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Leading Victorian trainers Darren Weir and Symon Wilde are expanding their stables in Warrnambool and Ballarat.

Symon Wilde, the son of renowned Warrnambool horseman Bill Wilde, has expanded to Ballarat where he will open a new stable this month to complement his main stable at Warrnambool.

Wilde plans to utilize the excellent training facilities at Ballarat with up to 10 horses in work at one time at Dowling Forest.

“I think we’ve got the best of both worlds, having a stable at Ballarat and keeping Warrnambool as our main base,” Wilde said.

Victoria’s record-breaking premiership winner Darren Weir is opening new on-course stables for 40 horses at Warrnambool next week.

Stable foreman Jarrod McLean will oversee the new boxes that extend Weir’s stable accommodation at Ballarat and Warrnambool to more than 100 horses.

“It’s a great facility,” McLean said. “We’ve got a walker and the new swimming pool is not far away from coming to fruition at the course. The pool should be a great benefit to all the trainers.”

McLean indicated that the import High Church, a closing second in last Saturday’s Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, could be aimed at the 2017 Warrnambool Cup in May.

“We’ve only had him for the two runs and he shows plenty of promise,” McLean said.

“Some of the owners in High Church were in Akzar when he won the 2014 Warrnambool Cup and they’ve indicated they want to win the race again.”

High Church was previously trained by Robert Hickmott for Lloyd Williams and has won four of his 18 starts.