$51m … and counting: Trainer Ciaron Maher poised to break prizemoney record on 2025 Doncaster Mile day at Royal Randwick

Ciaron Maher is set to break the trainer’s prizemoney record for a season on Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday – and there is still nearly four months of 2024-25 racing year remaining.

Ciaron Maher is set to break the trainer’s prizemoney record for a season on Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick on Saturday – and there is still nearly four months of 2024-25 racing year remaining.

The champion trainer has already smashed the magical $50m prizemoney barrier after an outstanding season where he has so far trained 212 winners including nine at Group 1 level.

Maher’s runners have earned $51,019,560 and he leads both the national premiership and prizemoney title from nearest rival Chris Waller who is on 192 wins and $40,225,110.

In 2023-24, Waller claimed prizemoney honours with a record $51,669,540 but Maher was close behind on $51,496,610 after an enthralling season-long “stakes race” between them. They became the first trainers ever to break the $50 million barrier for a season.

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Maher has a strong entry for Royal Randwick on Saturday and seems certain to break Waller’s prizemoney record.

Gringotts, Another Wil and New Energy lead the Maher stable charge in the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m).

Maher said Gringotts and Another Wil had had perfect preparations for the Doncaster.

“Gringotts has an ideal barrier (six),’’ Maher said.

“He generally sits on the speed somewhere and his ‘prep’ so far has gone really smoothly.

Gringotts gets his first G1 win in an epic edition of the George Ryder Stakes! 🙌@cmaherracing | @TommyBerry21 | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/RxCWoAgtb4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 22, 2025

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“He has got a nice weight considering what he’s done and the mile there should be ideal.

“Tommy (Berry) has got his tail up and the horse has too so I’m looking forward to it.”

Another Wil was a beaten favourite in the Doncaster Mile last year, finishing seventh behind Celestial Legend, but Maher said the chestnut was now a more seasoned racehorse.

“He probably wasn’t quite ready mentally (last year),’’ Maher said.

“He has grown up a lot and his form would suggest that as well.

“We couldn’t rule him out no matter what. He is arguably our top seed going in. Barrier 18, he may come in with a few emergencies so 15 might not be so bad.’’

  

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Maher has rewarded Dylan Gibbons with a Group 1 ride on New Energy after the jockey spent more than four months sidelined with a shoulder injury.

“It’s good to see him (Gibbons) back and the horse does possess that ability. He will need things to go his way but he could hit the line pretty hard,’’ the trainer said.

The Maher-trained duo of Jimmysstar and I Am Me are among the main chances in a competitive Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

“Jimmysstar is in career-best form and I Am Me has improved into her last run and out of her last run,’’ Maher said.

“She will need to but she does have a great record at the track.”

Maher’s promising young stayer Shanwah takes a four-race winning streak into the $2m ATC Australian Derby (2400m).

Shanwah is a very progressive horse! 📈

He wins the Autumn Classic in dominant style! 💪@cmaherracing@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/8pVSDx3qi6

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 22, 2025

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“Shanwah’s ‘prep’ has been faultless,’’ Maher said. “He had a couple of preps up here when he was a colt and he was moved to Melbourne, gelded, and has really hit form.’’

Maher also has State Visit and Navy Pilot contesting the Group 1 $1m Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).

“State Visit, his run (third, Pago Pago Stakes) was super and he has come on again,’’ Maher said.

“Navy Pilot was entered for Warwick Farm (Wednesday) but he will go straight to the Sires.

“This has been the plan and the extra trip won’t hurt at all, the big track suits as well. They are two reasonable chances.”