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FWC on Sport Nation guideTaplin scores first treble
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • July 10th, 2026 3:45 pm
Jack Taplin winning aboard Rocmont at Cambridge on Thursday | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
It was a memorable day at Cambridge on Thursday for local apprentice jockey Jack Taplin, who recorded his first treble at the synthetic meeting.
Taplin was upbeat about his chances heading into the meeting, with the 22-year-old hoop booked to ride two favourites in Ebony Gem and Lady Iris, but is was aboard the Bruce Harvey-trained Rocmont that he scored his first win of the day in the Remembering Ngakau Hailey 1300.
From his wide draw, Taplin took the gelding back to settle at the rear of the field. There was plenty of pace upfront and the pair soon found themselves several lengths adrift of the pack, but under the urgings of Taplin, Rocmont made up the deficit and rejoined the field with 800m to go.
Entering the home straight, Taplin guided his charge out wide and Rocmont began to make solid inroads, collaring Oban and Lhasa in the final 50m and he went on to win by a neck.
Taplin went on to guide Ebony Gem to victory in the TAB 970 before bringing up the 100th season win for his employer, Stephen Marsh, aboard Lady Iris in the TCL Earthworks 970.
“It was great to ride my first treble,” Taplin said.
“I was quietly confident with a couple of them going in. I thought Ebony Gem was my best for yesterday, but I ended up with a couple of other wins, which was great.
“Rocmont was a bit of a surprise, he went really well. It was good to get a winner for the chairman (Waikato Thoroughbred Racing chairman Bruce Harvey) and stay on the right side of him.
“It was also great to get the win for Stephen, I believe it was his 100th win of the season, which would have put a smile on his face.”
Taplin is hoping to continue his winning momentum into the weekend where he will have seven rides at Ruakaka on Saturday, and he is particularly excited about the prospects of the Mark Brosnan-trained Fly My Wey in the ITM/GIB Whangarei Gold Cup (2100m), who will benefit from Taplin’s two-kilogram claim.
Taplin has ridden the son of Sweynesse once before when fifth in the South Waikato Cup (2000m) at Matamata in March, and he is confident of an improved result this weekend, and bookmakers share his confidence, with Fly My Wey currently a $5.50 second favourite behind Drop Of Something at $4.80.
“He is definitely my best tomorrow and he has a good record on the track,” Taplin said. “A couple of kilos off is going to help him too.
“He is beautiful old horse, he is an absolute dude and does everything himself.”
With 49 wins to his credit this term, Taplin is happy with the way the season has gone despite it being interrupted by injury, and he singled out his win aboard Capo Dell Impero in the Founders Cup (2600m) as his season highlight.
“The season hasn’t been too bad, I have been kicking a few over after coming back from injury,” Taplin said.
“I won the Founders Cup for the Andertons on Capo Dell Impero down at Riccarton, and it was really good winning that.”
