Maher steps in to buy Weir showpiece
TAKING on a new stable complex wasn’t on trainer Ciaron Maher’s agenda a week ago but he’s now the owner of one of the biggest in Australia.
Maher Racing yesterday announced they had bought out disgraced trainer Darren Weir’s Forest Lodge business at Ballarat.
“The opportunity came up and it was too good not to pursue. We’ve managed to get one of the best stable facilities in the country,” Maher said,
Maher and his business partners, Weir and his team, Ballarat Turf Club representatives and Racing Victoria representatives nutted out an agreement over several hours.
The Maher team will also consider buying Weir’s Warrnambool stables.
Maher said they would take on a large number of horses that were trained by Weir but didn’t know how many.
“We’re still working out how many horses we will have there and how many staff will be needed,” said Maher, who trains in partnership with David Eustace at Caulfield and a new base in Sydney.
Maher said they had the capacity to take 150 horses at Ballarat but they wouldn’t be near that level for some time.
He also said he would stay at Caulfield for the time being.
Maher said he had mixed emotions dealing with Weir, who had put his heart and soul into building Forest Lodge.
As for Weir’s administrative staff, Maher said he hadn’t worked through that issue yet.