A $2m Dance with childhood hero Dettori
KYLE Wilson-Taylor grew up with posters of Frankie Dettori on his wall, now Queensland’s leading apprentice will be looking to knock him off in the race for $2m on Melbourne Cup day at Randwick.
While he admits it will be a “pinch yourself” moment, the hard-edged Wilson-Taylor won’t be taking a backwards step in the race against his former idol, who is one of the most decorated riders in world racing.
Wilson-Taylor will make the trip to Sydney on Tuesday to ride Charmmebaby in the new $2m Big Dance, made up to compete with the Melbourne Cup.
His rise from couch-surfing teenager to leading apprentice has been well documented, but on Tuesday Wilson-Taylor will be shooting for the stars against the world’s most recognisable jockey, who has made a brief trip to Australia for both the Golden Eagle and Big Dance in Sydney.
“I used to have photos of Frankie on my wall when I was a kid growing up, so it is going to be a bit of a buzz going out there with him,” Wilson-Taylor said. “It’s one of those things that is a real pinch yourself moment.”
Wilson-Taylor is no stranger to Sydney racing after he went down with the David Vandyke-trained Weona Smartone earlier this year and almost walked away with the $2m Sydney Stakes on Everest Day after producing one of the rides of his life on the $21 outsider.
Sharing the jockeys room with the likes of James McDonald, Hugh Bowman and Kerrin McEvoy was another step in Wilson-Taylor’s progression and admits he can’t wait to get back there.
“I’m glad I have had the experience prior to going down there on Tuesday now,” he said. “It was a lot to take in, it is a high intensity place down there and riding against those jockeys on a big day.”
The former Coffs Harbour product is looking to continue his long association with the Milligan family, who now train Charmmebaby again after a winter stint in Queensland with Lawrie Mayfield-Smith.
Charmmebaby is rated a $31 chance in the Big Dance, while Dettori’s mount – Hosier – commands $4.80 favouritism.