The White family's Bhima farm has been recently purchased by Broadwater Thoroughbreds' Mike and Kate Fleming. This exciting acquisition within the Australian Thoroughbred Industry sees that the impressive history of this property continues to be owned and managed byAustralian interests.
"We are extremely honoured to have the opportunity to purchase such an impressive property like Bhima. It has an amazing and long-standing history in our industry and we are looking to further capitalise on not only the successful history of the farm, but also continue to grow on the success that both Kate and I have achieved in a relative short time with Broadwater," stated Mike Fleming
With an extraordinary honour roll where Bhima's 200 plus graduates have amassed in excess of $27 million in earnings,the farm has proven to be of significance to the Australian Racing Industry. Recent history from the 1970's highlights its broodmare capabilities in fostering racetrack success. During this period former owner Vivian Bath stood Biscay, the sire of Bletchingly whose progeny include Kingston Town, Emancipation and Canny Lad who sired the celebrated broodmare, Shantha's Choice, dam of leading sires Redoute's Choice and Manhattan Rain.
Secured in 1994 by the White family, the property was further developed, and can lay claim to breeding and raising winners of such races as the AJC Derby, Flight Stakes, Rosehill Guineas, Silver Slipper, Queen Elizabeth, George Main Stakes, AJC Galaxy and the Ranvet Stakes, to name a few.
Situated just minutes from the heart of Scone, and within close proximity to the Scone Race Club, Scone Equine Hospital anand the Scone Air Strip, Bhima is in the perfect location for a broodmare farm.Many of the Hunter Valley's leading stallion farms such as Arrowfield, Vinery, Darley, Yarraman Park, Coolmore, Widden and Emirates Park are all close by, further enhancing Bhima's positioning as a premier broodmare farm.
Occupying 396 acres of prime Upper Hunter horse country, ranging from extensive alluvial flats to moderate easterly facing basalt slopes, Bhima has the perfect land mix for breeding and rearing thoroughbred horses of the highest ilk.
Bhima has a full complement of stud improvements including an 18-box stable barn (with central quadrangle and parading pathway), a 10-horse electric horse walker (undercover), a covered round yard (with adjacent yards), a six-box vet hospital (with underground heating and elevated night watch office), two vet areas, and two separate three-box stable barns formerly used as stallion boxes.
With Broadwater Thoroughbreds already known for its client-based relationships, one-on-one communication and attention to detail, Mike and Kate are excited to operate this new farm with the same passion.
The purchase will enable them to further form ever lasting relationships with their clients, that has so far seen Broadwater Thoroughbreds foal down or raise recent stakes performers including First Seal, Ready For Victory, Scissor Kick, Heavens Above, Bound For Earth, Heatherly, Top Me Up as well as the unbeaten and extremely exciting Singapore-based Super One.
"This is an exciting time for us here at Broadwater. For the past four years we have been able to give our clients the opportunity to have their bloodstock born and raised on one of the best pieces of land in the Upper Hunter – Broadwater. So for us to purchase, it had to be the right farm. Bhima is just that farm. Its history of being able to grow Group winners is proof of that.
"The Bath and White families have done many wonderful things with Bhima and we are looking forward to what the Fleming family can add to that legacy."
With a new foaling season fast approaching it will be interesting to watch what Mike, Kate and the staff of Broadwater Thoroughbreds will produce in the future at Bhima; no doubt there are exciting times ahead both for Bhima and the Australian Racing Industry.