Owen Martin has proved that anything is possible, training four year old mare Hellovaway to her maiden win in the Active Electrical Geelong & Shepparton Young Drivers Challenge at Ballarat.
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Prior to her first start at Ballarat, Martin was quietly confident she would be able to win, but wasn't expecting her to win as easy.
In a race that was fast paced from the outset, Hellovaway led at the bell and finished strongly to record a winning mile rate of 1.56.7.
Todd McCartney had the drive on the four year old and Martin was full of praise for him as the duo finished 14 metres clear of second placed Margin Call.
Two months ago Martin was struggling to get the trotter to go around corners and now she sits one win from one start.
"Two months ago you wouldn't have wanted her," Martin said.
"We certainly had problems with her early."
Martin had all but given up on the four year old's racing career until one morning she showed promise.
"It just happened overnight. All of a sudden she wanted to run so we worked harder and harder," Martin said.
Hellovaway has been at the Martin stables in Concongella since she was purchased from Peter Craven in September.
"Originally we bought her for breeding purposes, her family just have winners galore," Martin said.
Hellovaway's mother Jilliby Jasmine was a handy racing mare in her prime, chalking up nine wins over a 48 start career.
Martin has every intention of running Hellovaway again at Charlton in two days time and then at Mildura on the weekend in the Vic Bred four year old heats.
"The horse has a bright future ahead of her now," Martin said.
"She has pulled up terrific, and now we are just excited for her next race. The horse has a beautiful nature and is a pleasure to train."
The mare is expected to run in a variety of distances to find where she is best suited, but Martin believes the longer the race goes on the better she will get.
