Stewards reject brother or assistant taking over Maher team

Brad Waters - Tuesday September 26

Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey has rejected the idea of Ciaron Maher's brother or assistant trainer taking over his big Caulfield team when he starts a six-month suspension on Monday.

Advertisement
Terry Bailey outlined the conditions of the transfer of Ciaron Maher's horses on Melbourne radio.. Photo: Darryl Sherer

The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board banned Maher for six months and fined him $75,000 for engaging in conduct prejudicial to the interest of racing at a hearing on Monday.

Maher pleaded guilty to the charge after conceding he ought to have known of irregularities surrounding the ownership of five horses, including Group I winner Azkadellia.

Bailey told RSN the size of Maher's Caulfield team ruled out the trainer's brother Declan or his assistant trainer David Eustace, who have recently secured restricted trainer's licences from taking over the stable.

"At this point in time, they don't have the required level of licence to take over such a large team," Bailey said.

"Therefore, I couldn't see that being a possibility given Ciaron has got seven days to make arrangements (for his horses)."

Bailey said Maher had put forward multiple options for the transfer of his stable but stewards said any new arrangements must be free of the Caulfield Cup-winning horseman's influence.

"What we need to be satisfied of is that Mr Maher has no input into the training of the horses and derives no benefit from the training of the horses," Bailey said.

"These days, with companies and so forth, we need to be satisfied that whoever it is, is acting alone and Mr Maher has absolutely no involvement.

"It would be a sham if the staff continued to be employed by Ciaron Maher and they just had a figurehead in the racebook.

"We don't believe that would be in the best interests of the sport. Ciaron Maher Racing the company simply can't continue to employ the staff."

Maher's former racing manager Ben Connolly was the registered owner of the offending horses at the time stewards banned them from racing last year and will face the RAD Board to answer charges relating to his involvement in the case on a date to be fixed.

The horses are alleged to have raced in Connolly's name but convicted conman Peter Foster is believed to be among the real owners of the thoroughbreds.

Bailey said Azkadellia's racing future remains unclear with nobody coming forward to claim ownership of the mare.

"We have basically said, for us to approve any sort of transfer, we'd need a court order and we'd stand by whatever that court order is," Bailey said.

"At the present time, we have really got no-one putting up their hand to say who owns her."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Maher finds replacement trainer for six months
Suspended trainer Ciaron Maher has found a replacement to take over his big team from Tuesday.
Lonhro Blueblood Colt Wins Listed Dulcify
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who scored his first stakes win at Randwick on Saturday when taking out the Listed ATC Dulcify Stakes (1600m).
Derby Options Alive For Impending Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy look to have a smart 3yo on their hands as Impending colt Options wins the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and could now be aimed towards the $2m Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 1.
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Lindsay Park Love Their Per Incanto's
Ben, Will and JD Hayes know a thing or two about the juvenile progeny of Per Incanto (USA), and they unveiled another exciting son of the Little Avondale Stud stallion in Melbourne’s first two-year-old race of the season on Saturday.
Connolly to face the music in Azkadellia case next week
The Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board will hear the latest stage of the Azkadellia case next Monday.
Sensational Seven - Autumn Glow Remains Unbeaten With G1 Epsom Victory
Chasing her first Group 1 victory and in the process attempting to remain unbeaten, outstanding 4yo mare Autumn Glow did all that and more, jumping from the outside barrier to give Chris Waller his sixth victory in the $1.5m Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Inglis and Yulong Confirm Magic Time for Everest Slot
Inglis will partner with worldwide racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong for the running of the 2025 The Everest, with the combination to be represented by Magic Time in the $20m contest.
Ciaron Maher suspended for six months - $75,000 fine!
Trainer Ciaron Maher has been suspended for six months at the conclusion of the Azkadellia bona fides inquiry.
Miraval Rose Impresses With G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes Win
Already a Listed winner at 3 and 4, Grahame Begg’s Grunt mare Miraval Rose added her third black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in style at Flemington on Saturday.