EMERGING APPRENTICE LEFT KICKING HIS HEELS

By Graham Potter | Monday, March 15, 2021

“I still not allowed to ride,” said apprentice Kyle Wilson-Taylor. “I was hoping things would move along a little bit, but I’m still waiting.”

Wilson-Taylor, whose last race ride was on February 24, was referring to a licensing issue which has brought his flourishing career to a grinding halt.

“I had been riding in Queensland with a visitors apprentice license,” said Wilson-Taylor taking up the story. “I got suspended and we thought we would be able to transfer my license from New South Wales to Queensland during that time. I thought that would all be sorted while I was suspended and that I would then formally be with (trainer) Lindsay Hatch… but that still hasn’t happened.

“We probably just should have applied for an extension to the visiting license instead of cancelling my New South Wales license. They told us we had to cancel the New South Wales license before I could be registered in Queensland but, once we had done that, I was left effectively without a license to ride. We had no idea it would take this long to get an apprentice license registered and approved in Queensland.

“The application goes to the government and apparently gets put in with all of the other apprentice applications … electricians and so on … in fact, all of the apprentice applications in Queensland … so I’ve just been put on a waiting list.

“Lindsay Hatch’s wife, Tracey, has been chasing them up … still nothing.

“She’s been absolutely fantastic.

“We did get manage to get a trackwork license, so I’m keeping myself light by riding plenty of trackwork and strapping horses and making certain I’m eating right.

“It is a very frustrating time, but when we get the green light, I’ll be good to go.”

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