Clinton Taylor's rise up training ranks continues

Rockhampton’s Clinton Taylor’s progression as a trainer has made him one of the up-and-coming horseman in the state.

BOOM BOOM BECKER.
BOOM BOOM BECKER. Picture: Racing Photos

And, his growing reputation in only four years of training looks set for another boost when he heads to Yeppoon on Tuesday with a team of four starters.

Clinton Taylor's in-form sprinter Boom Boom Becker lines up in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres and is aiming to extend his winning sequence to four.

Taylor, who turned 38 last week, is a son of fellow trainer Garnett Taylor, who is based at Caloundra, and was a former jockey before weight problems ended his career.

So far this season Taylor has trained 10 winners to be eighth in the Queensland trainers' premiership and is fourth with eight winners on the provincial premiership ladder.

With a 34.5 per cent winning strike rate this season, Taylor has one of the best strikes rates of any trainer in the state with 17 wins from his past 50 starters.

Boom Boom Becker, a Nathan Day mount, chalked up a hat-trick of wins last start when he put together a dominant victory over star sprinter Marway in a 1300 metre Open event at Yeppoon on September 13.

Taylor is confident Boom Boom Becker can repeat the win.

He overhauled early leader Marway for a near two length victory earlier this month. 

"His last win was super and the key to him has been putting a cross over nose band on him when he won at Mackay," Taylor said.

"He's still eligible for a Class 6 but he's down in the weights in Open company and this looks the right kind of race for him."

Boom Boom Becker has been a great for Taylor, who picked him up for only $11,000 at an online Inglis sale.

"He's been a good buy for us off Troy and Leon Corstens, who trained him previously in Victoria," Taylor said.

"We had a good year last season to finish fourth in the provincial premiership but you've got to have good horses."

Taylor has 25 horses in work at Rockhampton and dreams of training in the big smoke one day.

"I'd like to test the waters down south one day and obviously Eagle Farm would be the dream place to train but you need good horses to go there," he said.

 


Racing and Sports