Jockey Jett Stanley is set to mark the most significant success of his short career with an airplane trip to Sydney.
Stanley steered the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-prepared American Wolf to a thrilling victory in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on Monday.
That said, the festivities are being deferred as Stanley has a flight scheduled to Sydney later that evening, allowing him to reach Warwick Farm on Tuesday morning to join Jenni The Fox for a trackwork session before the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill this Saturday.
Before Monday’s result, Stanley’s top achievement was securing the Group 3 Launceston Cup riding Asva on February 25.
Over the weekend, Stanley competed at Murray Bridge on Saturday, headed back to Victoria for Stony Creek on Sunday, and then made his way to Adelaide for Morphettville’s event on Monday.
“It’s been a whirlwind the last 12 days,” Stanley told racing.com.
“I’ve travelled 18,000 kilometres in two weeks. It’s been crazy.
I’m on a flight to Sydney tonight to ride trackwork in the morning for Tony Ottobre and Ciaron Maher and I’m riding Jenni The Fox in the Coolmore Classic on Saturday.
I’ve done a Group 3, a Group 2, so hopefully I can do a Group 1 now.”
The $21 chance American Wolf fought out a tight finish with the $4.80 favourite Highland Bling, prevailing by the barest of margins, while Hurry Curry ($9) finished third, 5-¾ lengths behind.
Stanley came off American Wolf after the line and didn’t know the outcome until paramedics informed him.
Rather than taking a ride, he ran back to the enclosure, arms raised to the fans.
“The ambos asked if I was OK, and I said, ‘tell me the result of the photo and I’ll tell you how I’m feeling’,” Stanley said.
“One of the ambos said American Wolf and I said yeah and they said, ‘you’ve won’.
I started running after that and the limp went away pretty quick.
To do it for Trent and Nat is very special. They have been friends since the day I was born.”
Having won the Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington back in April last year, American Wolf was targeted for Monday’s contest by the Busuttin and Young stable.
Nevertheless, doubts lingered about the gelding securing a spot based on his rating.
“This was always the horse’s Grand Final,” Young said.
“We were a little worried we weren’t going to get into the race with his rating.
It was the sixth start (of his preparation) today, but Jett rode him a treat. He relaxed nicely and that is what he needed.
Jett is coming along in leaps and bounds and he’s turning into such a great jockey.
I’ve known him since he was a baby and I’m absolutely over the moon.”
Young remained uncertain about extending American Wolf’s current campaign.
“He’s still dappled. He looks great, we’ll get him home and weigh it up,” Young said.
“If he does go anywhere after this, we’ll give him three or four weeks to get over it, especially with the trip over and being his sixth run, we need to look after him a little bit.”
Betting fans can explore the top Australian betting sites for staying contests like the Adelaide Cup.
