Ciaron Maher secures banned trainer Darren Weir’s Ballarat base at Forest Lodge

Taking on a new stable complex at Ballarat wasn’t on Ciaron Maher’s agenda a week ago, but now he’s the proud owner of one of Australia’s biggest after buying disgraced trainer Darren Weir’s Forest Lodge.

Ciaron Maher will take over the Ballarat operation of banned trainer Darren Weir.

TAKING on a new stable complex at Ballarat wasn’t on Ciaron Maher’s agenda a week ago, but now he’s the proud owner of one of Australia’s biggest.

Maher Racing announced it had bought out Darren Weir’s Forest Lodge business.

“The opportunity came up and it was too good not to pursue,” Maher said. “We’ve managed to get one of the best stable facilities in the country.”

SAD FALL: WEIR GETS FOUR-YEAR BAN

TEARS: TRAINER’S REACTION TO SUSPENSION

COMMENT: FAIRYTALE STORY ENDS IN JEERS

CASHED UP: WEIR’S INCREDIBLE PRIZEMONEY HAUL

Ciaron Maher will take over Darren Weir’s Ballarat operation. Picture: AAP

Maher and his business partners, Weir and his team, Ballarat Turf Club and Racing Victoria nutted out an agreement over several hours late on Wednesday.

Maher said they would take on a large number of horses that were trained by Weir, but he couldn’t confirm how many.

“We’re still working out how many horses we will have there and how many staff will be needed,” he said.

Maher said the Ballarat stable had the capacity to take 150 horses, but he wouldn’t be near that number for some time.

He also said he continue with his Caulfield stable until training ceased there in 2023 and would still look at relocating his team there to Cranbourne or Pakenham.

Darren Weir was banned over the use of jiggers on his horses. Picture: AAP

Maher said he had mixed emotions in dealing with Weir and had bought a property into which the disgraced trainer had put his heart and soul.

Maher said he hadn’t yet worked out whether he would take on Weir’s administrative staff.

“Our business is well structured to facilitate this addition, both practically and administratively, and our key priority is to ensure a swift takeover with minimal disruption to the staff and horses there,” Maher said.

Maher and co-trainer David Eustace now have a mega stable with bases at Caulfield, Balnarring for beach training, Pakenham for pre-training and dressage work, and Warwick Farm in Sydney.

A float from the Ciaron Maher stables at the Ballarat operation of Weir. Picture: Jay Town

Maher said they could also consider buying Weir’s Warrnambool stables to complement the Ballarat stable.

Ballarat Turf Club chief executive Lachlan McKenzie said the deal was a great result.

“They will employ most of Darren’s staff, they are there and ready to go, but it will be a brand new business,” McKenzie said.

Flemington trainer Nigel Blackiston will relocate to ­Ballarat and take up stables Weir had leased from Ballarat Turf Club.