Taylor and Stanley set to plunder more carnival riches

By Glenn Davis    

In-form Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor and close friend, jockey Justin Stanley, hope to plunder another country feature with Honkytonk Diva in the Newmarket Handicap at Mackay on Friday.

Taylor and Stanley have been close mates for four years and combined to win the Newmarket Handicap with Honkytonk Diva at Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park on July 12.

“I’ve been a close friend of Justin since I legged him up for the first time on Finucane Missile which won at Rocky a few years ago,” Taylor said.

“Justin is more of a mate than a work colleague.”

Honkytonk Diva’s win in the Rockhampton Newmarket was a dream come true for Taylor who has wanted to win a hometown feature since he started training nearly six years ago.

“I’ve had a couple of goes to win the Rocky Newmarket and it was a great thrill to finally win it this year with Justin,” Taylor said.

“This is the first time I’ve had a runner in the Mackay Newmarket but I’m confident Honkytonk Diva will be very competitive again.

“It’s her pet trip and she’s as honest as the day’s long.

“The only time she missed a place for me was in The Fitzroy and things didn’t go right for her that day.”

The daughter of Under The Louvre turns five on August 1 and has won nine of her 27 starts for prizemoney in excess of $375,000.

Honkytonk Diva’s owners Brian and Kayleen Gibson initially raced her in Brisbane with Eagle Farm trainer Kelly Schweida before sending her to Taylor just over a year ago.

Under Taylor’s care, Honkytonk Diva has started 12 times for seven wins and four placings.

Taylor plans to follow the northern carnivals with Honkytonk Diva.

“I’m planning to run her in the Cleveland Bay in Townsville then the Cairns Newmarket if all goes well,” he said.

Taylor is yet to study the Mackay field in depth but rated the Jamie McConachy-trained Montenegro Man as one of her main threats.

Montenegro Man made her debut for McConachy with a fast finishing second to Fanaar in an 1100-metre Open at Mackay on July 4.

A former Victorian, Montenegro Man had stints with Schweida and McConachy before a brief career with Toowoomba’s Pat Webster.