It was the early hours of Wednesday August 21, 2012, that the Maguire family received the phone call that would impact and change their life forever. The dreaded news that no racing family should ever have to hear, their stable in Leeton was on fire.
The then 17-year-old Martelle Maguire lost her best mate ‘Garry Kelly’ in the blaze – a five-year-old gelding she had purchased. He had won eleven races and Martelle had driven him in seven of those victories. Although these were the darkest of times that shaped the family, they did not let it defeat them.
In February 2013 Martelle made the move to work for Group One winning gallops trainer Lloyd Williams on his Mt Macedon property in Victoria. Only having just missed out of the celebrations of the 2012 Melbourne Cup with Green Moon, in the 18 months that she was there Martelle enjoyed success with the stable when won the Caulfield Cup with Fawkner. In 2014 Martelle made the move back home to New South Wales where she endeavored to expand her career as a freelance harness racing driver, it was there she was offered a job with Billy Muscat and packed up her driving bag once again to move to Sydney.
Already having had a taste of success with Martelle driving a double on her first ever night in the gig behind Racemosa and Elle Hare and after making the move from the Riverina to Sydney, on Sunday afternoon October 26, 2014, she went on to drive her first Menangle winner on Cardinal Rule for trainer Michael Day in the Fisher’s Ghost Blue Blood Cup.
Continuing her success, Martelle steered her first winner as a trainer (Beau Cishlom NZ) to victory in a heat of the Golden Apple Super Store Series held during the MIA Breeders Plate carnival in Leeton earlier this year. Beau Cisholm backed up and also won the final for Martelle. It was on the same night she had been invited to drive in the Kriden Park Lady Drivers Invitation race where she finished 10th behind Lombo Hallmark.
With 29 season wins to date, Martelle is currently working for well-known local trainer Ian Wilson, enjoying success when possible as a freelance driver and training and breeding a small team of her own.
ABOUT MARTELLE
Age: 21
Birthday: 27/11/1994
Birthplace: Leeton
Coke or Pepsi? – Coke
Summer or winter? – Summer
Cats or dogs? – Dogs
Biggest pet hate: Animals inside
Interesting fact – I have two different coloured eyes – one blue and one green
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
