Gold Coast trainer Declan Maher jokes that he’s still fighting his older brother Ciaron’s battles for him.

Ciaron Maher is, of course, one of the heavyweight champions of Australian racing, a name that commands respect across the industry.

Meanwhile, Declan earlier this year planted his flag in southeast Queensland where he’s been quietly building his own racing operation, determined to step out from the shadow of his brother after previously running Ciaron’s Ballarat stable.

The perfect illustration of their intertwined destinies came on Boxing Day at the Sunshine Coast.

Declan was enjoying the festive racing when connections of runner-up Jemoma Alpilage launched a protest against Ciaron’s winner Nails Murphy following a Class 3 Plate (1600m).

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“The stewards rang me and said ‘Mr Maher can you come in and represent your brother in the protest’, Declan recalled.

“I said ‘no problem’ although I hadn’t really watched the race that closely.

“We won the protest and I said ‘geez I’m still doing my brother’s dirty work’.”

That Boxing Day incident perfectly captures the friendly but fierce rivalry between the brothers, who may now find themselves on a genuine collision course this Saturday at Eagle Farm.

Declan will run eight-year-old gelding Sibaaq in the Shoot Out (2100m), which offers the winner an exemption into the $1m Magic Millions Subzero (2200m) on the Gold Coast on January 17.

However, the trainer will only be chasing the $72,500 for the winning connections because, being a UK import, Sibaaq is ineligible to race at the Magic Millions meeting.

Trainer Declan Maher with his partner Tylah and young son Caolan. Picture: Supplied

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Ciaron has nominated Mr Buster for the $125,000 Shoot Out but the Irish import may not make the final field.

“I was talking to Ciaron at the races on Saturday and he said he’s not sure if he’s running him or not,” Declan revealed.

“Maybe I’ve scared him off! We’ve probably faced off about half-a-dozen times but obviously not in a race like that (the Shoot Out).

“But if I win he’d be the first person to come up and congratulate me.

“Ciaron and I still work well together. I’ve got a few of his horses in my barn that are racing up here. He helps me out and I help him too.

“I still ask him for advice. He’s a pretty handy brother to have if I’ve got a question about a horse that I’m training.”

There are zero questions about Sibaaq’s ability following his drought-breaking victory against quality rivals such as Walsh Bay, Galifianakis and Felix The Scat in an 1800m Handicap at Eagle Farm just five days before Christmas.

All class from SIBAAQ 💥
A bold, front-running performance at Eagle Farm for @MaherRacing !
Huge congrats to our owners! 👏 pic.twitter.com/Jt8GqSh0oy

— Bennett Racing (@RacingBennett) December 20, 2025

“He hadn’t won for three-and-half years and he’d only had one previous win in Australia (the 2022 Wellington Cup at Dubbo),” Maher said.

“He’s been thereabouts in big races but I just felt like the step up to 1800m in his last start would really suit.

“My plan was to leave the blinkers on and he just grew in confidence.”

Maher’s pregnant partner Tylah Richardson shares a deep bond with Sibaaq, riding trackwork on her favourite horse until only a few weeks ago.

“She dotes on him a fair bit and has done a great job building him up early on in the preparation,” he said.

“He was my first Saturday metro winner so I’m grateful to the Bennett Racing team for giving me that horse.

“He hasn’t had a heap of racing, to be fair. He’s got a nice action and he’s a relatively sound horse.”