Justin Stanley wouldn’t swap Astapor for any other horse in 3YO Jewel at Gold Coast

Justin Stanley says he’s on the right horse for Saturday’s $500,000 3YO Jewel on the Gold Coast, and the only query could be a blessing.

Jockey Justin Stanley says he wouldn’t swap Rockhampton rocket Astapor for any other horse heading into the $500,000 3YO Jewel on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Any why would he?

The Clint Taylor-trained colt is the $3.60 favourite for the 1200m dash for Queensland-bred horses in a glamour race that offers $300,000 prizemoney to the winner.

The only query is the wide draw from barrier 15 but Stanley said that could be a blessing in disguise on a track expected to be around a Soft 5 on Saturday after the Gold Coast was pounded with 600mm of rain in the aftermath of ex-cyclone Alfred.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Astapor last raced in the 3YO Jewel Prelude at Doomben on February 22, finishing runner-up to the Liam Birchley-trained filly Dream Smart.

“I think he’s going to run really well,” said Stanley, who likes to read books in between races.

“He’s probably meeting the same horses he raced against the other day.

“He’ll meet them much better in the weights, being set weights.

“I wouldn’t change him for any horse in the race. He’s got all the ability in the world and if he puts his best foot forward, he can definitely win.”

• Why Hulbert ‘won’t be shouting the bar’ if his horse wins Jewel

Stanley has ridden Astapor since the horse was a baby and has been on board for seven of his 10 rides, including his three wins from his first six races.

The only time he jumped off was when Astapor headed south for a brief three-race stint under Sydney trainer Joe Pride, who trained the colt to a fighting fourth in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill last August.

“You wouldn’t have got two people cheering him more than Clint and myself when he was going around down south,” Stanley said.

“He’s got a lot of ability and he was worth a shot down there.”

Jett Stanley guiding Astapor to victory in the QTIS 2YO Handicap last year. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Stanley will also ride mares Divine Purpose ($5.50) and topweight Chinny Boom ($5.50) in a Benchmark 70 race (1700m) and the $125,000 Military Rose (1100m) respectively for Rockhampton trainer Taylor at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The pair have struck up an incredibly successful combination, with a healthy career strike rate of just under 32 per cent.

• ‘Giant fireball’: Dye caught up in Hilton fire drama

“Everything’s been aimed at this race and this is where we’ve trained him to peak to,” Taylor said on Friday about Astapor.

“The barrier has been a little hurdle for us but that’s Justin’s job, I’ll leave that to him.

“It’s a bit of an achievement to have three live chances from Rocky at the Jewel day races.

“I think they can all race well but they’ve all drawn sticky so we might need a bit of luck.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had Chinny Boom going so good, her trials have been amazing.

“I was a bit shattered when she drew wide, being an on-pace runner, but I don’t think I could have her any better.”

The only other runners under double figures in the 3YO Jewel are Dream Smart ($6), Apuntar ($6.50) and Hearts Are Better ($9.50).

Originally published as Justin Stanley wouldn’t swap Astapor for any other horse in 3YO Jewel at Gold Coast