Super Focused Stanley Surfing on Wave of Winners

With body and strength at 100 per cent, highly respected jockey Justin Stanley is in the best shape he’s been in for 20 years.

The 43-year-old remains showed he was at the peak of his powers with a winning treble at Cluden on Friday, and remains on track for one of his best seasons ever.

Stanley was at his clinical best with wins on the Terry McGovern trained pair Keep On Running and Belmont Park, and a runaway victory on Well Held for his great mate Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor.

As always it’s a tough grind on the Queensland circuit, but with an injury and suspension free run, Stanley has already ridden 73 winners on 17 different tracks at the half way mark this season.

That places him in a great position to surpass last year’s tally of 110 winners.

“Every couple of weeks I normally get three days or so where I don’t ride which is a good little break,” Stanley said.

“But this week I’ve ridden Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and I’ll be riding at the Gold Coast tomorrow (Magic Millions).

“I’ve been getting really good rides which makes it worthwhile. It’s hard to knock a good ride back so it’s make hay while the sun shines.

“I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in and my weight’s the best it’s been for 15 to 20 years.

“I turn 44 this year. I’m probably in the home straight but I think I’ve still got a few more years in me hopefully.”

In December, Casino born Stanley chalked up another major milestone in a distinguished career when he moved past 1700 winners.

Stanley, who spent a short time based in Townsville earlier in his career, has enjoyed successful links with numerous trainers on the way to his impressive tally including Olivia Cairns, Lindsay Hatch, Trinity Bannon, Tommy Button and his old boss Garry Newham.

But in recent years his association with Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor has gone to the top of the list with a constant stream of winners.

The pair have hit it off in a big way, landing more than 140 winners together, 31 of them this season alone at a lethal strike rate of 38 per cent.

Taylor has confirmed he is looking to relocate south to chase more opportunities in his training career and Stanley is keen to stick. 

“The association with Clinton’s been great and he’s a great friend,” Stanley said.

“If he goes I definitely want to keep the connection going. He doesn’t know where he’s going to go just yet but he’s decided it’s time to move.

“I’d definitely look at doing it too. My family’s from Casino so I’d look at it.

“I said to him ‘you could go to Scone and I’d seriously sit down and think about going down there with you’.

But in the meantime, Stanley is focused on capitalising on his opportunities and good run of form across the State.

“I’ve just had a lot of luck and been lucky enough to get a lot of good rides. A few of the boys have been suspended and I’ve picked up some opportunities and, touch wood, I’ve had an uninterrupted run with no suspensions,

Today I thought Clint’s was the best of the day and I had a good book of rides and they’ve all run accordingly.”

Stanley wasn’t the only one of a roll on Friday.

Cairns trainer Stephen Massingham led in a treble, winning with the most-deserving Bold Type, Saturday Vibes and the resurgent Flying Artist.

The stable’s number one rider, Ryan Wiggins produced two brilliant rides to win on Bold Type and Flying Artist who has turned his form around with wins at his past two Townsville starts after a change of training routine.