Wellington-based apprentice Dylan Stanley returned to the Top End for the first time in over two years on Saturday, but his day lasted just two races.
Stanley was dislodged from the Chris Pollard-trained Hey Little Sister during the Darwin Turf Club’s final meeting for 2023 when the five-year-old mare bucked soon after the start.
Hey Little Sister had in fact jumped well from barrier two and looked like leading, but after 50 metres the NSW apprentice ended up on the Fannie Bay dirt.
Thankfully, the 21-year-old avoided serious injury, but he struck his head on the ground and complained of neck soreness when attended by ambulance officers.
He was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for further observation and treatment before being allowed to leave late Saturday night.
Stanley, who arrived in Alice Springs last week after agreeing to ride for local trainer Terry Gillett for three months, returned to the Red Centre on Sunday.
Diagnosed with mild concussion, Stanley was stood down for 12 days and hopes to return to Darwin on January 13 and Alice Springs on January 14.
Subsequently, he decided to return home to Wellington in central west NSW and boarded a Sydney-bound flight on Tuesday.
After partnering Pollard’s Solid Rock earlier in the day, Stanley had a further three rides on Saturday before Hey Little Sister spoiled the occasion.
“It wasn’t the most enjoyable return to Darwin,” Stanley said.
“Came out of the barriers, the horse dropped its head, and I ended up going over the top and hitting the ground, which was hard.
“My neck really hurt; the barrier attendants told me to just lay there.
“I probably wouldn’t have been able to get up though, as I was pretty dizzy.
“The ambulance officers just asked how I was before they put a neck brace on me – that was about it.
“They took me straight to hospital; I stayed there for a while.
“I had tests, but they also jabbed me with a whole lot of needles, and I took painkillers.
“I got picked up by Chris Pollard, the trainer I was riding for, as I was staying at his place.”
Stanley, who headed to Darwin on Friday with fellow Red Centre jockeys, said that he had suffered a few falls since kick-starting his career at Mudgee in October 2020.
“It’s been a while since my last fall, I’ve been lucky as they haven’t been too bad — nothing too serious,” he said.
“That one on Saturday probably hurt the most – I was stiff and sore on Sunday.
“Fannie Bay is definitely harder than a grass track, that’s for sure.
“I travelled back to Alice Springs on Sunday afternoon; all the other jockeys just asked me how I was, which was nice.
“I will probably get a clearance next Wednesday, and then I should be right to go.”
Stanley was advised officially by Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory on Sunday that he couldn’t ride for 12 days, hence the reason why he headed home.
“I’ve just gotten off the plane here in Sydney; my sister picked me up for the three-hour drive back to Wellington,” he said.
“I’ll help my partner Brittany (Haddon) with the house when I get home.
“Pack everything up and end up moving up to Alice Springs.
“Nothing has been planned after the three months in Alice at this stage.
“See how it pans out pretty much, but we’re definitely looking at moving up there long term.
“I’ll head back before next weekend.”
Currently apprenticed to Dubbo trainer Kody Nestor, Stanley rode in the NT for the first time in June and July of 2021, when Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb assembled a team for the Darwin Cup Carnival.
He rode at the start of the Carnival in early July, but Stanley was then sidelined after suffering a knee injury during track work.
Quite tall for a jockey, Stanley had two wins at both Darwin and Alice Springs, as well as nine minor placings from 48 starts; he also had the opportunity to ride on Adelaide River Cup Day.
“I have plenty of good memories of the first time I rode in the NT; it was awesome; I loved it,” he said.
“That’s the main reason I decided to go back, despite the fact that I’ll get more rides.
“The weather is also appealing, and I don’t have to worry about my weight as much.
“There were plenty of familiar faces at Darwin; everyone was very accommodating.
“It’s a pity I won’t get to ride for Terry or his wife Leanne on Saturday; I’ll be watching the Alice Springs races on TV.”
Stanley, with 18 wins from 318 career starts, is filling the void for the Gilletts after daughter and apprentice Dakota headed to Adelaide for a riding stint with leading trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly.
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