Leading trainer Ciaron Maher has announced his intention to make Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm his permanent Sydney training establishment, anticipating a significant increase in his metropolitan presence in the coming racing seasons.
Maher had initially set his sights on Leilani Lodge in Randwick and had commenced renovations there before the opportunity arose to secure the esteemed Crown Lodge complex.
The relocation has already yielded success, with Rock Empire marking the first winner from Maher’s new Sydney headquarters at Randwick last Saturday.
Maher described the transition from his Bong Bong property in the NSW Southern Highlands, which housed 60 horses, as smooth.
Of Crown Lodge, Maher commented, “It’s probably the best stable in New South Wales, and not surprisingly.”
“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 maintain his Bob’s Farm operation near Newcastle, Crown Lodge is set to become his primary Sydney stable. He is scheduled to officially inaugurate the complex this week and hopes for a celebratory winner at Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.
Maher has entered three horses for Rosehill to commence the new racing season, including It’s A Knockout in the Jockeys Celebration Day Handicap (1500m).
The mare has drawn barrier 12 from 13, prompting Maher to consider whether she will race or be rerouted to the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) on August 7.
Her recent second-place finish to Mickey’s Medal at Randwick offered encouragement.
“It was good to see her back and hitting the line (last start),” Maher stated.
“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.”
Maher trained 45 Sydney metropolitan winners from 377 starts in the 2025/26 season, securing sixth place in the Sydney trainers’ premiership. He is confident that the expanded Crown Lodge facilities will elevate his stable’s standing.
“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.”
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