Mackinnon racing stable outlines key summer chances

Rising Queensland trainer Taylah Mackinnon is growing in confidence after scoring her first metropolitan victory, as she pinpoints her stable’s next batch of stars.

Taylah Mackinnon at Sunshine Coast Turf Club. Picture: GaziPhoto

Rising Sunshine Coast trainer Taylah Mackinnon is continuing to flourish alongside her father, with the small stable recently securing its first ever metropolitan win.

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

She said she learnt a lot in her first season and hoped to continue their good run of form.

“We’re off to a good start, there’s always room for improvement but training our first city winner in Contribute as a partnership was a real highlight,” she said.

“Our aim now is to keep the winners rolling, there’s some nice horses returning or making their debut early which is all pretty exciting.”

Taylah Mackinnon at Sunshine Coast Turf Club. Picture: GaziPhoto

Her father, who has been involved in the industry for more than 40 years, worked alongside the late great Bruce McLachlan before relocating to Caloundra in 1995.

The stable made the decision to retire Kilcoy Cup winning runner Wine Not Roses in October but Mackinnon said she had her eye on a few leading chances for the coming months.

“She (Wine Not Roses) bled from both nostrils after her last run at Caloundra, it was only her first time but we just decided to pull the pin on her there and then so she’s out at Eureka Stud now and hopefully going to be in foal,” she said.

“We’ve got eight in the stable currently with Allow Me returning soon.

“She’s a pretty classy Spirit Of Boom filly who’s still fairly green but she won on debut and will look to trial in the next few weeks.

“From our two-year-olds there’s one that we breed ourselves, he’s unnamed but is one that we quite like and will be aimed for early in the new year.”

Mackinnon said her dad was looking to wind down his career but knew he wouldn’t be straying too far from the stables.

“I think it depends who you ask, he thinks he’s retiring in the next few seasons but that’ll be as much as taking his name off things while still helping me out and throwing in his two cents I’m sure,” she said.

Taylah’s brother Scott works as the race starter for the Sunshine Coast Turf Club while her partner Nathan is the eldest son of leading trainer Stuart Kendrick.