Taylor and The Barber Give Classic Field Short Back and Sides

Rockhampton trainer Alisha Taylor kept a strong family tradition going when The Barber scored a stunning win in the $100,000 Belle Property Group 2YO Classic at Cluden on Saturday. 

Taylor, an ex-jockey who only took up training at the end of 2025, landed her biggest win with The Barber in a race her father Garnett has won twice.

The win also continued a winning run in the feature for ace jockey Ryan Wiggins who has won on all three of the Taylor-trained horses.

In a fast run race, Wiggins had The Barber placed third on the fence before finishing strongly in the straight to run down brave favourite Better Blitzem who was fired out of barrier 15 to lead.

Rockhampton filly Stylish Diamond rounded out the placings almost five lengths from the winner in a fast race time of 1m 9.05s.

 A jubilant Taylor said The Barber had a big future after claiming the Classic at just his third career start.

“We decided to set him for this about six weeks ago. He was quite immature for a little bit but every time we’ve raised the bar he’s stepped up and that’s what I really like about him,” Taylor said.

“After his second start he’s come on in leaps and bounds and I was really confident coming here today when he drew a good gate.

“I think he’ll be a very nice horse as a three-year-old and over 1400m to a mile too.

“We booked Ryan a month ago for the reason he’s the best rider up this way for this race I believe.

“It’s my biggest win since I started training at the end of last year. I’ve got a good strike rate here. That’s three from three at Cluden so it’s a big day.

“Dad won the race twice. I might ring him later.”

Wiggins capped a dream run this season in big two-year-old races, claiming the $500,000 QTIS Jewel at the Gold Coast and the Capricornia 2YO Classic in Rockhampton – both on Swift Dragon - and now the Townsville Classic.

A courageous but luckless Better Blitzem placed in all three but was plagued by wide barrier draws.

Wiggins said The Barber oozed quality and was city class.

“It’s been a good race to me, I seem to be able to pick the race at the right time and ride for the people who seem to get these young ones going,” Wiggins said.

“They booked me four weeks ago and said they weren’t going to run him leading into this and I was a bit sceptical.

“But they’re a very astute camp and the horse looked a million dollars.

“I couldn’t have been any more confident going to the gates on him.

“I definitely think he’s city class and he might make a good guineas horse next season.

“He’s a professional horse for a two-year-old with a beautiful action, and all the signs are there of a good horse.”

The Barber, by Barbaric, is raced by a big syndicate of owners which includes One Syndications who were represented on the day by Glen King.