Ciaron Maher Was Warned NOT to Take Over Darren Weir's Stables

Ciaron Maher reveals the incredible inside story of taking over Darren Weir's racing stables following one of Australian horse racing's biggest scandals. With hundreds of horses under Weir's care, his suspension sent shockwaves through the racing industry. As horses began leaving the Ballarat operation, Maher saw an enormous opportunity but it came with equally enormous risks. His accountant warned him that expanding again could be a step too far. Maher had already grown his Melbourne operation and expanded into Sydney. Taking over another major stable was a massive decision. In this exclusive conversation with Dos & D, Ciaron reveals: What happened following Darren Weir's suspension. The extraordinary scenes as trucks arrived and horses began leaving the stable. How Maher took over the operation and fought to retain horses and staff. Why his accountant warned him against the expansion. How the Ballarat operation went on to become his biggest and one of his most efficient stables. With the 2026 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival underway and the historic 150th Caulfield Cup taking place on Saturday 17 October, it's a fascinating look behind the scenes of Australian thoroughbred racing. From the pressures of running a major racing business to making career-defining decisions, Maher opens up about the gamble that helped shape his training empire. 00:00 Why taking over Darren Weir's stable was such a risk 00:24 Maher's rapid expansion into Sydney 00:58 Taking opportunities in racing 01:27 The enormous scale of Weir's operation 01:35 What happened in the Darren Weir scandal? 02:19 The racing empire Weir had built 02:52 Negotiating the Ballarat stable takeover 03:10 Taking over 200 horses and the staff 03:21 Trying to stop horses leaving 03:38 How many horses Maher managed to retain 03:52 Why Ballarat became his biggest stable 04:06 His accountant's warning 04:14 Why Maher decided to take the gamble Subscribe for more interviews, behind-the-scenes stories and unforgettable sporting moments. #CiaronMaher #DarrenWeir #HorseRacing #CaulfieldCup #SpringRacingCarnival