding feats - considering the timeframe and distance - are unprecedented in Queensland and probably Australia-wide, and it now appears Brisbane apprentice Marnu Potgieter has taken a leaf out of his book.

Potgieter also flew north to ride at Rockhampton Last Friday before returning and boarding a flight on Saturday morning for Canberra.

Then after a three-and-a-half-hour drive, Marnu rode at the Sapphire Coast TAB races (Bega Valley) on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.

Marnu completed the mission by winning on the Richard Laming-trained Moi Choux with his 2kg allowance making all the difference as it won by a nose carrying 65kg.