Ciaron Maher and the Gai Waterhouse - Adrian Bott partnership await verdict on famous Randwick stables

The decision on who will take over the prestigious Leilani Lodge at Royal Randwick has been postponed, with the Australian Turf Club’s board set to review a report later this week.

The ATC will meet later this week to decide on which trainer takes over Leilani Lodge.

The protracted decision on which trainer takes over Leilani Lodge has been delayed until later this week.

An Australian Turf Club subcommittee tabled a report on the famous Randwick stables last Friday that has been given to the board of directors to consider.

It is expected a decision will be made by the end of the week but even that is not guaranteed given several directors are overseas.

Racenet iQ members get full access to our Pro Tips service, where Greg and our team of professional punters provide daily tips with fully transparent return on investment statistics. SUBSCRIBE NOW and start punting like a pro!

Ciaron Maher, the nation’s premier trainer, and the high profile Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott training partnership are the applicants to take over the famous racing stables at Royal Randwick.

There is also speculation about what will happen to the Crown Lodge stables at Warwick Farm and the Osborne Park training and stabling facility near Agnes Banks when James Cummings completes his tenure at Godolphin at the end of next month.

Godolphin Australia supremo Andy Makiv confirmed there has been interest from “various parties” looking to acquire the training facilities, and also their Flemington stables.

“There has been plenty of interest in those (three) properties,” Makiv said.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

The Waterhouse-Bott stable struck early on Stradbroke Day when promising stayer Campaldino won the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (3200m) at Eagle Farm.

Campaldino scored his fourth consecutive win with a strong staying performance under Tim Clark to beat Etna Rosso.

Campaldino is simply too good in the G2 Brisbane Cup with Tim Clark in the saddle! 🏆@GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/fq0QZK0UUU

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025

The striking chestnut gelding’s form surge began in Orange Cup followed by a Benchmark 78 at Kensington, Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and then the Brisbane Cup, giving Waterhouse her fourth win in the Eagle Farm “two miler”.

Campaldino is now likely to be given his chance to complete the rare Brisbane Cup-Melbourne Cup double - a feat achieved only twice by Viewed (2008) and Macdougal (1959).

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Champion jockey James McDonald will have another chance to equal “Miracle” Mal Johnston’s longstanding Group 1 riding record after his second placing on Hidden Achievement in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm.

Hidden Achievement missed the start but McDonald then rode a brilliant race with the colt emerging as a challenger halfway down the straight only for local hero Cool Archie to respond under pressure and draw clear near the line.

McDonald, who had been unwell during the week and was forced to forgo his Stradbroke Handicap ride on Rothfire when he couldn’t make 55.5kg, has ridden 15 Australian Group 1 wins for the season, one behind Johnston’s record he set back in 1979-80 when the legendary Kingston Town was in his prime.

Cool Archie WINS the G1 J.J. Atkins! 🏆@munceracingpic.twitter.com/X0oBUWkZB0

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025

Although McDonald has left for England where he will ride at Royal Ascot this week, he will be back for the Tattersalls Tiara on June 28.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Asfoora can join Choisir as the only Australian sprinters to win twice at England’s prestigious Royal Ascot carnival when she tries to defend her title in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1000m) on Tuesday.

Despite the dominance of the Aussie speedsters at Royal Ascot in the last two decades, Choisir is the only two-time winner with his famous King’s Stand Stakes-Golden Jubilee double in 2003.

The King’s Stand, now known as the King Charles III Stakes, has since been won by Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Scenic Blast (2009), Nature Strip (2022) and Asfoora last year.

🏇 Memorable Racing Moments 2⃣0⃣2⃣4⃣...

Aussies love when one of their own takes on the world. Asfoora and @HDwyerRacing did just that at Royal @Ascot, following in the footsteps of Choisir, Takeover Target, Black Caviar and Nature Strip among others 💙🖤 pic.twitter.com/ahMqfpg3bK

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 13, 2024

Black Caviar (2012) is the only other Australian-trained sprinter to win the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (formerly Golden Jubilee) although Starspangledbanner (2010) and Merchant Navy (2018) won the race after being transferred to Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Asfoora’s trainer Henry Dwyer told English media the mare had “travelled over really well” and had settled back into familiar surroundings at Newmarket.

Dwyer said he has decided to put the blinkers on Asfoora for Tuesday’s big race on the opening day of Royal Ascot.

“I think the blinkers may have been the missing link and I’ve always wanted to put blinkers on her as she is quite a ‘looky’ horse,” Dwyer said. “The blinkers might add that little one per cent we need.”