Kyle Wilson-Taylor will be crowned the Brisbane Apprentice Jockeys’ Premiership winner for the 2021/22 season.
That statement has got to have a nice ring to it for the young rider who can now officially claim that distinction following a tremendous, head-to-head battle over recent months with colleague and friend Jaden Lloyd, who will not be back for the remainder of the season after picking up a suspension and then electing to take an extended break from race-riding.
Wilson-Taylor’s journey along the way has mostly been well documented, but, as it can now be viewed from a position of acknowledged achievement, it is well worth revisiting here.
In real terms, given all of the wrong turns he could have taken, it can now be read as an inspirational story in its own right.
“It was probably about five years ago now when my family life deteriorated a bit,” said Wilson-Taylor, taking up the story. “I was pretty much homeless, moving from friend to friend, living on the couch.
“At that stage I had already been turned down twice for a place at the apprentice jockey school in Victoria. Basically, I was mucking up and wasn’t leading a good life … and then my uncle told me I needed to get away from there.
“I guess that was the pivotal point in getting me going. We had that chat one day in the car and he just said, if you don’t get out of here and stop what you are doing … who knows where you will end up.
“So, I did that. I went to Coffs Harbour.”
“Not many people realise the dire a situation my family was in. It was a very, very scary … and very difficult to leave them at that stage when they were in a vulnerable position,” continued Wilson-Taylor.
“It was heart-breaking! My brother was balling his eyes out when I left … and my mum.
“My mum, Cara, is an outstanding role-model. I think she is the reason I am as resilient as I am. I have seen the struggles my mum has gone through and how she has pushed through them all and come out the other side. It’s like she has somehow managed to gain some benefit out of everything that has happened.
“My little brother, Cooper, is a gun footballer now and I think that is also because of my mum and the hard work she puts in.
“I am so far away from them, but their support and knowing they follow what I am doing is also something that helps me keep pushing to be better … because my little brother and sister (Mia) can see what I doing, and know that no matter what they do in their life, if they work hard they can enjoy it and get where they want to be.
“So, I went to Coffs Harbour,” said Wilson-Taylor.
“It was easier to get into racing in New South Wales than in Victoria and Brett Dodson took me on straight away. I had a family member that lived in Coffs, so that helped a bit, but I didn’t know anybody else, so it was very scary.
“Brett was very good boss. He can be hard at times … and he still is when I talk to him. He is a great boss. He has got another apprentice now, but he says nobody can match me as to how dumb I was with some of the things I used to do when I first arrived there.
“I had a few falls and took a break from riding and then I went to Dwayne Schmidt for a bit, and he was very tough … a very tough boss … and he put some of that toughness into me. He taught me a lot of things away from the track … some valuable horsemanship skills.
“I went back to Coffs Harbour for a while before I moved to Queensland to Lindsay Hatch in Toowoomba.
“I had the opportunity to go to Sydney or Queensland, so I thought that Queensland was an easier transition from where I was at Coffs. He was also a boss who kept me in line and never let me get ahead of myself.
“We had a great association there and we still have that today even though I’m now with Kelly Schweida in Brisbane. Kelly too is an outstanding boss.
“I haven’t been the easiest kid to deal with,” acknowledged Wilson-Taylor, “and all of my bosses have played an instrumental part in helping me get where I am today … and I still have conversations with them all.”
“Sometimes I do have to sit back and look at what has happened to me,” said Wilson-Taylor.
“Before I left Melbourne … well, I’m living the life now that I dreamed of then. I’ve got a fantastic partner (fellow jockey Angela Jones). Sometimes I really do have to pinch myself. I’m very lucky.
“My life is very good now and hopefully it can continue to be that way.
“I’m very proud of what I have achieved.
“When I first had the idea of becoming a jockey, I didn’t know how to ride a horse or anything at all about it really.
“Bronwyn Upjohn taught me to ride in Melbourne. She is a breaker and pre-trainer and the best horseman you could ever see.
“I remember well the days of her shaking her head and yelling at me when I kept falling off the ponies … but she persevered with me for which I am grateful.
“Why did I persevere myself? I think you can put it down to it being an obsession.
“I am quite an obsessive person and when I want something I go for it and I get it … as has happened here, obviously with the help of a lot of good people around me.
“I’m very thankful to everyone who helped me along the way and who put their trust in me by allowing me to have the opportunity to ride their horses.”
The Brisbane Apprentice Jockey’s Premiership title this season. So, is the overall Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership (in which Wilson-Taylor will finish fourth this season) a target for the 2022/23 season.
“For sure,” answered Wilson-Taylor.
“You never want to get ahead of yourself, but you’ve got to have goals.
“We’re going to be pressing on to be better every season … wherever that take us … but, yes, the Premiership would be a target.”
Every credit that Wilson-Taylor has given to all of those people who played an important roles in his progress through the riding ranks is valid … and all of those people can take a bow at how their input has helped mould someone who, by his own admission, was lost for a while into a Champion Apprentice Jockey.
For all of that mentoring though … for all of the advice … for all of the tough love that helped shape and define the man he has become … nothing was possible if Wilson-Taylor was not prepared to put in the hard yards himself.
He was and he is … and for that Kyle Wilson-Taylor can take the biggest bow of all!
