Tim Martin, trainer ... horseman

Tim Martin grew up with horses, and from an early age Tim was competing in rodeo’s, pony club and agricultural shows.

Tim’s Uncle Ron Martin was a leading trainer in Hunter & North West New South Wales for 30 years. From the age of 10, Tim worked in his Uncle’s stable and even started riding track work. Tim knew from an early age that his passion was racing.

At the age of 15; Tim left school to take over the running of his Uncle Ron’s stable, due to his poor health.

Six months later Uncle Ron was on the improve and Tim was keen to get to Sydney as opposed to returning to school.

First stop was the Les Bridge stable at Randwick where Tim worked with turf legends such as Sir Dapper, Drawn, Row of Waves and Melbourne Cup winner Kensai. The stable was at an all time high running 3rd on the Sydney Premiership during the 2 years that Tim worked there.

From there Tim moved to the great Tommy Smith yard, where he spent valuable time breaking in leading 2 year olds such as Star Watch (Golden Slipper Winner ) and Comely Girl ( Second to Star Watch in 1988 Golden Slipper).

In 1988 Tim returned to Walcha and started training for himself. With a small team of 3 horses, Tim’s first ever runner was a winner at Armidale; a filly named Arogen Mist. With increasing success Tim moved to Tamworth in 1992 and within 5 years became the leading Hunter and North West New South Wales trainer. With a full stable at Tamworth and 4 consecutive premiership wins Tim decided to open a Sydney Stable in 2001.

Since arriving in Sydney, Tim has managed to have a place in the top 10 metropolitan trainers on winners each year as well as maintaining an outstanding strike rate, placing him in the top 2-3 trainers.

Training highlights include:

• Exceed and Excel – 1st in the Group 1 MRC Dubai Cup and Group 1 VRC Newmarket Handicap;

• Stormhill – 1st in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes, 1st in the Group 3 Grafton Cup and Group 2 Shannon Stakes;

• Oh Oklahoma – 2nd in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas;

• Gonski – 1st in the Listed Concept Stakes at Flemington;

• Murtajill – 1st in the Listed Breeders Stakes and the Group 3 Skyline Stakes;

• Redoute’s Dancer – 1st in the Group 2 NZ Championship Stakes and 1st in the Group 1 NZ Derby; and

• Typhoon Zed – 1st in the Group 1 Galaxy, Group 1 Manikato and Group 3 Concorde Stakes.