KEY POINTS:
Matamata thoroughbred nursery Bloomsbury Stud and its bloodstock are to be offered for sale.
The announcement of the pending sale was made yesterday by the Dowager Duchess of Bedford and her family, who own the 120-hectare Matamata farm.
"The stud and bloodstock are being offered for sale due, in principle, to the death of my husband, Robin, Duke of Bedford, 3 1/2 years ago," she said.
The Bedford family's New Zealand interests began with their purchase in the early 1990s of the Kingdom Bay filly Snap. She proved to be of the highest class, winning four races at group one level - one every season from two to five years.
Snap was the foundation mare when Bloomsbury Stud (NZ) was established just over a decade ago.
The property, 6km south of Matamata, has since grown to 120 hectares, incorporating a 120-cow dairy herd, six houses and extensive stabling.
Details of the farm's sale have yet to be finalised, but it is anticipated that the bloodstock will be offered at an on-site auction in early May.
Included in the package of about 30 mares are the former group one-winning 2-year-old and now successful broodmare Zola, dual group one winner Honor Lap, and close relations to Grand Lodge, Octagonal, Nassipour and Snap as well as 11 descendants of Bloomsbury's great broodmare Mrs Moss.
Covering sires include Pins, Stravinsky, No Excuse Needed, Hussonet, Shinko King, Deputy Governor, Savabeel and Thorn Park.
The 25 weanlings being offered are by such sires as Zabeel (2), Pins (3), Cape Cross, Volksraad, O'Reilly, Hussonet, Black Minnaloushe, Ishiguru, Danasinga, One Cool Cat, Captain Rio, Thorn Park, Kings Chapel, Viking Ruler and Deputy Governor.
There will be a handful of mares not being sold as no mares over the age of 16 years will be offered.
Myself, who belongs to Bloomsbury Stud GB, will be repatriated to the stud at Woburn, however her weanling colt by Zabeel will be in the sale.
"We will continue to support the Matamata Breeders' Stakes and I will not be severing my ties with New Zealand," said the Duchess. "My house on the farm will be retained for the moment while I look for a property on which to build a new home."
