Reported Sun Stud changes create Victorian opportunity

Cover image courtesy of Sun Stud

Written by Bren O'Brien

The reported restructure of Sun Stud's Australian operations is set to open the door for an existing or new player in the thoroughbred industry to access its base at Kerrie in Victoria, which previously operated as Eliza Park.

Media reports this week have indicated Sun Stud is set to change approach to its operations in Australia, which include substantial breeding and racing interests, highlighted by its Kerrie-based stud which stood eight stallions in 2020.

Sun Stud's Australian operation did not wish to offer any comment on the reports when contacted by TDN AusNZ, but the restructure is reported to see it offer the iconic former Eliza Park, which is set on 425 acres in Victoria's Macedon Ranges, for lease.

Sun Stud owner Cheng Ting-Kong and his Sun International Group are said to be keen to retain the former Eliza Park property in their ownership with the opportunity there for an existing or new player in the thoroughbred industry to access the farm for a Victorian base.

Initially purchased in 1997 by businessman Lee Fleming, Eliza Park established a reputation as one of Australia's leading thoroughbred nurseries. It commenced standing three stallions in 1998, with a combined coverage of 212 mares.

Among the stallions to stand at the farm in the early days were Desert Sun (GB) and General Nediym, while Eliza Park sold its first Group 1 graduate in 2000, in the Oakleigh Plate winner Reactive (Geiger Counter {USA}).

In 2002, Eliza Park secured a racing and breeding share in Bel Esprit, and by 2006 it was standing 12 stallions on the Kerrie property, as Fleming continued to build the operation. Now Arrowfield Stud stallion Written Tycoon began his career at Eliza Park in 2007, a year where the farm's stallions' book of mares exceeded 1200, while Magnus, the G1 The Galaxy winner, bred on Eliza Park, began his stud career in 2008. By 2011, Eliza Park had expanded to five separate Victorian properties.

Eliza Park also played a major role in the background story of the legendary Black Caviar, with her dam Helsinge (Desert Sun {GB}) bred by Fleming in partnership with Robert Crabtree and sold by the Stud as a yearling. She would then be sent by owner Rick Jamieson to Eliza Park resident Bel Esprit in her first season at stud, producing the unbeaten global sprinting star.

In 2013, Fleming opted to sell Eliza Park's operations in both Victoria and Queensland, including the marquee Kerrie property.

It was purchased by Sun International Group, who retained the 12-stallion operation and within 12 months had consolidated Eliza Park to four properties.

While it closed its Queensland arm when the lease on that farm expired in 2018, it demonstrated its commitment to its Victorian base by relocating all stallions back to the Kerrie base, including Bel Esprit.

It also secured shuttling rights in National Defense (GB), the Group 1-winning son of Invincible Spirit (Ire), to stand in Australia and he has been based at Sun Stud's Kerrie property for the past two seasons.