Father, daughter racing duo Taylah and Stewart Mackinnon excited with Spirit Of Boom filly

Up and coming Queensland racing trainer Taylah Mackinnon knows her Spirit Of Boom filly is in good order as her stable looks to record their second ever metropolitan victory at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Taylah Mackinnon. Picture: GaziPhoto

Rising Sunshine Coast trainer Taylah Mackinnon is ready to add to her maiden metropolitan victory through the hopes of leading stable star Allow Me at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The 23-year-old, who previously worked for Sunshine Coast-based trainers Darryl Hansen and Stuart Kendrick, went into partnership with her dad Stewart in October 2022.

Stewart, who has been in the industry for over 40 years, worked alongside the late great Bruce McLachlan before relocating to Caloundra in 1995.

The pair notched up their first metropolitan win back in September and hoped to add to their tally through their promising Spirit Of Boom filly in the Three-Year-Old Handicap (1300m).

“I think the step up to 1300m is definitely something she’s looking for given her last two runs and two placings at the Sunshine Coast,” Mackinnon said.

“She’s still doing a little bit wrong so the blinkers will stay on again because you look at that first-up win she had, it was exciting but she was all over the shop in that last 50m.

Sunshine Coast racing trainers Taylah and Stewart Mackinnon. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“She’s just not mustering early speed like she needs to when racing over 1000m so she’s setting a big task for herself even though she’s flying home and hitting the line well.”

Mackinnon said Mark du Plessis would retain the ride.

“We’ll see how Saturday goes, I think she’ll get out to 1400m and then over a mile but it’s the time of year where we can give her a few more runs, see where she’s at, tip her out and hopefully bring her back for the winter carnival which is the end goal,” she said.

“It’s always a step up going to town but I’d love to add to that tally so fingers and toes crossed we can draw a barrier and she’ll be hitting the line hard nonetheless.”

Rising Queensland racing trainer Taylah Mackinnon. Picture: GaziPhoto

Mackinnon said their stable were also keen to see how Fly Fifer could perform on debut on Sunday.

“He trialled well last week and galloped well on Tuesday so is nominated for Sunday at the Sunshine Coast but that’s been moved to Ipswich,” she said.

“It’s a bit annoying but it’s also understandable to accommodate for the Friday night meeting but she’d be another one that’s worth a look at as she goes pretty good.”

The family racing bug doesn’t stop with Taylah either as her brother Scott has worked at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club since 2015 as a barman, curator and now a race starter.