Cover image courtesy of Melissa Taylor Racing
Trainer Melissa Taylor has been playing mind games with Mob Buster ahead of the G3 Winx Guineas on his home track on Saturday and judging by the 3-year-old’s performances this preparation she has come out on top.
Mob Buster has two wins and a couple of placings from his last four appearances and made ground well at his most recent appearance to finish third behind the highly regarded Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in the G3 Gunsynd Classic.
“I am quite fortunate that where my stables are I have day yards and I'm able to keep him there and out of the stable environment, so to speak, as often as possible,” Taylor said.
“I tinker with his training, it’s all about mental stimulation for them and him in particular so I mix his training up and keep him outside. He’s comfortable with that.
“I tinker with his (Mob Buster) training, it’s all about mental stimulation for them and him in particular so I mix his training up and keep him outside.” - Melissa Taylor
“He came to me from another trainer late in his last preparation and I did give him one start. That was probably going to the well one too many times.
“I gave him a good spell and he started this preparation with fresh legs. He is still quite mentally immature and the break did him good.”
The gelding has won both of his races on the Sunshine Coast course with his breakthrough success posted on a Heavy 8 track so Saturday’s conditions shouldn’t impact on his chances.
Mob Buster was bred by Goldmount Lodge and is a son of Tycoon’s Heart (Show A Heart), who won five races and was placed in the Listed Princess S. She is a daughter of the Listed Timaru Cup winner Tycoon Tango (NZ) (Last Tycoon {Ire}).
“Goldmount Lodge breed and race all their horses and have done for many years. I’ve got 20 for them in the stable at the moment and have been fortunate to have trained for them for the last 12 months,” Taylor said.
Early retirement
She has been training for the last three years after initially pursuing a career as an apprentice jockey and rode eight winners before her forced retirement.
“I was born and bred into the game and my father Glenn was a jockey, my grandparents trained and my mother Janet is a trainer at Cranbourne,” Taylor said.
“I was originally an apprentice jockey as a 14-year-old and started with Robbie Laing and finished with Mick Price.
“It was pretty cool the other day when Mick’s horse Ayrton won the Gunsynd and mine finished third, it was great to catch up with him at the races.
“I had a trackwork accident riding work at Caulfield for Mick and medically deemed not to ride in races again.
“I can ride my own trackwork now, but back then it took me a long time to recover and I was fortunate to be able to progress into training.”
