From childhood pick to winner’s circle for Meaghan

By Jordan Gerrans

Young Redcliffe horsewoman Meaghan McNee has been searching for her maiden winner since 2023 and she landed a fitting result with stable favourite Nautie Galvinator on Sunday evening on her home track. 

The five-year-old gelding has only been racing for Meaghan’s stable since January of this year but her association with the pacer dates back to his days as a foal before his journey began.

For much of Nautie Galvinator’s career, he was prepared by Meaghan’s father Mark as they combined to win 10 races.

The McNee clan prepared the gelding’s mother Sheza Galvinator before her retirement back in 2019.

Following that, the McNee family was invited out to inspect a few standardbred babies a few years back at a stud farm.

That is when the 20-year-old Meaghan was set on the youngster that would become Nautie Galvinator.

“It actually hit a soft spot a little bit for me,” Meaghan said of Sunday night’s win.

“Me and my sisters were told that we could pick which one we wanted and there were a few other foals to pick from. 

“My father could train them, but we were told that they could be our horses.

“I ended up picking him when he was born. 

"I actually had a really special connection with the mother, Sheza Galvinator.

“So, I said to my sisters even before these foals were born that I wanted one from Sheza Galvinator regardless of what he is like.

“He won me over once he was born.”

Young Meaghan had taken more than 20 runners to the races in her own name before breaking through on Sunday evening.

As she has been along for the ride with Nautie Galvinator since her teenage years, it was a heartfelt result for the emerging trainer. 

“Meaghan’s been hands-on with him ever since he was a weanling,” Meaghan’s father Mark said.

“I just think it was good, it's all a family affair.

“She's been trying for a few years to get that first winner and she has been on the verge of giving it away at times.

“I gave her that horse and she's done a good job with him. It is good to see her get some recognition.”

Driven by young reinsman Will Rothwell, Nautie Galvinator went on to score by more than three metres after landing the inside front row draw. 

It was the sixth time Nautie Galvinator had started for Meaghan after her father transferred over his training duties earlier this year.

Mark, who is also President of the club at Redcliffe, was chuffed to see his smiling daughter receive some reward for effort after many years toiling away aiming to nab a breakthrough victory.

“She came through the many trots and has always been at the stables,” Mark said.

“She has never wanted to pursue a career as a driver; she has just always wanted to be a trainer. That's what she enjoys doing.

“She has had a few horses over the years and she has been thinking about if she wanted to keep training or not because she was not getting as many results as she would have liked.

“I gave her Nautie Galvinator to train because she does so much work with him.

“Nautie Galvinator is owned by one of my other daughters as well as a friend of the family.”

As well as training her team of horses, young Meaghan is also secretary of the Redcliffe club which involves working in the office during the week as well as at race meetings.

It can be busy juggling the pacers and her day job, but she loves being around the industry.

It was a special night for the McNee clan on Sunday evening at their home track as they walked away with a winning double.

Later in the program, Mark scored with Threefiveone. 

Will Rothwell drove Meaghan’s horse to victory while his twin brother Nathan was in the sulky for Threefiveone’s tight triumph. 

While Threefiveone races under Mark’s stable banner, the club boss credited his young daughter for her influence on the filly as she won the second event of her racing tenure in 13 attempts. 

“To be honest, it was probably her that made that horse win,” Mark said.

“She drove Threefiveone a week before in trackwork and she suggested we make a gear change on the horse.

“We did that for Sunday night and she came out and won.

“A lot of that credit’s got to go to Meaghan for that horse winning, as well.”