Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Clint Donovan of Donovan + Co Property Specialists and Magic Millions Sales will facilitate the sale of Ian Smith’s Edinburgh Park Stud.
Smith, who recently wound down his breeding interests through a reduction sale of his stock at the Magic Millions National Weanling and Broodmare Sale, will now offer the jewel in the crown of his operation, his 214-acre property where no stone has been left unturned.
Ian Smith | Image courtesy of Inglis
The picturesque Manning River binds Edinburgh Park Stud and has a modern homestead that overlooks the river. It is understandable why the property has a history of producing quality gallopers on the track when you look at the facilities.
Edinburgh Park Stud is full of highly fertile soils and pastures, extensive equine breeding and spelling infrastructure, modern barns and veterinary facilities, including a walker, round yard, day yards and a foaling hub, among many other top-class additions.
The property also has a separate manager’s residence and staff accommodation. There are bitumen roads across the entire farm for ease of movement and hardwood posts and rail-fenced paddocks.
Gallery: Edinburgh Park Stud homestead, images courtesy of Magic Millions
Edinburgh Park Stud has everything needed to raise quality and successful thoroughbreds. Donovan is excited to be part of the team responsible for getting the property sold, “As far as I’m concerned from a thoroughbred breeding and racing industry perspective, Edinburgh Park Stud is an absolute turn-key farm.
“The farm is of boutique size that is capable of running 55-60 mares. The property offers a wonderful lifestyle element. The historic Wingham township is only five minutes away, you're 45 minutes to Port Macquarie, one hour and 20 minutes to the Newcastle Airport and your three hours by the freeway to Sydney,” Donovan shared with TDN AusNZ.
“As far as I’m concerned from a thoroughbred breeding and racing industry perspective, Edinburgh Park Stud is an absolute turn-key farm.” - Clint Donovan
“Importantly, Edinburgh Park Stud is less than three hours for breeders to Coolmore Stud and the other stud farms in the Hunter Valley. The property is only five hours to the Gold Coast and the Magic Millions complex.
“While it is out there as far as location goes, the wonderful lifestyle attributes it has and the ease of the highway makes it easy to go to and from.”
Donovon also notes the environment, which is second to none for breeding athletes.
“The lifestyle is a big factor, then you couple that with a beautiful subtropical environment with a high rainfall average and the exceptional equine and veterinary facilities, it is a dream property,” Donovan said.
“The lifestyle is a big factor, then you couple that with a beautiful subtropical environment with a high rainfall average and the exceptional equine and veterinary facilities, it is a dream property.” - Clint Donovan
“The efficient and economical way the farm has been set up proves not a dollar has been spared in developing Edinburgh Park Stud. A key point is because of the efficiency, the farm requires small staff numbers; three to four staff is sufficient for the farm to run.
“The proof is in the pudding of what a great breeding ground it is for racehorses. Year in and year out, the farm produces stakes winners from small numbers. It has produced a World Champion in Silent Witness, a recent Group 1 winner in Royal Merchant and horses such as Rubisaki and Eleven Eleven,” Donovan told TDN AusNZ.
“For example, Edinburgh Stud Farm was represented by two runners in the G1 $3 million Stradbroke Handicap. Both gallopers were born and raised on the farm. It absolutely punches above its weight in terms of graduates.
Gallery: Edingburgh Park Stud, images courtesy of Magic Millions
“The quality of the water from the Manning River, the quality of pastures and the efficient management ability of the farm make it a wonderfully safe but very sound and highly productive place to raise horses. From an industry perspective, that is a crucial point. Not all farms have a track record of this strength from such a small base.”
Donovon explained the property is ideally located given the close township is full of horse lovers that are capable horse people and shared there has been a healthy interest in the property since its announcement.
“With the location of Edinburgh Stud Farm, you are not directly competing with all the other stud farms, like a concentrated area like the Hunter Valley or the Southern Highlands. The attributes of the farm and the township allow for ease of employment. There are a lot of horse lovers that live around the area, and getting staff from the local area has never been a problem.”
“The attributes of the farm and the township allow for ease of employment. There are a lot of horse lovers that live around the area, and getting staff from the local area has never been a problem.” - Clint Donovan
“Since we put the property up for sale, there has been a healthy interest in Edinburgh Park Stud. We are very pleased.”
Barry Bowditch, managing director of Magic Millions, hopes a thoroughbred breeder purchases Edinburgh Park Stud and continues the tradition of breeding quality gallopers and a fruitful association with Magic Millions.
“I’ve known Ian (Smith) for an awfully long time now, probably since Silent Witness, who was bred in 1999, so since the early 2000s, I have known him. During those years, Smithy (Ian) had a humble little farm on the outskirts of Taree, where he started breeding horses, and over time he has increased the quality of his operation,” Bowditch told TDN AusNZ.
“Ian has bred plenty of quality horses that have success on the track, and he has bred sale-toppers at the Magic Millions sales. Ian bought that farm at Wingham, now Edinburgh Park Stud, and it took some foresight on his behalf.
“Ian has produced that farm into a beautiful thoroughbred property and has bred countless quality horses for the last 15 years or so. It is a farm with everything a thoroughbred breeder would need and is so well put together.”
“Ian (Smith) has produced that farm into a beautiful thoroughbred property and has bred countless quality horses for the last 15 years or so. It is a farm with everything a thoroughbred breeder would need and is so well put together.” - Barry Bowditch
As Donovan pointed out, Bowditch also points out the expense and rarity of such a property to be offered to the market.
“Most importantly, we’ve noticed over time that property continues to produce racehorses. All of Ian’s hard work and expense he has put into this farm can be somebody else’s delight and future.
“I really hope the buyer of the farm is a thoroughbred breeder because I think it's a farm that will continue to grow and have success.
Gallery: Edinburgh Park Stud, images courtesy of Magic Millions
“If a racehorse breeder buys the Edinburgh Park Stud, they are buying a farm with all the equipment and facilities, just all the toys a breeder needs. It’s also the perfect location and climate; a breeder has great logistical ease.
“Every time I visit the farm, it is always green, lush and pretty. If I were looking to breed horses, I'd love to be river-side to the Manning River. It’s just a farm that has great quality.”
Offered for sale by written Expressions of Interest to purchase, close 4pm AEST on Friday, July 28. Information Memorandum and Sale Contracts available upon request.
Inspection by appointment.
Clint Donovan: +61 421 944 985 | clint@donovanandco.com.au
Darcy Schostakowski: +61 499 220 649 | darcy@donovanandco.com.au
David Chester: +61 410 683 466 | davidc@magicmillions.com.au
