Kiran Quilty making her mark in North Queensland

By Jordan Gerrans

Kiran Quilty is already talking like North Queensland is home.

The Victorian apprentice hoop has recently relocated to Townsville to gain more race riding opportunities and is on loan to Cluden Park trainer Georgie Holt.

The 22-year-old Quilty is on an initial three-month loan period with Holt but after a positive start to her NQ stint, she is already keen to make it her long-term base.

“I am absolutely loving it and it is even better than I thought it would be,” Quilty said.

“I do not plan on going back to Victoria any time soon, it is great.

“The plan is to extend the loan period and hopefully make it home up here.

“I just want to be riding and I am enjoying being up here in the country side.”

The young rider has already picked up a winner in the Sunshine State, breaking through for her maiden triumph at Yeppoon last Saturday afternoon.

She has been busy in her first weeks in Queensland, riding at Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville, so far.

After struggling to get a foothold for regular opportunities back home in Victoria, that is exactly what Quilty is after – busy weeks full of race rides.

“It was just a lack of opportunities back home, there is just too many jockeys,” she said.

“I was just struggling to get rides in the end and I was always thinking about a change.

“I thought it was the right time.

"I had been to Queensland only on holidays before this so it's nice to have time to have a good look around.”

The daughter of fellow jockey Cameron Quilty rode almost 50 winners in Victoria before heading north, including one victory at metropolitan level.

Quilty worked for Michael Kent in Melbourne.

She considered moving to Rockhampton before a phone call with Holt sealed the Townsville deal.

Holt trains in partnership with her husband, Aidan, who is a former jockey.

“They are amazing, they have been really welcoming for me,” Quilty said of the Holts.

“I feel like I have been working there for years already.”