Taylor eager for first hometown feature victory

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Clinton Taylor is hopeful a decision to send former Brisbane filly Honkytonk Diva to Central Queensland for the 2023 Northern Winter Carnival will be rewarded in the QTIS Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas at Rockhampton on Saturday.

Taylor boasts one of the best strike rates of any trainer in the country and will also saddle up Zipping Irish in the 1500 metre feature.

Honkytonk Diva has been with Taylor for her last two starts after owners Brian and Kayleen Gibson raced her in Brisbane with trainer Kelly Schweida.

The daughter of Under The Louvre recorded her third win in 17 starts when she was successful at her first start for Taylor in a 1300 metre three-year-old race at Callaghan Park on June 2.

She was then beaten less than a length when finishing second to the Ryan Tyrell and Tom Button-trained Whistling Spirit against her own age over 1400 metres at Rockhampton on June 23.

“She was probably a run short when she was beaten last time as she had a hiccup and missed some track work,” Taylor said.

“She’s stepping up to 1500 metres for the first time on Saturday, which is a question mark, but she’ll be hard to beat if she can get a soft run.

“When she won first-up for me she was just outside the track record.”

Taylor has trained many horses for the Gibsons during his five-year training career.

“I’ve trained a lot of horses for them and had a lot of success,” Taylor said.

“She was with Kelly Schweida in Brisbane but they decided to send her to me when the winter carnival was on in Brisbane and she’s getting to the end of her QTIS life.”

Taylor rates Honkytonk Diva as the pick of his pair but won’t be surprised to see Zipping Irish run a big race.

Zipping Irish has started 14 times for two wins and nine placings and is coming off a last start fourth in a 1560 metre Benchmark race at Mackay last Saturday.

“She’s down a lot in weight this time but she’s been her own worst enemy by being so consistent and getting big weights,” he said.

“If it’s a leaderish track she’s a knock out chance.”

Taylor is currently seventh in the state’s trainers’ premiership with 65 wins but has the best winning strike rate of the top seven with 32.5 per cent.

“We’ve been around 32 per cent all year which has been our aim and we’ve got a big team” he said.

“It’s been a terrific year for us with a runner (Divine Purpose) in a Group 1, just got beat in a Listed race with Chinny Boom and had two metropolitan winners so it’s been good.”