English jockey Oliver Stammers to begin Australian stint at Yarra Valley on Saturday

Perfecting his craft will be English jockey Oliver Stammers’ priority when he hits Australian racetracks during his summer stint, which starts at Yarra Valley on Saturday.

Winning is only part of the plan for newly-arrived English jockey Oliver Stammers.

Stammers arrived at Ballarat earlier this month with a plan to use Australian experience to polish his all-round skills.

The 23-year-old has ridden 117 winners from almost 1000 rides in his homeland but will make his Australian debut at Yarra Valley on Saturday.

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Stammers has started work with a compatriot, trainer Archie Alexander, on what will start as a three-month stint but the jockey said he would keep his options open on extending his tenure.

“At the minute, I’ve just come out for the winter to try something different, learn as much as I can and get away from the cold to experience something new,” Stammers said.

“Hopefully I can pick up as many rides for him as I can and try to get as many outside rides as possible as well.

“I just want to explore different ways and different methods.”

Stammers described himself as a patient rider but said he would be out to improve his riding of gallopers near the speed in Australia.

English jockey Oliver Stammers is happy to leave the English snow and will start his Australian stint at Yarra Valley on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

The tighter Australian tracks and racing style will give Stammers every opportunity to gain experience positioning his runners on the pace.

“The racing is quite aggressive and on the speed all the time so it’s a part of my riding that I really want to improve on,” Stammers said.

“I’m quite excited to get started but I’ve come to improve and learn as much as I can.”

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Stammers said Alexander, his fellow English trainer Matt Cumani and plenty of British and Irish riders and stable staff ensured he immediately felt at home at the Ballarat training centre.

He said he wanted to get away from the cold of a Yorkshire winter but also keep riding on grass tracks instead of on the all-weather circuit during the English off-peak period.

Stammers will keep his riding weight steady at 57kg during his Australian stint.

“I’m a taller lad but one of the strengths I have is that I’m quite a strong rider,” Stammers said.

“I’ll stick to that weight as I don’t want to be weak and it helps keep my weight level so 57 (kg) will be my lightest.

“I just want to get better and that’s why I’m here.”

Originally published as English jockey Oliver Stammers to begin Australian stint at Yarra Valley on Saturday