Justin Stanley's comeback almost complete

By Tony McMahon

The long, enduring road to a race riding return became a little shorter after jockey Justin Stanley competed in jump outs at Callaghan Park racecourse last Friday.

The 40-year-old sustained an injury in April which resulted in a complete reconstruction of his left knee.

At the time, Stanley was leading the Queensland jockey premiership, having ridden a remarkable 97 winners.

He has not ridden in a race since April 3 at Gatton and the long layoff has proven very costly to the popular horseman.

Justin resumed riding trackwork in Brisbane on August 12 and gave his knee the first real serious test under race like conditions  last Friday.

Fittingly, Stanley - who has won Queensland jockeys premierships previously - won on all three of his mounts at the Rocky jump-out session.

They were trained by Callaghan Park’s Clinton Taylor with whom he has linked to form  a very successful combination.

“I go back to see the specialist on September 12 and I’m hoping that he will give me the all clear to resume riding”, Stanley said.

Stanley‘s career has seen him ride almost 1100 winners but that would’ve been many more only for a spate of serious injuries over the years.

Over the last 10 years he has become a journeyman jockey from his Brisbane base, fulfilling riding engagements on multiple occasions each week at the northern provincial meetings.

A handful of Rockhampton-trained quality horses will take part at the Cairns Jockey Club‘s rich Cup meeting on Saturday.

In the $150,000 Cup (2100m), Rockhampton trainer Ricky Vale has a strong hand which unfortunately has been dealt a blow by wide barriers.

Vale  has accepted with Stubai (Matthew McGillivray), who has come up with barrier 14 as well as Namazu, barrier 18.

He has declared leading jockey Ryan Wiggins to ride both horses while insuring himself by accepting also with Namazu in the $50,000 Magic Millions Daintree Guineas (1500m).

In that race, the rising star has drawn seven and should he run he will be chasing four successive wins in the Northern Magic Millions Guineas Series.

In the Guineas, Namazu he has been asked to carry 61 kg.

Former Rockhampton trainer Chris Attard will run Townsville Cup runner-up Bering Sea in the Cairns Cup in which he is ideally drawn with the rails barrier position.

Bering Sea has a number of Rockhampton people in his ownership and he will be ridden by regular  jockey Nathan Thomas.

Yet another Callaghan Park trainer in Jared Wehlow will run the consistent Just Jesse at Cairns in a 1500-metre race.

Once again, the jockey of choice is Ryan Wiggins who has a huge following with Rockhampton trainers and rightly so given his success rate.

Rockhampton Jockey Club has a seven race card scheduled for Callaghan Park next Tuesday and entries are strong.

This will be the last meeting at Callaghan Park until October which will feature the hugely popular St Peters School  Caulfield Cup race day.

Tickets to all venues for what is Rockhampton‘s biggest race day are selling fast and interested parties should book them through the RJC‘s Facebook page.