Kerry and Ian Taplin ready for results with new Sunshine Coast stable

Former New Zealand racing trainers Kerry and Ian Taplin have sold off their 1000ha dairy farm to chase the dream of racing success at their new Caloundra stable.

A Kiwi couple long eyeing off a move to the Sunshine Coast have found a way to chase their dream, selling their sprawling family farm to fund their shot at racing glory.

Former New Zealand trainers had Kerry and Ian Taplin visited the Sunshine Coast on a number of occasions but recently made the move to call Australia home in July.

The decision rested on the sale of their 1000ha, 800-cow dairy farm and that included 21ha for the couple’s training track, horse stables and paddocks.

“We have holidayed here for the past eight years and about five years ago Kerry said why don’t we come and live here so it was just a matter of the right timing and being able to sell the farm back home,” Mr Taplin said.

“We’re now getting into a nice rhythm and everything’s finally falling into place so it’s more about trying to keep up and figure out on the map where all the meetings are.”

The experienced duo, who have been training in partnership for nine years, have saddled up six runners since arriving at Ipswich, Sunshine Coast and Doomben with one winner, a second, a third and a fifth.

Kerry Taplin and her son Jack at their new Caloundra stables. Picture: Patrick Woods.

With their stables situated across the road from Corbould Park, the pair purchased another property in Kulangoor for the horses to travel between.

They said they had bought over 21 horses, with nine in work currently.

“We had a look at the calendar and were blown away because back home you’d be running every three weeks or every fortnight and if your horse wasn’t right for that meeting given it drew bad, was raining or whatever you’d just run them anyway because of the distance between meetings,” Mrs Taplin said.

“Here it has just been a big ‘wow’ factor with the amount of meetings, the facilities and opportunities available,” Mr Taplin said.

The duo said five-year-old gelding Tappy’s Lad was their horse to follow.

“He can stay all day and we’re hoping to take him to Doomben this week before hopefully another run ahead of the Toowoomba Cup,” Mr Taplin said.

Originally published as Kerry and Ian Taplin ready for results with new Sunshine Coast stable