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.”