By Jordan Gerrans
A member of the Queensland racing industry is dreaming of representing his nation of birth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Jack Taplin – a stable foreman for the Kerry Taplin barn at Caloundra – is in the mix to be selected for New Zealand at the upcoming Olympic Games.
The 18-year-old has relocated from across the ditch with his family to establish their racing stable in Queensland.
While also managing a growing team of gallopers, Jack also dedicates his time to taekwondo.
The Sunshine Coast-based youngster is set to return to New Zealand later this month for a key selection tournament on his path to qualifying for the Olympics.
“Hopefully it all goes well, it would be great to make the New Zealand team,” Jack said at his Caloundra stable on Tuesday afternoon.
“I was going to try and make the team a few years ago before Covid happened.
“I was heading that way with my age to represent New Zealand at the time but when it hit, it was all buggered there.”
Jack heads back to New Zealand on the 24th of his month for a two-day tournament.
The teenager is battling a finger injury he picked up in the racing stables not long ago but he is hopeful of being able to compete in the coming weeks.
According to Taekwondo New Zealand’s website, the upcoming tournament is a “Selection Event” for the World Championships to be held in May later this year in Azerbaijan.
The NZUTA Bay Open will be held the day before, which is a Level 1 Tournament and is indicated to include both Kyorugi and Poomsae.
The NZ team for the World Championships in Azerbaijan is likely to shape the squad for the Olympics the following year.
“It would be awesome really and a chance of a life-time,” Jack said of participating at the Olympics.
Jack competes in the flyweight division in taekwondo, which is for athletes under 58 kgs.
The Taplin racing stable is run by husband and wife Kerry and Ian, while their son Jack is also hands on with the gallopers.
The Taplins were long-time trainers across the ditch before they recently made the move to call Australia home.
The stable has two runners accepted for Saturday’s city program at Eagle Farm - Tappy's Lad and Tapildoodledo – with both set to be ridden by jockey Mark Du Plessis.
The family have prepared six winners since relocating to the Sunshine State late last year.