By Jordan Gerrans
While champion Roma conditioner Craig Smith has called time on his own training career, he is still passing on his decades of experience and knowledge within the industry.
Jon Taylor was a long-time lieutenant at Smith’s stable in regional Queensland and has taken on galloper Lip Sip Suk following his mentor’s decision to step back from day-to-day training.
Lip Sip Suk won on five occasions for the respected Smith between September of 2023 and June of last year.
The seven-year-old galloper scored for the first time under the guidance of his new trainer Taylor on his home deck at Roma’s Bassett Park.
The victory was Taylor’s first since he took out his training ticket earlier this year following Smith’s retirement.