Big bro makes it two-from-two

Sibling rivalry is alive and well in harness racing’s southern New South Wales Maguire family – and this week older brother Reece is definitely claiming the bragging rights.

Reece Maguire made it two drives for two wins on a horse trained by his sister Martelle when Cassius NZ (Lincoln Royal – Pace Away (Sokys Atom) scored a home-track win at Leeton on Tuesday.

“We’re a typical brother and sister, we have our disagreements and we let each other know about it when we’re right – but I think it’s safe to say we were both pretty excited about the win,” Reece said.

“I’ve only had the two goes on him for two wins, so you can’t let that go past! But I actually picked out the horse in New Zealand for her, so I’m as happy as she is to see him going well,” he said.

“We actually think he’s quite a handy horse and we’re weighing up our options now about whether to give him a go in Sydney or up in Queensland, but we’ll just wait and see.”

Martelle Maguire purchased the horse last year and he scored his first win in Australia, driven by Martelle, at his seventh race start for her in January.

Reece said he liked the look of the horse after being pointed in the right direction by some New Zealand contacts.

“I thought he could do a nice little job out here, and he was reasonably priced for what he had done in New Zealand. Marty only trains one horse at a time really, and she was looking for one she could train and drive herself,” Reece said.

“He went well early, but we’re not sure if those first couple of runs took it out of him. Marty turned him out after he won in January and freshened him up and he seems to have turned the corner.”

Reece and Martelle were born into the sport of harness racing, with their dad Philip and their pop Norm Diebert Snr both experienced and successful trainers over many years.

Martelle, who is a teacher’s aid, drove a double on her first ever night in the gig behind Racemosa and Elle Hare in 2010 and scored her first win as a trainer in 2016.

Reece made the move “back home” with his partner Madi Dux from Madi’s home state of Queensland 12 months ago. Reece now works for the local water authority and Madi at the rural financial counselling service.

“I’m not driving so much these days but I like to keep my hand in by doing one or two for dad and Marty when I can. I was happy to get the chance on Cassius, because I really felt he was a better horse than he was showing. I’d definitely been at Marty a bit to give me a go on him,” he said.

“His next start was a fourth when Marty drove him, and she was planning to drive him at Leeton too, but when she gave him his last fast-work before the run he got a bit keen, so she decided to put me back on.

“The Leeton track is at the showgrounds and when the race was on Marty was at netball training down there too – I could hear her and a bunch of her mates cheering us home.

“I’m not sure whether I’ll get another chance on him or not and to be honest I don’t mind. Marty got him to have some fun with and she’s definitely doing that. It’s just been nice to get a couple of wins on the board to repay the faith.”

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink