Ciaron Maher is set to move his Sydney operation back to Warwick Farm and train out of the famous Crown Lodge stables.
Racing NSW and Godolphin have come to terms on contracts for the stables and associated properties, with settlement to follow.
“It was a very competitive process, and we are delighted that the site is staying in racing hands with Racing NSW,” Godolphin managing director Andy Makiv said. “It is one of the great racing stables in the country.”
Maher accepted an offer to take over the more than 120 boxes at Crown Lodge, which had been the home of the Ingham racing empire before being sold to Godolphin in 2008.
He told owners of his plans to move via email this week before it became public.
“We’ve secured Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm as our new flagship Sydney base, one of the great training addresses in the country, and a homecoming for us, as Warwick Farm is where our Sydney journey began,” Maher wrote.
“It gives us a world-class metropolitan home in the heart of Sydney racing, and the best possible platform to keep getting results for you and your horse.
“Nothing changes for you right now, your horses will receive the same care as always, and myself or the team will be in touch personally about anything affecting them directly.”
Crown Lodge has not been used as a racing stable since the beginning of this season, after Godolphin moved away from a private training model and began spreading its horses among a select group of trainers.
Maher is expected to give back the stables he had been allocated at Randwick by the Australian Turf Club and move out of Bong Bong Farm as he centralises his Sydney base to Warwick Farm.
Maher could not hide his delight at securing the high-profile stables.
“Crown Lodge is one of the truly storied addresses in Australian racing,” Maher told his owners.
“Built by the Ingham brothers before becoming Godolphin’s first and flagship Australian base.
“We’re honoured to write the next chapter at Crown Lodge, and excited to make our own mark on its history.
“The move is about doing more for your horses by providing a bigger, better resourced metropolitan base, closer to the city’s major tracks, with some of the finest training facilities in the country.”
