Winning takes a team
Ciaron Maher runs one of Australian racing’s biggest operations. We went inside to meet the people who keep it running.
As head of the stable, Maher sets the tone. He is at trackwork before dawn, splits his week between Sydney and Melbourne, and has the final say on every horse.
“We have good people, lots of meetings and benchmark every horse against itself, others and past history. Everything is recorded. It’s always developing.”
Each day begins with checking in with his team, reviewing trackwork plans and adjusting for each horse’s needs. Race days involve discussions with jockeys about speed maps, track conditions and race tactics.
“The phone starts at 4.30am and continues through the day. I definitely get the same buzz. Two-year-olds coming through, even horses returning from injury, give me great satisfaction. If you are passionate, you don’t view it as hard work – you aren’t looking at the clock.”
While Maher focuses on the horses, Cavanough oversees the business, building the systems, culture and infrastructure to support a high-performance stable.
“My role is to set the strategy for where Ciaron wants each department to go, helping us become a high-performance sporting organisation that offers a premium experience to all levels of ownership.
“We want to be transparent, communicate regularly and keep owners up to date, while ensuring our facilities are best in class and cater to each horse’s needs.
“Data and sports science differentiate us from our competitors. We analyse performance metrics, bloodstock, sales and pedigrees in-house, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of an edge.
“Our size allows us to invest in technology and horse welfare.”
Turnbull oversees the logistics across CMR’s three main Victorian bases, ensuring horses are in the right place at the right time and positioned for success.
“My week takes me between Cranbourne, Ballarat and Fingal. I look at horse placement, our locations and conditions, and where horses might race across Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
“I focus on the bigger picture – making sure horses arrive at the right time, train in the right place and get the best out of themselves.
“I work closely with our performance and analytical team. In a business of this size, planning is everything. We have good systems, the right people and a focus on education.
“I feel lucky to be part of it. You work with good horses and innovative systems, and being part of something special with this team makes it a pretty cool place to be.”
Media and Owner Communications
Allen is the voice of the stable to the outside world. He manages the relationship between CMR and its owners. This is from micro-shareholders to major clients, while also overseeing the stable’s media presence and representing CMR at race meetings.
“I handle owner communications and help out with training alongside Jack [National Assistant Trainer Jack Turnbull], and I’m also a stable representative at the races.
“We have a lot of horses, all at different levels, so you need to be able to service an owner whether they have a micro share or are a major client. You have to treat everyone the same.”
“I look after our cameraman, who produces a lot of our media content – Instagram videos, YouTube videos and material for other platforms, but he’s quite autonomous. When owners talk to us, we try to talk to them as if they were talking to Ciaron.”
Anderson bridges science and training, working with Maher and the data team to tailor programs to individual horses. The work now spans wearable trackers, AI-assisted trot-up analysis, nutrition monitoring and research.
“We collect data and use dashboards to answer trainers’ questions, then apply those insights to training.
“Royal Merchant, who won the Group 1 Goodwood in 2023, is a great example. She initially struggled with her workload, so we modified her training, particularly on the treadmill. She improved and won her maiden and then a Group 1 in the same preparation.
“It’s always an open discussion with Ciaron. If you disagree, he wants you to explain why. The key is having everyone on the same page and working in the same direction.”
Kadlec-Cavanagh leads the team turning raw data into insights that help trainers make better decisions, combining technology with horsemanship.
“My work involves coding, data storage and analytics, transforming raw data into insights for the business.
“Our sports scientists and performance analysts use wearable data on recovery, stride length and frequency to inform trainers. We also develop algorithms and dashboards to identify potential red flags, from training loads to possible injury risks.
“This information feeds back to Ciaron and helps guide decisions. We also create visual reports for owners, showing each horse’s progress and pathway to major races. It gives owners, trainers and staff greater visibility across the business.”
Bourne’s role is to source the elite horses that give CMR its edge at the highest level, from weight-for-age performers to Group race contenders. The job takes him around the world in search of the right horses and owners.
“My job is primarily to manage owners and source top-quality horses. I spend a lot of time in the UK and travelling interstate.
“Finding them is the easy part. Buying them and finding owners is the hardest. It’s a constant cycle, but it’s how we secure horses like Light Infantry, Duke De Sessa, Gold Trip and Sir Dragonet.
“We might look at 20 tried horses across Australia, New Zealand and Europe to buy just one. Deals fall through, horses fail vet checks or the price is too high.”
