A MALDON racing family has offered a lifeline to former stable workers from the embattled Darren Weir stable.
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McKnight Racing has employed four former employees from Weirs Maldon operation at Trevenson Park.
Ash McKnight, who co-trains with his father Brian, said the family was determined to support staff affected by Weirs four-year ban following the discovery of electric-shock devices known as jiggers at two of his yards in police raids late last month.
Weve been in this community of Maldon all our lives were third and fourth generation and have people who have worked at Weirs that we consider friends and who have relocated to Maldon and have kids in schools, he said.
They dont want to move, they want to stay, so we have given some of them a lifeline as far as jobs go.
Weve employed four people from Weirs Maldon stable, but we are at our limit now I cant afford to employ anymore unless we can get more horses into the stable.
You need to get income into the stable to pay for them.
The first of the new employees commenced work this week, with a further two to start on Monday and the fourth a week later.
McKnight added he would be more than open to employing more staff should the stable be in the position to.
He encouraged other trainers to rally around the former employees.
Darren has a done a lot for the community here at Maldon hes invested his time and money in the community. We dont want to see the community drop off through people leaving due to no work, he said.
Well help out where we can weve been a long-term business in the area and weve always employed locally where we can.
Whatever we can do to help out we will.
The former Weir employees are not the only new arrivals at the McKnight property.
Class Western Australian-trained galloper Material Man arrived in Victoria on Tuesday and will be stabled at Maldon during his autumn campaign.
The 2018 Perth Cup winners first two targets are this weekends Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), also at Caulfield, on February 23.
McKnight said Material Mans main aim would be the inaugural All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 16.
The seven-year-old gelding, who is trained by Justin Warwick and will be ridden by his daughter Lucy, is currently ranked 11th in voting, with the top-10 horses at the conclusion of the public vote guaranteed entry into the $5-million race.
Hes a helluva horse; hes won 14 from 25 starts and won $1.6 million, McKnight said.
The little I have had to do with him, hes an unbelievable horse to handle and takes everything in his stride.
Its been a great insight for us spending some time with Justin it will be great to be a part of the ride.
To vote in the All-Star Mile, click here