Apprentice jockey Jack Taplin is going from strength to strength and scored a deserved first stakes win when piloting the Kenny Rae-trained Fraudster to victory in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton last Saturday.
“It was bloody awesome, especially to get it for Kenny who has come to be a great mate,” Taplin said. “He has helped me a lot, particularly over the last five months, and given me a lot of opportunities on his horses, and we have had a bit of success between us.
“It is good to pick up my first stakes win for someone like Kenny, I couldn’t think of a better person.”
Taplin had ridden the Profiteer gelding on two previous occasions, winning a maiden over 1200m at his home track of Ruakaka in August, before placing on him over the same distance at Riccarton last month.
Taplin expected Fraudster to take plenty of improvement from his South Island debut and was confident of a bold showing in the Barneswood Farm Stakes.
“I was actually quietly confident,” Taplin said. “I said to Kenny that morning that I wouldn’t be surprised if we win this, and he thought the same, he was full of confidence.
“He won those two up north and then he had a big trip down to Riccarton, and he had an extra week and a half between runs. He is not a very big horse height wise, but he is very solid.
“He was dropping back in distance as well to the 1200m and ran third at Riccarton up the chute behind a couple of nice horses. I was confident with him going into Saturday, especially going back up to the 1400m.”
Fraudster is on a path towards next month’s Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), and Taplin expects him to thrive over the distance.
“Since the first day I rode him, I told Ken he is a dead set miler,” Taplin said. “I believe he is and he is so tough. He pricked his ears at the furlong, and he was playing with them. He had a lot more to give. I think he will see out the mile fairly easily.”
While full of talent, Taplin said Fraudster isn’t without his quirks.
“He has got a few tricks on him that we have just got to straighten out, and I think he will be improving a few more lengths off that run as well,” he said.
Taplin is hopeful of retaining the ride for the Guineas and would love if he could score his first elite-level victory on the gelding as well.
“As long as the boss keeps me on, but it sounds like he is, we are off to the Guineas. It is a good opportunity,” Taplin said.
Meanwhile, Taplin is looking forward to riding Group Two winner Moxie in a Group and Listed 1050m trial at Tauranga on Wednesday before partnering the Ken Harrison-trained mare over 1400m at Ellerslie on Saturday.
“She is a nice horse,” Taplin said. “I have ridden her a lot in track work and I know Ken really well. I lived out beside him near Whatawhata, Ngahinapouri way, and I used to go around there and catchup with him and Debbie. They are lovely people and I have been around them since I have been here.
“I did a lot of work with Moxie last prep when she was going to all those big races. I really like her. She is only a small, wee mare, but she is tough. She can be a bit of a handful to deal with, and she can get keen and over race at times and get on the wrong leg, but once she gets everything together and sorts herself out, she can run some nice races and put away some nice horses.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
