His dad rode over 1000 winners, now Will's out to blaze own trail
Apprentice Will Stanley hopes 'a shot in the dark' from his manager will lead to a stakes win at his first attempt when he partners Steel Blaze for Kembla Grange trainer Brett Lazzarini in the Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
With just two city winners to his name, Stanley will join five other apprentices with rides in the listed $200,000 race.
'I've never ridden for the trainer before,' Stanley said
'I think my manager [Ryan Roberts] just kicked up for it, just as a shot in the dark for it.
'It's good. It's a bit below the weight I usually ride, but he was willing to put me on without a claim, so that was a bit of a bonus for me.'
Steel Blaze, second to Campaldino in the Orange Cup this preparation, was a $31 shot with Sportsbet from gate six.
'He should get a lovely run and I'd say he'll end up three pairs back the fence, ideally,' Stanley said.
'He's raced over that sort of journey before and he's coped with it pretty well, so I think he'll handle it.'
A son of trainer and former jockey Peter Stanley, the 21-year-old moved from his hometown of Orange to Newcastle to join the Kris Lees stable late last year and further his riding career. His sister Ashleigh, brother Justin, nephew Dylan and cousin Jett are also jockeys.
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