Rookie trainer grabs maiden victory on her home track

By Jordan Gerrans

Young Miles trainer Maleah Hill will cry when one of the gallopers from her stable runs in the top three.

So, it is fair to say that Saturday was a memorable occasion for the rookie hobby trainer.

After starting the first horse in her own name in October of last year, she broke through for her maiden victory on Saturday afternoon on her home track.

For the record, she collected two minor placings – so a pair of emotional occasions – before she landed her first triumph on race day.

The win came at just her ninth start as a trainer with gelding Dustins doing the job.

Hill says she is usually a nervous mess before races – just hoping her horse and rider get around safely – and Saturday was no different.  

Dustins improved in each of his two starts for the Hill team and went one better again on Saturday in the QTIS Maiden Plate over 1200 metres.

“Even when my horses place, I cry because I am just so proud of them,” Hill said on Monday morning.

“Saturday was really nice and I was absolutely stoked for everyone involved because it is not just my win, its our win for the whole team involved.

“We finally put it all together. It was fantastic.”

Dustins had gone 22 starts without greeting the judges before Saturday.

The trainer describes her stable star as a “a big larrikin”.

Dustins - a five-year-old chestnut gelding - led into the home straight and just held on to claim his first career win. 

Hill has been involved with performance horses, camp drafting and show jumping for much of her life but it is a relative newcomer to the thoroughbred racing industry.

She first got involved with the gallopers through a famous name from the town of Miles – the Johnson clan.

Hill’s parents owned gallopers with Des Johnson – father of stalwart bush trainer Bevan – and raced a number of horses over the years, including Monarch Lady, among others.

When the Bevan Johnson team was based in Miles, Hill was a regular around their stables, helping out with the horses as well as owning shares in a few.

Hill describes Bevan’s wife - Mel Johnson – as one of her closest friends and that is who pushed her towards training in her own right.

“When they left Miles, I missed being around the horses so I eventually rang up Mel early last year and told her that I was having a mid-life crisis,” Hill recalls.

“I wanted to train horses and she was very supportive.

“I am very new to the racing side of it all but I have had horses all my life.”

After moving from Miles to Moranbah, the Johnson stable – who race champion warhorse Fab’s Cowboy – now call Barcaldine home.

Hill has four on her books, including 40 start maidener Nalssendori and grey gelding I'm Jacko, who has raced with success around South East Queensland in recent years for his former trainer Glen Petersen.

Despite being new to the training ranks, Hill has always had a close association with the breed of horses.

“I do love thoroughbreds and I have got a lot of former race horses that are re-trained,” she said.

“I get them to their forever homes eventually.”

As well as her fledgling training pursuits, Hill manages a mechanic workshop during the day.

As the Miles and District Amateur Picnic Race Club only host a meeting once every year, Hill says it was extra special to grab her maiden victory on her home track.

“Hopefully a few more winners can come from it,” she said.