The success of training goliath Ciaron Maher has seen a stable empire established, unmatched by very few

Ciaron Maher (born 27 May 1981) is an Australian, Melbourne Cup winning, horse trainer. He grew up on his parents' dairy farm situated at Winslow, a town near Warrnambool, where he spent time around horses from a young age. For a few years, Maher rode as a jockey until the age of 23 when he was forced to quit riding due to his growing weight. To acquire the best knowledge and skills, he sought mentorship from renowned figures in the horse racing industry, including Bart Cummings, Aiden O'Brien, and Willie Mullins. Subsequently, he embarked on his own professional journey, establishing a modest training facility with six boxes on his father's farm. In 2005 he established himself as a trainer in Warrnambool, home of jumps racing. His first winner was Spectacular Storm in a hurdle race at Terang, followed up smartly by another win at Sandown. The stage was set for a successful career not only in jumps racing, but also on the flat as the stable grew. has retained facilities in Warrnambool, which suit horses in need of a country setting, and has secured new premises at Randwick. At his property in Pakenham, on the edge of Melbourne’s suburbs, he has agistment and pre-training facilities.

In just over 10 years, Ciaron Maher, who was recognisable by his long flowing curly locks, has risen to the top of the Australian training ranks and become Victoria’s leading trainer. After 10 Group 1s, the partnership was established as Englishman David Eustace stepped up to co-trainer in 2018 after three years as Ciaron’s assistant. They achieved over 40 victories together at the Group 1 level - including an unforgettable triumph in the 2022 Melbourne Cup with Gold Trip. The announcement was made that the pair would go their separate ways in 2024, with Eustace heading to Hong Kong. The pair cemented themselves at the forefront of Australian racing, taking out four-straight Victorian Trainers Championships and the National Trainers Championship.

The accomplished trainer has demonstrated remarkable expertise in handling exceptional equine athletes. Some of the features race's Maher has won with outstanding racehorses, are, the Australian Derby (Explosive Jack), Cantala Stakes, QEII (Pride Of Jenni), Caulfield Cup (Jameka) Cox Plate, Tancred Stakes, (Sir Dragonet), Giga Kick Stakes (Bella Nipotina), Lightning Stakes (Coolangatta), Manikato Stakes (Bella Nipotina), Melbourne Cup, Turnbull Stakes(Gold Trip), Moir Stakes (Coolangatta), Sydney Cup (Etah James), Australian Derby/Guineas, Victorian Derby (Hitotsu), Manikato Stakes, William Reid (Loving Gaby).

From the 9 October 2017, Maher was suspended from racing for 6 months and fined $75,000 after pleading guilty to "conduct prejudicial to the image, interests or welfare of racing". Racing stewards alleged that Maher failed to report suspicions he had regarding conman Peter Foster's ownership of horses Azkadellia, Hart, Loveable Rogue and Mr Simples. The Maher team now have 8 training locations across the Eastern seaboard, highlighted by their newest property at Bong Bong farm in the Southern Highlands of Sydney. Whilst their Ballarat and Warwick Farm stables house their best horses when in training. Maher himself has grown a 10-horse yard into the largest stable in Australia, with approximately 900 horses registered to their company.