KEY POINTS:
Horse-racing identity Lance O'Sullivan is a central figure in two Matamata dairy farm sales worth almost $20 million - a figure believed to be a Waikato record.
O'Sullivan declined to discuss his role in the deals and Bayleys Matamata, which has been handling the 455ha Rockridge Farms sales, said it could not confirm the prices paid because of confidentiality.
However, a Bayleys ad described Rockridge as one of Matamata's biggest farming units and within the top 10 per cent of dairy producers in New Zealand.
It was formed through the amalgamation of three farms by the Tidmarsh family, who had redeveloped Rockridge over 17 years.
Information from Waikato rural sources indicated the amount paid for the two related dairy farms was likely to be just under $20 million.
O'Sullivan had bought a 139ha farm for around $9 million, while a solicitor had bought a second property of more than 180ha, the sources suggested.
They believed O'Sullivan then paid several million dollars privately for a slice of the 180ha property.
The farms came with several buildings and homes. The 139ha property includes the historic Red Barn, a landmark in the district and used for weddings and other functions. It had "huge potential for farm tourism", the Bayleys ad said.
It was believed the sale of the two Rockridge units for close to $20 million would make the deals the biggest Waikato farming sales by a single vendor in one go.
A third Rockridge property - a 130ha dry-stock operation - was still for sale this week.
O'Sullivan - a former top rider now training horses at Matamata - did not want to confirm or deny his role in the Rockridge purchases.
"There's nothing really to comment about," he said. "I personally don't like to talk about any business things we do."
It was suggested the two farms would continue to be run as dairy units.
Waikato-based Real Estate Institute president Murray Cleland said the biggest single farming transaction he had heard of previously in the region was worth $11.5 million.
That deal last year was for the Bellwood mixed farming operation between Matamata and Tirau, said Century 21 agent Bill Symonds, who handled the sale.
