KWT IS BACK IN THE GROOVE IN QUEENSLAND

By Graham Potter | Sunday, November 8, 2026

Kyle Wilson-Taylor is back in the groove in Queensland following a riding spell in New Zealand.

The Group 1 winning rider decided on a change of scenery at the start of the season and, although his proposed stay in the land of the long white cloud did not go the distance (he had originally planned to ride in the feature races there over summer), Wilson-Taylor is well satisfied with the value he has gained with the exercise … both in terms of riding experience and personal growth.

“It definitely served a purpose for me,” said Wilson-Taylor.

“It made me realise that I had probably been resting on my laurels a bit in Queensland. I wasn’t working as hard I should have,” offered Wilson-Taylor quite candidly. “Yeah, I felt like I just needed a bit of a change.

‘I thought that was probably the hard thing to do … to leave my comfort surroundings … but I thought, oh well, I’d go over and give it a go there.

“I worked hard, met some great people rode a few winners and travelled the country.

“You know, you are riding at meetings there where the temperature is four or five degrees, riding on very heavy tracks. Obviously, it was only for two-and-a-half months, but I feel like I’ve really toughened up a bit, and it also made you gain a great appreciation of what you have at home.

“I was away from my partner, so it was difficult at times.

“I actually came home for a suspension and I just thought … what am I doing?

‘I’ve got some great connections here … some really good, loyal supporters … and I just thought if I pulled my head in, so to speak, and worked as hard as I was working there, I’d reap the rewards.

“It was great being there in New Zealand … and now it’s fantastic to be home.”

Wilson-Taylor’s victory on Elevating at Eagle Farm on Saturday was his sixth win since returning to his Queensland base just three weeks ago.

Those wins have come for six different trainers at six different tracks, indicating that ‘work hard’ ethic is very much in play and it is one which has already produced a solid launching pad as Wilson-Taylor looks to build more momentum as he heads towards the summer season.

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