Kerry and Ian Taplin name top chances for Summer Racing Carnival

New to the Sunshine Coast racing scene, the Taplin family has revealed their top chances ahead of the summer carnival.

Kerry Taplin and her son Jack. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Former New Zealand racing trainers Kerry and Ian Taplin have hit the ground running with their Caloundra based stable as they name their top chances for the Queensland Summer Carnival.

The Taplins, with their son Jack, relocated to the Sunshine Coast in July after selling their 1000ha, 800-cow dairy farm and that included 21ha for the couple’s training track, horse stables and paddocks.

Since October 1 the stable has produced two winners and eight placings from 16 starts at the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Eagle Farm, and Doomben.

“We’ve found our grove, the placings are a bit bittersweet but we’re also really happy with how we’re going,” Kerry said.

“The travel really doesn't worry us if we can place our horses well.

“Back home we’d travel nine hours to get to a meeting and even then if you had a bad barrier, it was poor weather or your horse wasn’t ready you’d still run anyway because of the time between meetings.

“Here we’re training our horses for the races rather than having them try and suit a certain race and every time we open the racing calendar it’s like Christmas morning again.”

Former New Zealand racing trainers now based on the Sunshine Coast, Kerry and her son Jack. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The experienced duo, with nine years training experience, recently started work on their Yandina property which will include 23 paddocks on both sides of their house.

Ian said they had good chances on Saturday, November 26 at Ipswich as well as others in the coming months.

“Willnotquit has had two seconds, one being at 100-1 odds, and a third her last three starts so she’ll run at Ipswich for a maiden over 1200m,” he said.

“Also Brazetti, who was previously with Adrian Coome and Stuart Kendrick before that, he had one run but wasn’t ready fitness wise so she’s trialled well and will run over 800m.”

“Tappy’s Lad will run fresh over 1800m or 2000m in a couple of weeks and our three-year-old Tapildoodledo, who won at Eagle Farm last prep, he’ll run over 2000m next week at Doomben.

“Maxie Tap is the other that’s one to watch, he didn’t get the kindest of runs last prep and then he had an operation which has kept him out.

“He’s coming through quickly and I think he’ll win one at Eagle Farm soon because he’s pretty smart and has the talent.”