BALLARAT master racehorse trainer Darren Weir has again put himself on the world stage this season.
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Having already caught the imagination of the racing world when Prince of Penzance took out the Melbourne Cup in November, Weir on Wednesday broke the Australian training record for the most winners in a season.
Gun Case became his 335th winner at Moonee Valley.
The former Queensland galloper took Weir past John Hawkes’ 334 set in 2002-03 for what is also believed to a world record.
Weir drew level with Hawkes at Murtoa on Tuesday when Haski saluted in the opening event.
The record is the latest in a string of achievements which have seen the boy from Berriwillock in Victoria's Mallee rise through the ranks of racing royalty.
He gained some of his earliest experience country trainers Jack Coffey at Birchip and John Castleman at Mildura.
Weir then worked for the legendary Colin Hayes at the Lindsay Park in South Australia
He took up training in his own right at Stawell in 1995, five years after moving to the Wimmera town as a farrier.
His biggest turning point came in 2001, when he acquired Forest Lodge next to the Ballarat racecourse - a facility once operated by Ballarat great Noel Kelly.
Weir now has some 100 in work at the complex and will soon expand his the Warrnambool arm of his operation to a similar number.
Weir's record since moving to Ballarat:
Starters 1st 2nd 3rd
2015-2016: 2108 334 251 238 $21,252,686
2014-2015: 1919 298 286 236 $10,886,673
2013-2014: 1422 253 200 196 $8,948,030
2012-2013: 1343 184 200 173 $6,806,713
2011-2012: 1137 174 146 125 $3,883,453
2010-2011: 904 136 120 94 $2,962,560
2009-2010: 762 119 109 88 $2,783,954
2008-2009: 804 112 88 74 $2,143,351
2007-2008: 875 113 97 103 $2,125,115
2006-2007: 830 123 110 104 $2,274,830
2005-2006: 796 127 103 93 $1,991,950
2004-2005: 634 101 70 60 $1,637,350
2003-2004: 424 51 54 51 $1,324,781
2002-2003: 501 100 52 54 $933,680
2001-2002: 353 44 38 28 $562,815
2000-2001: 378 63 66 38 $579,975