Hobby trainer set for breakthrough with Tambourine Man

By Glenn Davis

Hobby trainer Kevin Martin is hopeful of an early breakthrough win from new stable acquisition Tambourine Man when the gelding heads to Ipswich on Wednesday.

Martin has a small team of four horses in work at Eagle Farm and recently bought Tambourine Man after his previous trainer Chris Meagher moved back to Victoria.

Meagher returned to his home state to be closer to family with his father, Melbourne Cup-winning trainer John Meagher, battling ill health.

John has been in a nursing home with dementia for the past few years while another son, former Singapore trainer Dan Meagher, has also returned home to begin a new training career in Melbourne.

Tambourine Man - a Karl Zechner mount - steps out for only his second start for Martin in the Class 4 Handicap over 1700 metres.

The six-year-old finished fourth in his stable debut for Martin behind the talented Kelly Schweida-trained Weigall Tiger in a 1350 metre Class 4 Handicap at Ipswich on November 28.

"Waratah Thoroughbreds owned him when he was with Chris and when he decided to move back to Victoria, I asked him if he had any horses he wasn't taking with him that I'd be interested in buying one," Martin said.

"I got him for $10,000 and I put my father Arthur and my son Caleb in with me.

"Dad is 82 and he's been around horses all his life and he still helps me around the stables while I'm running my landscape and mowing business."

Tambourine Man started his career with NSW trainer Brad Widdup but went winless in six starts before joining Meagher's stable 16 months ago.

A son of Medaglia D'Oro, Tambourine Man won three times for Meagher before finishing second at his last appearance for the former Brisbane trainer at Doomben in October.

Martin believes Tambourine Man has taken a lot of improvement since his first stable run.

"He ran super when he finished fourth in his first run for me and he just needed the run," Martin said.

"I thought he finished off his race well and he's come on well since.

"I'm sure he'll run a big race and hopefully he'll be able to take up a nice handy position."