Ciaron Maher believes he has found his “forever home” in Sydney after officially moving into the renowned Crown Lodge complex at Warwick Farm, with the leading trainer expecting a stronger metropolitan presence in the seasons ahead.
Maher had initially planned to establish himself at Leilani Lodge at Randwick and had already begun refurbishing those facilities before the opportunity to secure Crown Lodge emerged.
The move has already paid dividends, with Rock Empire becoming the first winner to emerge from Maher’s new Sydney headquarters when successful at Randwick on Saturday.
Maher said the transition from his Bong Bong property in the NSW Southern Highlands, where he housed 60 horses, had been seamless.
“It’s probably the best stable in New South Wales, and not surprisingly,” Maher said of Crown Lodge.
“I was rapt to get in there. We were going to come to Randwick, but we thought this may have been an option. It’s a real showcase and the horses have settled straight away.
“Bong Bong is a fantastic facility, but there are sixty boxes there and I had one hundred horses. I needed a bigger facility. This is perfect. It consolidates it.”
While Maher will continue to operate his Bob’s Farm base near Newcastle, Crown Lodge will become his primary Sydney stable. The trainer is set to officially open the complex this week and hopes to celebrate with a winner at Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.
Maher has accepted with three runners at Rosehill to kick off the new racing season, including It’s A Knockout in the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1500m).
The mare has drawn barrier 12 of 13, leaving Maher to weigh up whether she takes her place or is instead saved for the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) on August 7.
He was encouraged by her return to form when she finished runner-up to Mickey’s Medal at Randwick at her latest appearance.
“It was good to see her back and hitting the line (last start),” Maher said.
“She could have drawn a bit nicer, but what do you do?
“Whether we run here or not, she could end up at Coffs. We’ll see how the race looks and how the track is.”
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Maher trained 45 Sydney metropolitan winners from 377 starters during the 2025/26 season to finish sixth in the Sydney trainers’ premiership, but believes the expanded facilities at Crown Lodge will allow his stable to become an even greater force.
“I do feel we will, for sure. Naturally, because it’s a bigger facility,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to the next year, and five years.
“I’m pretty excited with where the business is at, and where it’s headed.”
