O'BRIEN TO OPEN GEELONG STABLE

Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O'Brien will open a new stable at Geelong to complement his existing bases at Flemington and Barwon Heads.

O'Brien revealed the expansion plans on Friday, with the new base on course at Geelong set to accommodate approximately 20 horses.

O'Brien is experiencing his best season to date with 83 wins, including the Melbourne Cup with Vow And Declare, the VRC Oaks with Miami Bound, the Adelaide Cup with King Of Leogrance and last week's South Australian Derby with Russian Camelot.

"Geelong has excellent options for training and enhances our ability to provide the best training opportunities for any horse trained in Australia," O'Brien said.

"Our private facility and use of Thirteenth Beach complements our Flemington, and now Geelong, on-track facilities very well and will only further spur our terrific recent results."

Geelong Racing Club CEO Daniel Salter said O'Brien's arrival was a coup for the club and a testament to the quality of their training facilities and track manager James Dalton.

"Danny uses our facilities regularly for trackwork and jumpouts, as many of his horses are based at his Barwon Heads property," Salter said.

"Following all of his recent success - including last year's Melbourne Cup win with Vow and Declare - Danny's horse numbers are growing, and Geelong provides a great link between both his Flemington and Barwon Heads training complexes.

"The improved facilities at the Geelong Racing Club, coupled with the fact that the racetrack has been performing so well, were key factors in influencing Danny's decision, as was the fact that our racecourse manager James Dalton - who worked for Danny for nine years managing his Barwon Heads property - is in charge of the tracks and training facility."

By James Tsaferis @Racing.com