Cover image courtesy of Cambridge Stud

Cambridge Stud, one of New Zealand's premier breeding establishments, has revealed its roster and service fees for the 2025 breeding season.

Cambridge Stud has announced an unchanged stallion roster for the 2025 breeding season, with just one fee adjustment — a well-earned rise for the exciting young sire Sword Of State, who has been extremely popular at the yearling sales this year. The iconic New Zealand nursery continues to build momentum, supported by strong racetrack performances and standout yearling sale results across its stallion ranks.

“Whether it be on the racetrack or in the sale ring, all our stallions have had a past 12 months to be proud of,” said Cambridge Stud’s Sales and Nominations Manager, Scott Calder.

"If you look at the roster they are top-class race horses, the stallions they represent are the best of New Zealand, Australian, and European breeding. They are the kind of horses we want to offer, and just as importantly, they are the kind of stallions that we are confident to back heavilly ourselves."

A sharp start for Sword of State in the sales ring

The son of Snitzel has made a statement in the sales ring this year, with his first yearlings averaging over NZ$200,000 and selling for up to NZ$540,000. His fee reflects that momentum, increasing from NZ$15,000 to NZ$20,000 plus GST.

At the 2025 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, Sword Of State had seven yearlings sell for NZ$250,000 or more, including a colt out of Fuld’s Bet (I Am Invincible) who fetched $540,000 to the bid of Mulberry Racing.

He was also well received on the Gold Coast, with three yearlings making $300,000 or more, led by the colt out of Needle And Thread (Makfi {GB}), purchased for $340,000 by a strong alliance of Ridgmont, Bjorn Baker Racing, S & J Gosling, and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA).

“Sword Of State has provided some fantastic results for his supporters this year,” Calder said.

“Many of the best trainers and agents have put their faith in his progeny, which bodes very well for his future.

“If he wasn’t on anyone's radar before January. He certainly is now. He’s now got the attention and he has got the results at the sales that you would be more accustomed getting from a stallion that stands at a much higher stud fee.

“He’s an upgrader, and leaves a reliable, consistent type. Very typical of the sireline.”

Chaldean: The dual Group 1-winning son of Frankel

The multiple Group 1-winning son of Frankel (GB) returns for his second New Zealand season at the same NZ$35,000 plus GST fee. A standout juvenile, Chaldean (GB) was a five-time winner, with two of them coming at Group 1 level in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes and the G1 2000 Guineas.

He was also successful at Group 2 and Group 3 level as a juvenile over 1400 metres, and backed up his Guineas win with a brave second behind Paddington (GB) in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes.

Chaldean is a half-sibling to three other stakes winners and comes from a European family littered with black type.

“He will only have a small offering of bookings this year, last year he could have served more than 120 if he didn’t have a limit.

“He has been very well-received and has all the credentials being a dual Group 1-winning son of Frankel,” Calder said.

“He covered an outstanding book of mares in his first season — 59 per cent were either black type performers or producers.”

"Group 1 winner Probabeel was among the elite mares covered, along with the dams of top-flight winners Asterix, Ceolwulf, El Castello, Pinarello and Signify.

“We feel that his 2-year-old record, in particular, is well suited to this part of the world. He remains Frankel’s best 2-year-old son and won the Champagne Stakes/Dewhurst double at two — just like Too Darn Hot.”

Almanzor provides proven value

Almanzor (Fr) continues to deliver both on the track and in the sales ring. He covered 145 mares in 2024 and will stand again at NZ$30,000 plus GST this year.

This season he’s been represented by Group 2 Auckland Cup winner Trav (NZ) and fellow stakes winners Rise At Dawn (NZ), Positivity (NZ), Mehzebeen (NZ) and Keeneland (NZ).

“Almanzor’s progeny have become a regular feature on the biggest race days across Australia and New Zealand,” Calder said.

"He was a well-received proven sire in the New Zealand market last year, he can leave black-type performers, and he is able to get a type that is viewed favourably in the sale ring.”

At Karaka 2025, four fillies by Almanzor sold for more than NZ$300,000, including a $450,000 purchase by Forsman Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for a filly out of Santa Catarina (NZ) (Savabeel). He also had a $325,000 filly at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, out of Word Games (Fastnet Rock), secured by Chris Waller Racing, Mulcaster Bloodstock and Hermitage Thoroughbreds.

Hello Youmzain is building momentum

Hello Youmzain (Fr), the leading first season sire in France, has quickly made his presence felt in Australasia. He leads New Zealand’s first season sires by winners and sits second by prizemoney and will remain at NZ$30,000 plus GST.

“Hello Youmzain laid down a marker with his early results in Europe and is trending the same way down here,” Calder said.

“He’s a horse that I am really confident in, and the next 12 months are really going to be the making of him.

“He’s building momentum and we have some lovely stock by him ourselves, and when you talk to trainers they say the same thing.

“He has had several very promising winners, including our filly Remala, who we have high hopes for next season, and he’s had another five trial winners this month alone.”

Worldwide, Hello Youmzain has had 86 runners for 41 winners, including two Group 3 winners and four stakes placegetters. In Australasia, he has five winners from 16 runners.

Embellish is doing the job on the track

Embellish (NZ), the Group 1-winning son of Savabeel, offers incredible value at NZ$5000 plus GST. He’s had a strong season with his first-crop stars Luberon (NZ) and What You Wish For (NZ) adding further stakes wins, while second-crop 3-year-old Hitabell (NZ) claimed the G2 Eight Carat Classic and Listed The O’Learys Fillies Stakes.

“We have experienced first hand what Embellish is capable of as a sire with his very talented daughter Luberon, who has competed with the best sprinters in the country this year,” Calder said.

“It’s still in a sense, early days for him. He’s doing a really good job, he's only had 70 odd runners on the track and he already has 4 stakes winners. His results on the track are more than satisfactory. and he is a very good value option.”

“Embellish’s biggest crop are rising 3-year-olds so we expect to see even more from him next season.”

Table: 2025 service fees for Cambridge Stud's stallion roster

Darley Australia has unveiled its 2025 stallion fees, with several key adjustments across its roster to reflect market dynamics, racetrack results and commercial demand.

New to the line-up is Broadsiding, who will stand for $66,000. The four-time G1 winner is the first son of Too Darn Hot (GB) to go to stud and arrives with serious credentials as a Champion Two- and Three-Year-Old. He’s joined by fellow freshman Traffic Warden for $22,000 inc. GST, a son of Street Boss (USA), who was narrowly beaten in both the G1 Sires’ Produce and G1 Golden Rose after a standout juvenile season.

Too Darn Hot, who has made an incredible start to stud, heads the roster at $275,000 as he returns after a year not shuttling.

Here’s a breakdown of the notable changes for the 2025 season:

🔼 Fee Increases

Harry Angel – $66,000 (up from $38,500)

Australia’s leading third-crop sire and the youngest stallion in the top 10 of the General Sires Table sees a significant rise, following sustained racetrack success and market demand.

🔽 Fee Reductions

Anamoe – $110,000 (down from $121,000)

Pinatubo – $38,500 (down from $55,000)

Victor Ludorum – $11,000 (down from $13,750)

Paulele – $11,000 (down from $13,500)

Kermadec – $13,750 (down from $16,500)

Stallions with unchanged fees include Too Darn Hot ($275,000), Street Boss ($66,000), Bivouac ($55,000), Cylinder ($44,000), Brazen Beau ($33,000), and Native Trail ($27,500).

“This is a world-class roster with real strength in depth,” said Alastair Pulford, Darley’s Head of Stallions . “The results we’ve seen - on the track and in the sales ring - have shaped these fees, with breeders front of mind.”

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

365 weanlings by 100 different stallions on offer at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale will make their way through the Gold Coast sale ring on Sunday, May 25. The catalogue is only a touch smaller than last year, but they will sell in one day instead of two.

In 2024, 384 weanlings were offered (253 sold) across two days with an average of $74,551, down from 2023’s average of $81,842. The median of $40,000 was down on 2023’s median of $50,000, however, 2023 also included the Edinburgh Stud Farm dispersal.

“We felt we could create a strong one session sale with the size of the catalogue. One of the other key reasons is that it gives buyers a free day on the Monday to inspect the race fillies and mares ahead of the two-day Broodmare Sale,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.

“On a Sunday, we can get the end-users, the trainers there after the racing the day before. We had enough weanlings in the catalogue to go two days but the one day session will work well, and our vendors are also in favour of it. I think it gives us the biggest chance to get as many people to the ground as possible.”

In a year when the top end has been strong across the yearling sale, it would make sense to see this continue into the weanling offerings, and the Magic Millions Weanling Sale often showcases a number of elite-level weanlings with last year’s sale-topping filly from Element Hill by I Am Invincible selling for $800,000, while in 2023, a Frankel (GB) colt fetched $925,000.

Long list of impressive graduates

Incredibly, this sale has already produced six individual juvenile stakes winners from the 2023 catalogue who are currently in their 2-year-old season - Bona Sforza (Written By), Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}), King Kirk (Ole Kirk), Scenic Point (Written Tycoon), and Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom) as well as Group 1-performed Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon). The reputation for the Magic Millions sale ring at the Gold Coast as a production line for precocious youngsters continues.

Gallery: Juvenile stakes-winning graduates of the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale

“This is a sale with a proud history of producing future stars - whether in the sale ring, on the racetrack or in the breeding barn,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said.

"It's quite incredible, and it means that vendors are bringing quality horses to the sale, so regardless if you are here as an end-user or for trade, the sale is producing the results."

Unbeaten Group 2 winner Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) sold here for $600,000 in 2022 and was on-sold as a yearling for $1.8 million, a wonderful result for her connections at each stage of the process. The Autumn Sun has four lots catalogued including a half-sister to Melbourne Cup winner Knight's Choice (Extreme Choice).

Stay Inside, who has eight of his second crop catalogued, began his public life here selling for $60,000 and he was on-sold as a yearling for $200,000 before winning the G1 Golden Slipper and is now fashioning a stud career.

Listed winning 3-year-old gelding Stay Focused (Cosmic Force) was sold here for $190,000 and pinhooked into a $250,000 yearling sale for his clever buyers and he’s already earned over $375,000 on the track.

Other impressive graduates include Pierro, Zoustar, Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}), Tropical Squall (Prized Icon), Veight (Grunt {NZ}), Ellsberg and Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force).

First season sires on show

At this time of year, the public get to see the first offerings by the first season sires, and 2025 has plenty to get excited about the stallions with their first weanlings.

Three young stallions lead the way with nine weanlings apiece and many eyes will be on the first crop of Anamoe, a Group 1 winner at two, three, and four, who stood for $121,000 inc GST in his first season. G1 Golden Rose winner In The Congo, who stood for $33,000, also has nine lots catalogued, as does Raheen Stud’s G1 Epsom Handicap winner Top Ranked (Ire) who stood at $7700 in his first season.

With eight weanlings is boom juvenile Best Of Bordeaux, while Group 1 winners Hitotsu and Jacquinot are both represented by seven weanlings. Queensland’s Stronger has six, with other first season sires with progeny in the sale are Artorius, Daumier, Ellsberg, Paulele, Sejardan, Signore Fox, and State Of Rest (Ire).

The largest cohort of weanlings comes from proven sire Tassort, who is represented by 14 weanlings with Spirit Of Boom next having 13. So You Think (NZ) with 11, Better Than Ready with 10, and Russian Revolution with nine round out the top five most popular stallions by lots.

Gallery: Most represented stallions in the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale

Home Affairs had a massive year with his first crop of yearlings, and he has nine second crop weanlings on offer with Magic Millions, and his peer, fellow second season weanling sire, Stay Inside has eight. Pinatubo (Ire) and Portland Sky also have second crop weanlings, while exciting young sires of stakes winning juveniles Ole Kirk and Farnan are well represented with 9 and 8 weanlings respectively.

Stallions on the up with progeny on offer include Anders, Bivouac, Blue Point (Ire), Cosmic Force, Doubtland, Dubious, Exceedance, Pierata, and Zousain.

High quality pedigrees on offer

The sale isn’t just for those looking to pinhook weanlings into yearlings or breeze up sales – although the many successes for those taking this route will result in hot competition for the lots who have commercial appeal and the right looks – it is also a sale for buyers looking for a racing prospect with long term residual value or upside.

And with 36 siblings to stakes winners, and another 29 out of stakes-winning mares, there is plenty on offer for those looking for immediate form on the page. Lot 331 is a Bivouac colt out of Group 1-winning juvenile Chocolicious (Saf) (Kahal {GB}) who has already produced Group 3-placed Notation (Fastnet Rock).

Seven siblings to Group 1 winners are led by Lot 16, a Home Affairs half-brother to Hong Kong’s Champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro) whose 26 wins netted him the world record in prizemoney earnings, until recently overtaken by Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}). Golden Sixty's Group 2-winning dam Gaudemeus (USA) (Distorted Humor {USA}) has produced six winners, with two others performing at black type level.

Melbourne Cup winner Knight’s Choice’s half-sister by The Autumn Sun is catalogued as Lot 106 and we covered this lot in depth last week below.

The filly brings plenty of residual value to the equation, not only through her half-brother, and is out of seven-time winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Midnight Pearl. The Autumn Sun has a stellar record with Group 1 winning fillies, making this lot hot property.

Brilliant sprinter Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) who won her first five in succession and later added the 2024 G1 TJ Smith Stakes - and was purchased by Yulong at the Broodmare section of the Magic Millions National Sale for $2.5 million last year – has a half-brother by first season sire Jacquinot on offer as Lot 96. Their dam, Magic Art (Perguino {USA}) was a winner from only four starts.

A full brother to Shadow Hero (Pierro) is Lot 221, while a half-brother to G1 Goodwood Handicap winner Royal Merchant (Merchant Navy), Lot 201 is by Champion Sire Snitzel, while Queensland sire The Mission’s half-brother by So You Think (NZ) is Lot 20. Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun) won the G1 Australasian Oaks this time last year, and her half-brother by Jonker is Lot 262.

A broad range of vendors

With proven vendors of quality racehorses all presenting drafts, the largest offerings come from Baramul Stud with 35 weanlings and Amarina Farm with 26. Newgate Farm will offer 18 weanlings on behalf of clients, while Burnewang North, Attunga Stud, KBL Thoroughbreds, Kenmore Lodge, Noble Bend Lodge, Telemon Stud, Raheen Stud, Tullyard, and Phoenix Broodmare Farm all round out those with 10 or more weanlings on offer.

All up, the 365 weanlings are spread across 54 different farms. The presence of Victorian farm Burnewang North after a hiatus is an exciting addition, and they will present a good draft of 17 weanlings including sires such as Castelvecchio, Exceed And Excel, Dundeel, Harry Angel, In The Congo, So You Think, and Street Boss (USA).

“It’s our first time back (at Magic Millions) in a while and we are looking forward to heading back to the Gold Coast with our weanlings. This is our entire crop, which is made of mostly proven sires. The Exceed and Excel is a lovely filly with a beautiful page, and the Castelvecchio is a nice type of colt. It’s a nice mix of horses,” said Burnewang North’s Emma Todd.

“Selling as weanlings has been our business strategy for a while now. We’ve had some good pinhooks come out of our drafts, and some racing owners and trainers like to buy them earlier and grow them out how they want.”

National Sale across the whole week

Buyers visiting the Gold Coast will be treated to a big week of outstanding breeding and racing prospects with the two day Broodmare sale to follow the Weanlings and a further two days of yearlings shortly afterwards.

“The National Weanling Sale will provide the perfect opening to what will be an outstanding 2025 National Sale on the Gold Coast. In the coming days we will release a world-class catalogue for the National Broodmare Sale and the National Yearling Sale will follow with incredible opportunities for buyers,” Bowditch said.

Sunday May 25 - National Weanling Sale from 10am

Tuesday May 27 - National Broodmare Sale from 12 noon

Wednesday May 28 - National Broodmare Sale from 10am

Monday June 2 - National Yearling Sale from 11am

Tuesday June 3 - National Yearling Sale from 11am

Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

Purton demolishes another record

Jockey Zac Purton took himself into an unassailable lead on the Hong Kong Jockey’s Premiership with a quartet on Sunday at Sha Tin. With 96 wins for the season, he’s 40 wins ahead of second-placed Hugh Bowman, but the real story is that Purton’s quartet gave him a new record.

With 165 wins on the Sha Tin dirt in his career, he is now the winningest jockey on the surface, overtaking Douglas Whyte’s record of 163. Purton also holds the record for the most wins in Hong Kong at 1836, and the record for the most wins at Happy Valley being 694.

Purton won on John Size-trained Meepmeep (Not A Single Doubt), Ricky Yiu-trained Chill Kaka (Shooting To Win), Frankie Lor-trained Bottomuptogether (Shamus Award), all on the dirt surface and added a win on turf aboard Chris So-trained Top Dragon (Pierata).

“I’m the King of Dirt,” Purton told hkjc.com after winning on Bottomuptogether. “It’s good to tick that off (the Sha Tin dirt record). It’s a track where you need a horse that likes it and is in form. When they are in form, it really helps – I like ticking those boxes off, another one.”

Bottomuptogether was having his first run on dirt. “Everyone said he trialled six times on the dirt for four wins and two seconds, but sometimes we don’t know whether they can win in a race on the dirt,” Lor told scmp.com.

“He had a good draw and went forward to lead on his own. Zac said he went smoothly and won easily. There aren’t many dirt races in Hong Kong, so we’ll maybe look at the turf at Sha Tin or Happy Valley next.”

Winner of his first three in succession in Hong Kong, 4-year-old gelding Bottomuptogether took his record to five wins and four placings from 11 starts with Sunday’s victory. He has earnings over HK$8.5 million (AU$1.7 million), and was a $150,000 purchase by Clarken Bloodstock from Rosemont Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. A full brother to Group 3 winner Ethical Solutions, their dam G3 Turffontein Pretty Polly Stakes winner Miss Ethics (Saf) (Count Dubois {GB}) has produced five winners.

Class record for Top Dragon

Chris So has a lot of time for 3-year-old gelding Top Dragon, who posted a class record time of 1:20.76 in winning the second race on the card over 1400 metres, making his first victory a memorable one.

“He’s got ability, he’s only 3 years old and I always tell the owners he’s a good horse,” So said. “He’s just needed a bit of time. So far, in five starts, he’s won and run two seconds and we knew that’s got ability but I didn’t want to rush him.”

Top Dragon, a dual Inglis graduate, has done all his racing in Hong Kong where he has had five starts for Sunday’s win and two other placings. Initially sold by B2B Thoroughbreds to Moffatt Breaking and Pre Training for $80,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Moffatt on-sold him at the Inglis Ready to Race Sale for $160,000 to Upper Bloodstock and Mick Price Racing.

From the first crop of Pierata, who launched with a boom last season thanks to juvenile stakes winners Coleman and Tobeornottobe, Top Dragon becomes winner number 43 from Pierata’s first crop. He also has three juvenile winners this season with Bang Stick, Yuna Is Pierata, and King Alexander.

Top Dragon is the second foal and second winner for G1 Robert Sangster Stakes-placed Mica Lil (Testa Rossa) who hasn’t produced a foal since. Mica Lil won five races and her dam, six-time winner Gem Stone (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) is a full sister to Group 1 winner Penny Gem (NZ) and a half-sister to Listed winner Fairygem (NZ) (Viscount).

Californiatotality lands betting plunge

The first winner to come out of the Listed Hong Kong Derby field since it was run, 4-year-old gelding Californiatotality (Zoustar) was backed from $16 into $6.20 by punters, who held their breath as he looked under pressure down the straight but he keep on trying for jockey Alexis Badel to get up by a tight margin in a three-way go across the line.

“I think it’s the second or third time he’s beaten that horse, Pray For Mir,” trainer Tony Cruz told scmp.com. Pray For Mir (Justify {USA}) ran second to Californiatotality in both of his wins prior to Sunday's victory.

“Today you can see the lightweights are winning. It’s a fast track today. First, second, third, even fourth – it was all the lightweights coming in. I think 1800’s perfect for him – light weight, even better.” Cruz will contemplate setting Californiatotality for the G3 Premier Plate over 1800 metres in June.

Zoustar is currently sitting in fifth on the Hong Kong Sire’s Premiership with eight winners (of 13 races) led by Patch Of Theta who won the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup on New Year’s Day. Californiatotality has won six of his 19 starts and over HK$7 million (AU$1.4 million). He was sold by Segenhoe Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $900,000 to Asian Bloodstock Services and has done all his racing in Hong Kong.

A half-brother to Listed Woodlands Stakes winner Pretty In Pink (Sebring), dam of Californiatotality’s three-quarter-brother Hillier (Zoustar) who placed in this season’s G3 Canonbury Stakes, Californiatotality is also a half-brother to this season’s G2 Roman Consul Stakes placed 3-year-old colt Yoshinobu (Written Tyccon).

Their dam, Total Attraction (Nadeem), won five times and placed in the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic and G2 Let's Elope Stakes. This is the family of Group 1 winners Fields Of Omagh (Rubiton) and The Mitigator (Master Of Design).

Double for Size stretches his lead

John Size looks in line for another Trainer’s Premiership win as a double on Sunday took him to 50 wins for the season, ahead of David Hayes on 42. Zac Purton won on Meepmeep, who finally broke through for a win at his 13th start, and Andrea Atzeni won on 4-year-old gelding Must Go (All Too Hard) who has been consistent recently with two wins in succession.

A winner on debut at Moe at two, Must Go moved to Hong Kong where he’s added another five wins to take his record to six wins from 29 starts, and he’s won three of his last four races and has earnings over HK$8.1 million (AU$1.6 million).

Sold at Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Barador Stud for $105,000 to L Lee, who retains part of his ownership, Must Go is the second foal and second winner for city winner Madame Moustache (Hinchinbrook) whose 2-year-old filly Mia Mars (Admire Mars {Jpn}) is unraced. She has yearling colt by Tiger Of Malay and a filly foal by Best Of Bordeaux.

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Jett Stanley moved back to his home state late last year to complete his apprenticeship with Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin, and he signed off his apprenticeship with 145 wins right across Australia. The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Stanley, to discuss his story and to reflect on Listed success on his last day as an apprentice.

Born into the game: Jett Stanley’s racing roots

With deep ties to racing on both sides of his family, it was almost inevitable that Jett Stanley would find his way into the industry. His father, Brent Stanley, made headlines as a teenage jockey when he won the 1996 Caulfield Cup aboard Arctic Scent (Blazing Sword), and as a trainer, and the racing thread runs just as strong through his mother’s side.

“I’ve always been part of the game. Dad (Brent Stanley) was a jockey turned trainer and my mum's dad (Terry Millard) was a trainer, everyone in my family was racing.” Stanley said.

Stanley’s earliest memories are shaped by time spent around the stables, picking up small tasks and forming the foundation of a lifelong passion.

“I have been around the stables since I was 5-years-old, I can recall as an 8-year-old during school holidays, I used to get paid 50 cents for cleaning out a box, and I was pretty keen on that, I did the work and saved up for a ping-pong table.”

A natural affinity with horses was evident from an early age — not just in racing, but in equestrian sports as well.

“I have just grown up around the horses, I loved it, was riding from ever since I can remember, I did the whole pony club thing and represented Australia in China for Show Jumping.”

Yet despite his clear inclination toward the track, Stanley’s mother Paris was initially hesitant about him pursuing a jockey’s career straight away.

“Mum (Paris Stanley) was originally against it, with me becoming a jockey, and wanted to keep me at school, she made a list of things that I had to accomplish at school before I was allowed to leave. I picked all that up by the end of year 10, and she allowed me to go to West Australia to Alana and Grant Williams as a 16-year-old.”

That early move westward would be the start of Stanley’s professional journey — one built on discipline, passion, and a work ethic that began at 50 cents a box.

The Instructor delivers for Stanley in storybook finish

When The Instructor (Russian Revolution) won in dominant fashion at Moonee Valley on March 22, leading all the way with Jett Stanley aboard claiming 2kg, Stanley knew it was a horse he wanted to stay on.

When he learned that his trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott were targeting the Listed Hareeba Stakes next, he feared the ride might slip through his fingers.

“I had to convince Gai to have me on board,” Stanley said. “She doesn't put apprentices on in races they can't claim in, so I was resigned to the fact that I would lose the ride. I tried my best to stay on and was telling her I’m a senior the next day, so can I have a go, I’m pretty much a senior.

“She thought about it and I was fortunate enough for her to agree to it.”

Stanley had already built a close association with the horse through trackwork and trials.

“I had won on the horse the start prior and I’ve been going into Gai’s to ride trackwork for a while and when he first came in, I’ve been able to do his whole preparation with jump outs, trials, gallops etc. It was very good to have that affiliation with Gai and Adrian, that horse and to get a result, and get the cash.

“It was a great way to finish it off, nice little story moment.”

Stanley’s persuasive efforts clearly paid off — and so did the trust placed in him. The Instructor dug deep in the straight to fend off a storming finish from favourite War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}), with the photo finish showing a nail-biting 0.02l margin.

“I had no idea to be honest,” Stanley said. “I looked over to Declan (Declan Bates, rider of War Machine) and said did you swipe me on the line? I think so, he said, and I was gutted.

"Then I turned around and the camera was on me, and I found out I won, and saw my number on the board, I was just so relieved and happy, it meant a lot.

“There was a little bit of relief when he went over the line, because of all the time I have put into him, but I was more thankful to Gai and Adrian for giving me an opportunity on such a nice horse in the making.”

Learning from the best: A diverse apprenticeship journey

Unlike many young jockeys who stick to one stable throughout their early years, Jett Stanley has deliberately taken a different approach — spreading his time across a number of leading trainers and stables around the country in pursuit of a well-rounded education in the saddle.

Kicking off his apprenticeship at 16 under the guidance of Grant and Alana Williams in Perth, Stanley has since spent time honing his craft with some of the best in the business. That list includes Mitchell Beer, Peter Snowden, Annabel Neasham, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and more recently, finishing his time under Leon and Troy Corstens alongside Will Larkin in Victoria.

“All of them have different ways of doing things, and it really has opened up my eyes and given me a broader perspective and vision of how racing is, and how different it can be wherever you are.”

It’s a strategy that’s provided more than just riding knowledge — it’s introduced him to the unique culture and camaraderie that exists within the sport.

“The racing game is very close knit, everybody is out there trying to win, but if something happens, everyone cares for everyone.

“I’ve met a lot of people along the way, some good, some bad, but mostly good and these people are friends for life.”

While moving around frequently might raise eyebrows for some, Stanley is quick to shut down any suggestion of instability — each move was part of a bigger plan to soak up as much experience as possible.

“To be able to work under a range of people has been beneficial, likes of Grant and Alana Williams, Troy, Leon and Will, Peter Snowden, Annabel Neasham, Mitch Beer.”

“It looks bad for some people, but for me, it wasn't that I didn't like it there or that something went wrong. I wanted to move around and get the most experience I could in a short time I was an apprentice.”

Having experienced life in stables across Western Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria, Stanley has developed an appreciation for how training methods and riding tactics vary across the country — and how that knowledge has helped fast-track his development.

“Absolutely, different states have a different way of doing things, different riding styles in a sense as well.”

“In Victoria, the races can be run more slowly and everyone does it at their own pace. Sydney, they get straight into a spot and don’t slacken the tempo as much. West Australia, you have to wait for inside runs a little more as you can’t just go right around them.

“It has helped pave the way for me to become a senior jockey, and now I'm a 20-year-old senior jockey.”

Big moments along the way

With 145 wins already under his belt, Stanley has packed a lot into his short time in the saddle — from Listed victories to special wins for family and mentors, and even the perfect finish to his apprenticeship.

“Obviously my first Listed win on Naval College in the Listed January Cup at Rosehill for Annabel (Annabel Neasham), and the Listed win on The Instructor were both big wins, but also my first winner for my dad on El Salto at Bendigo, and my first ever winner was at Ascot in a metro meeting on Trevello for Grant and Alana.”

Each win has left its mark in different ways, but another standout memory came at Wangaratta, where he produced a four-win haul on a single race day — a feat not often achieved and even more meaningful given the local connections.

“A big moment was also winning four races at Wangaratta on a day and they were all for local trainers, that was a really big day.”

The quartet of victories came aboard Brick’n’wood (Cluster), Ruckman (O’Lonhro), Oamanikka (Oamaru Force), and Communication (Akeed Mofeed {GB}), solidifying Stanley’s place as an exciting young apprentice rider.

From milestone wins to deeply personal achievements, Stanley’s journey has already featured plenty of chapters worth revisiting — and at just 20 years old, there’s no doubt plenty more are still to be written.

Stepping up: The senior jockey chapter

The final stages of Jett Stanley’s apprenticeship have been shaped by some influential figures — none more so than Leon and Troy Corstens, and Will Larkin, whose support in recent months has helped smooth his transition into the senior ranks.

"Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin have kind of set me on a path to become a senior rider,” Stanley said.

“They let me do outside work and use my own flexibility in the mornings, on race days and trials, to really get myself into the ways of a senior.

“Massive thank you to them for really kicking me along, because now that I am out of my time, I've kind of got those footsteps in place.”

Troy Corstens spoke highly of Stanley’s work ethic and the commitment he’s shown throughout his time in the stable.

“One of the best things about Jett is his work ethic, he’s not afraid to have a crack and do the hard yards. In the last few months I have let Jett ride the majority of outside work in preparation for becoming a senior, in that time I’m pretty sure he has rode trackwork nearly every morning, he is a very hard worker.

“As a result of that he is getting opportunities from Gai and Adrian and he will make the most of it.”

Corstens also shared the pride he felt watching Stanley finish his apprenticeship on a high, taking out the Listed Hareeba Stakes on The Instructor.

“It was fantastic to see, I actually watched it with his mum and dad and we made a real noise, i got a real kick out of it, it was like riding a winner myself.

“He’s a real good kid and it hasn’t been easy for him going to West Australia as a young kid, and then when Covid hit and he was stuck there. It was tough for him, they are a close family and it wouldn’t have been easy, it’s forced him to grow up quickly.”

Now a fully-fledged jockey at just 20, Stanley’s ambitions are driven by consistency, hard work, and respect for the process. He’s not rushing the journey — just determined to earn his place among the top senior riders.

“I want to keep riding the best that I can, I want to become a well-established senior metropolitan jockey and everybody wants that.

“I will keep working hard, riding work and hopefully the big stables will support me, one day I would love to ride overseas, but I have a lot of little goals to achieve first.

“Troy, Leon and Will have been very supportive, as have my other mentors, Craig Williams has been very good to me in recent times, and very supportive, so I need to step up become an established senior, and help out the younger jockeys also.”

One natural advantage Stanley holds is his rare combination of height and lightweight — something he hopes will open up key opportunities in major handicaps.

“I can ride 50kg and even though I am 5 foot 11, I am a lightweight. So it’s an advantage that hopefully I can use during carnivals, or races that have real low weights.”

With his apprenticeship now behind him, Jett Stanley steps confidently into the next chapter of his riding career — armed with experience, work ethic, and a network of strong supporters. He’s no stranger to hard yards, and as he transitions into life as a senior jockey, the foundation has been laid for even bigger moments to come.