South African interests purchase showpiece property Fayette Park
Another chapter is set to be written in the history of one of New Zealand’s most admired thoroughbred properties, Fayette Park, following its purchase by South African interests.
The change in ownership of the South Waikato farm has been confirmed by South African expatriate and now New Zealand-based Craig Ramsay. Acting on behalf of the principal of South Africa’s leading wagering operator Hollywoodbets, Ramsay has completed negotiations to secure the property established in the late 1980s by David and Masey Benjamin and owned since 2005 by Gary and Linda Harding.
Ramsay, who emigrated to New Zealand with his wife Tammy and their two teenage children in 2010, has been active at yearling sales in New Zealand and Australia over the past two years. He will oversee the operation, which will become an important part of the growing Hollywoodbets global racing and breeding interests.
Hollywoodbets has become a significant supporter of South African racing and holds naming rights to Greyville and Scottsville Racecourses, with Greyville home to the country’s premier race, the Durban July. Its wider sporting interests are complemented by the Hollywood Foundation, which supports more than 1,000 charities along with schools, scholarships and sports teams.
New Zealand-breds have a rich history of success in South Africa, with Group One winners including Sledgehammer, Sun Monarch, Gigantic and Petrava, followed in later years by the likes of Hoeberg, Clifton King, Explosive Burst and Gold Onyx.
Hollywoodbets Racing is now looking to this part of the world as a source of quality bloodstock and, having already invested heavily in well-credentialled yearlings at New Zealand and Australian sales, the acquisition of Fayette Park provides the foundation for a much greater involvement in the local breeding industry.
“Owen firmly believes that a good South African horse is as good as any in the world, but he also appreciates what a country like New Zealand has to offer,” Ramsay said. “The purchase of Fayette Park represents an investment that will allow us to breed horses here with a view to racing them internationally.
“We’ve already raced a handful from the first batch we bought in 2025. A filly by The Autumn Sun, purchased at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, won her first start as the short-priced favourite, and an Almanzor colt from Karaka named One Eye On Dubai has finished fourth and second in his first two starts.”
That initial Karaka buying spree totalled $885,000 for five Book 1 yearlings, while at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Centenary Sale in January the investment increased to close to $2.5 million for 15 yearlings.
Coinciding with the Fayette Park acquisition, the first steps have also been taken towards establishing a resident broodmare band.
Last week Ramsay signed for smart racemare Churchillian, winner of 11 races for trainer Tony Pike headed by the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap, Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes and Listed Tauranga Classic.
“We’re very happy to secure a quality young mare like Churchillian, who will visit Paddington,” Ramsay said. “The plan is to gradually build a quality broodmare band at Fayette Park, with a goal of having around 20 mares.”
Ramsay said the focus would be on assembling a broodmare band capable of producing horses to race primarily in South Africa, with New Zealand and Australian bloodstock both forming part of that strategy.
Having already taken up residence at Fayette Park, Ramsay and his wife Tammy are now familiarising themselves with the expansive property and its immediate farming demands.
“We’ve already got the contractors in preparing 60 hectares for maize, and with all the grass here we’ll need to stock up with cattle. Our daughter Alexis is a qualified equine veterinary nurse experienced in neonatal foal care as well as yearling preparation, rehabilitation and general horse husbandry, and she has her own project to provide the full range of services here.
“The property has so much potential and we’re looking forward to having our own horses here as well as making it available to others.”
Ramsay brings extensive industry experience to his new role. He and Tammy previously operated their own stud farm, Golden Acres, in the province of Natal, where former All Black forward Alan Sutherland operated a neighbouring property.
In addition to his breeding activities, Ramsay has been a trainer and owner and has also been involved in industry administration, marketing initiatives and movie production.
The 132-hectare Fayette Park has long been regarded as one of New Zealand’s best-appointed thoroughbred properties. Nearly 40 years ago the Benjamins took ownership of the former cattle, sheep and cropping farm and named it Fayette Park as a nod to Masey’s Kentucky home and the couple’s origins when David was working at the famous Claiborne Farm.
On the undulating, free-draining loam, they set about establishing a functional thoroughbred nursery. Extensive facility development and tree planting followed, while foundation stallion Grosvenor went on to sire 54 stakes winners, 16 of them at Group One level. The farm also became home to Group One-producing stallions Stark South, Prized, Postponed and Don Eduardo.
It was with immense reluctance that the late David Benjamin’s declining health forced the decision to sell the farm in 2004, ironically the same year Fayette Park was named National Breeder of the Year following the deeds of Group One-winning homebreds Hail, Bodie and Elevenses.
Subsequent owners Gary and Linda Harding continued that legacy, with Group One winners Bounding and Bonham, as well as Filly of the Year Fix, carrying their colours. The property also became home to the Hardings’ highly successful greyhound operation, with their Thrilling-prefixed runners winning numerous feature races in New Zealand and Australia.
“When we first flew into New Zealand we said this feels like home, and that’s been the case since we found Fayette Park in our search for a property that would suit our needs,” Ramsay said.
“It was the same for Owen when he was here on his first trip. He said he liked Kiwis and he sees Fayette Park as a perfect fit for the plans we have in mind.” - NZ Racing Desk
Ceolwulf putting a spring in Schofield’s step
Chad Schofield isn’t expecting Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) to upset Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the 7 Stakes, but he’s positive the multiple Group 1 winner is set for a good campaign.
It's not often a jockey walks away satisfied after being beaten on a star horse, but that's exactly how Chad Schofield felt after Ceolwulf finished runner-up to Lindermann in the Chelmsford Stakes.
After a forgettable autumn in which the gelding's campaign was cut short by feet issues and a minor bleed, Schofield was rapt with Ceolwulf's effort to storm home from last on the corner in a race dominated by the leader.
It followed a first-up fifth to Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes (1400m), but it was Ceolwulf's Chelmsford performance that proved to Schofield the horse was back.
"He got beaten, but I left the races very happy because I feel like Joe (Pride) has got him right where he wants him and he's tracking very well for the races later on," Schofield said.
"He didn't come up last 'prep', but that's probably why I left the races so happy. He felt as good as he has ever felt. For me, that was the main thing.
"We know he's a horse that comes good for his grand finals and at the end of his prep and that seems to be the case again."
Ceolwulf will step out for his third start of the campaign in Saturday's 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick where he will again clash with Autumn Glow.
From the trainer's perspective, Pride isn't convinced the race will offer the backmarker his ideal set-up, especially from the outside gate in seven, but he's confident of another bold run.
"I don't know if we're guaranteed any more tempo here again, but it would be nice," Pride said.
"The horse is ready though. He's had his two runs back now, so he's getting into that zone where he starts to do his best."
The winner of the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) for the past two years, Ceolwulf's attempt at a three-peat is yet to be locked in by Pride.
While he has no doubt the conditions of the feature suit his charge, he's mindful it's the carnival target of Autumn Glow and if she continues on that path, it may be enough to sway Pride in another direction.
"I haven't one hundred per cent decided whether we're going King Charles or Cox Plate. Saturday will probably help mould that decision and send us the right way," Pride said.
"He's got four group ones at 1600 metres, so I'd be pretty brave saying he's better at 2000 metres, but that doesn't mean he can't win a good Group One over 2000.
"I'm thinking about his opposition more than about him in that regard." - NZ Racing Desk
Marsh looking to add to family’s winning tally
A rewarding family association will continue for Stephen Marsh on Saturday when the race day covers come off a well related three-year-old at Ellerslie.
The Cambridge trainer has a 100 percent winning record with fillies from Snitzel mare Parmalove, and he is hoping that trend continues when Acclivitous (NZ) (Per Incanto) debuts in the Myracehorse Maiden (1200m).
Marsh prepared her older half-sibling Velocious (Written Tycoon) to win six races, including the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), to earn the daughter of Written Tycoon champion juvenile honours.
Another half-sister, Alacritous (NZ) (Dundeel), followed in the family footsteps when the Dundeel filly was successful at Matamata last season, and now Acclivitous gets her chance to show she’s inherited a good measure of the family ability.
“She’s got a great action and I really liked the way she has trialled up on good tracks,” Marsh said.
“Her work has been very good as well, she’s drawn well and with (Michael) McNab on she ticks a lot of boxes.
“It looks like a tidy field, so it will be a good measuring stick, and this is the same race that Well Written came through last year.”
Marsh said there were physical similarities between Acclivitous and her esteemed half-sister Velocious.
“They are both scopey types and this filly is probably as athletic as Velocious,” he said.
Provided Acclivitous runs up to expectations on debut, she could return to Ellerslie on October 17 for the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).
She is the most expensive of Parmalove’s yearling offspring to race in Albert Bosma’s Go Racing colours after she was knocked down for $375,000 at Karaka.
Go Racing outlaid $190,000 for Velocious as a yearling, and she was secured last year by Yulong Investments for A$1,625,000 via the July Digital Sale.
Alacritous was purchased for $300,000 and trialled this week at Ellerslie ahead of opening her four-year-old season.
“She had a very quiet trial and will have one more before she heads back to the races,” Marsh said.
Meanwhile, the stable’s pin-up girl Well Written (Written Tycoon) has breezed through her victory stroll in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) ahead of her Australian venture to tackle the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m).
“She’s brilliant and has done everything perfectly since Ellerslie, she hasn’t missed a beat,” Marsh said.
Well Written has been ridden by Matt Cartwright throughout her seven-start unbeaten domestic career but will make way for Zac Lloyd in her two-start Sydney campaign.
In her absence, Marsh will still have two contenders for the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) with Media World (Written Tycoon) and El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) heading to Hastings on Saturday week.
“Media World has been good in both of his runs, there might be a bit of a question mark at the mile but there are plenty of good 1200 to 1400m races to bring him back to, if need be,” he said.
“El Vencedor trialled very fresh on Tuesday and that will bring him on. 11 days between a trial and the race will be ideal for him.” - Paul Vettise
Coniston marches on towards Guineas
There has been plenty of hype surrounding Coniston (NZ) (Wootton Bassett), and the three-year-old son of Wootton Bassett delivered on his promise when winning the Waharoa Transport Co. (1995) Ltd 1400 at Matamata on Wednesday.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained colt impressed in his three trial wins before his debut at Te Rapa last month, where he was sent out a warm favourite, however, he raced greenly and finished seventh.
His supporters stayed true and backed him into a $1.40 favourite on Wednesday at his home meeting, and Coniston duly delivered.
He jumped well under jockey Michael McNab, who settled him in the one-one behind Imperialstatecrown (Proisir). Coniston peeled out three-wide when turning for home and quickly bounded to the lead before dashing away to score by two lengths over Vodka and Caviar (Russian Revolution), with a further 1-1/4 lengths back to Concurrence in third.
McNab has been aboard Coniston in his last four public outings, and he was pleased to see the colt deliver on raceday.
“Off his trials and his last run, I thought he should be winning, and he did,” McNab said. “He has got great ability and has plenty of upside because he is still learning.”
Andrew Scott was delighted to welcome Coniston back to the winner’s stall and said there is plenty of improvement to come from the colt as they work their way towards the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.
“He franked his work and his trials,” Scott said. “The team will be pleased with today to see his progress. He still has a lot to learn, he was still a bit raw in the race and is a bit keen, but once he calms down and gets it all together, we are hoping he can keep stepping up.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with today’s performance, and the beautiful ground out there won’t hurt him. Hopefully we can keep cracking on and get him to a nice three-year-old race.
“He is in the Guineas and all roads lead there at this stage, it is just which path we take. He is just going to take a little bit of practice to get to a higher level. Racing and practice makes perfect and it was a step in the right direction today.
“We work him twice a day, he swims in the afternoon. He is a robust horse that will handle a bit of racing over the next six weeks.
“Michael is getting on with him really well and he gave him a beautiful ride.”
Coniston is a $12 equal third favourite in the TAB’s futures market for the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, which is headed by Excite and System Of Play (Ole Kirk) at $8.
Bred by Graham and Helen-Gaye Bax, Coniston is part-owned by the Blandford Lodge principals and is out of their stakes-winning mare Le Gai Soleil (NZ), a half-sister to Group One winner Danzdanzdance. - Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
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