Taplin confidence grows for winter with Tapildoodledo

By Glenn Davis

Sunshine Coast trainer Kerry Taplin is amazed with how a trip away to Sydney has mentally improved promising stayer Tapildoodledo ahead of his return in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Taplin sent Tapildoodledo to Sydney hoping to gain a start in the Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick and their dreams came true when the gelding won the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill last month.

While elated with his Tulloch Stakes victory, Taplin was far from disappointed when Tapildoodledo finished in the second half of the field on a Heavy track in the Australian Derby, which was won by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Major Beel.

“His Tulloch Stakes win was a surprise but we were naturally very pleased as we would have been happy if he finished in the first four and maybe got a Derby start,” she said.

“It wasn’t the Heavy track that beat him in the Derby.

“It was a race that wasn’t run to suit him and was a stop-start affair.”

Former New Zealander Taplin came to Queensland to train on the Sunshine Coast in June last year and is aiming Tapildoodledo for the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm in June.

“He had 12 days out in the paddock after his Sydney campaign and he’s freshened up nicely,” Taplin said.

“He’s grown mentally. It’s like the trip away has matured him enormously.

“His work at the Sunshine Coast last Saturday was the best he’s ever done and his work rider, Todd Banks, got off him shaking his head.”

Tapildoodledo is owned by Taplin’s husband Ian.

Kerry and Ian were in a training partnership when the pair first arrived in Queensland.

Ian Taplin’s biggest win as an owner was with Tapildoodledo’s grand-dam Tapildo who won the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks in 2001.

As a trainer Ian Taplin’s best win was with Ritani in a Group 3 Winter Cup over 1600 metres at Riccarton in 2021.

Tapildoodledo will be ridden by Mark Du Plessis and will head to the Rough Habit Plate next start before the Queensland Derby.

“He’s dropping back to 1600 metres, which is a worry, but he’s performed well over it before,” Kerry said.

“It was his run in the Grand Prix over 2100 metres, when he finished fourth, which gave us the confidence to send him to Sydney for the Australian Derby.

“From a Queensland Derby viewpoint, I’ll be happy if he runs in the first four as this is not his grand final.”