Rising Australian jockey Jett Stanley will achieve another important career milestone when he makes his international riding debut in Malaysia’s RM1 million Selangor Mile at Selangor Turf Club on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Victorian will partner the Simon Dunderdale-trained Navarre in the 1600-metre feature, which has attracted many of Malaysia’s leading four-year-olds.
Stanley has enjoyed a breakthrough period in Australia, highlighted by the biggest win of his career aboard American Wolf in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville in March.
American Wolf edged out Highland Bling in a thrilling finish to the 3200-metre feature, although Stanley was unaware he had won until being informed by the medical team after being dislodged shortly beyond the winning post. The victory completed a memorable three-day period in which he also rode winners at Murray Bridge and Stony Creek.
His Adelaide Cup success followed another major staying victory aboard Asva in the Group 3 Launceston Cup, when the $31 chance swept around the field before racing clear over 2400 metres.
Stanley has continued to build momentum through regular metropolitan success. By late April, he had already ridden 35 winners nationally during the season, including 26 in Victoria, and had recorded four victories from a sequence of 10 rides.
Now established as a senior jockey after completing his apprenticeship in 2025, Stanley has passed 200 career winners and accumulated more than $10 million in prize money.
His first international opportunity has come through fellow Victorian jockey Liam Riordan, who is currently riding in Malaysia and has formed a successful association with leading trainer Simon Dunderdale.
“Look, I got very fortunate. Obviously, one of my great mates, Liam Riordan, is over there at the moment,” Stanley said.
“He’s over there riding for Simon, and I was able to get the opportunity through that.
“I was just very fortunate with the timing and everything. I was able to pick up the ride along with a few other bookings on the day, put myself into the position to take the opportunity and hopefully capitalise on it.”
Stanley is no stranger to Malaysian racing, despite Sunday being his first experience riding outside Australia.
His father, Group 1-winning jockey and trainer Brent Stanley, previously rode in Malaysia, while the younger Stanley has also followed the local racing closely through Riordan and other friends based in the country.
“I’ve watched a fair bit of it with Liam over there,” he said.
“Obviously, Dad used to ride there when I was a lot younger, so I’ve got a little bit of background towards it and a lot of great friends who are over there currently or have been there for a lot of years.”
Stanley will fly in after his commitments at Caulfield on Saturday to ride Navarre, who has drawn barrier 11 in the Selangor Mile field. Stablemates Anjou Crown and Aquitaine will also represent Dunderdale, with Riordan booked for Anjou Crown and CC Wong taking the ride on Aquitaine.
Navarre enters the feature after a strong second-place finish behind Anjou Crown over 1600 metres at his latest appearance.
While Stanley will be relying on information from the stable rather than having ridden the gelding previously, he believes the performance showed Navarre is approaching the race in good condition.
“His last start was super,” Stanley said.
“He galloped up quite well, from what I’ve been told by everyone involved, he’s going well for it.
“Obviously, he ran second last start to the stablemate, who is also in the race, but he was very, very gallant in defeat. Hopefully, he can turn the tables.”
Navarre is expected to race prominently and will need to find a suitable position from the middle-to-wide barrier. The four-year-old is one of three Dunderdale runners in the race, with the stable hoping its strength in numbers can help overcome the difficult draws.
Stanley’s visit will extend beyond Sunday’s feature meeting, giving him an opportunity to experience Malaysian racing and spend time with several familiar faces.
“I’m going to be over there until Tuesday, so I’ll have a few days in the warm weather,” he said.
“Hopefully, it’s going to be really good.”
For a young jockey already building an impressive résumé in Australia, Sunday represents an opportunity to announce himself on another stage.
“It’s my first time riding internationally,” Stanley said.
“Hopefully, it goes well.”
By Scott Bailey – iRACE
