Olly and Amber Tait have acquired Twin Hills Stud, located at Cootamundra, New South Wales, a 2500 acre thoroughbred stud regarded as one of Australia's best.
The property, one of the most beautiful and superbly appointed studs in the country, has been purchased from Godolphin.
Perfectly situated between the Hunter Valley and North East Victoria, the farm provides access to both of Australia's most prominent thoroughbred breeding areas. It is also within easy reach of the racing stables of Sydney and Melbourne. The property will be a world class thoroughbred operation, providing racehorse and broodmare agistment, sales preparation and consignment as well as being home to the Taits' bloodstock.
Olly and Amber will return to Australia from England and begin operating a new business at Twin Hills in April this year.
"Having grown up close to Twin Hills and been fortunate enough to work and live in the major thoroughbred breeding centres of the world, I know how lucky we are to have this opportunity. It is situated in an area that has produced countless Champions and Golden Slipper winners, Guineas, Derby and Oaks winners. It is a magnificent property with world class facilities on beautiful land," Olly Tait said.
Twin Hills was established by Ferd Calvin before being purchased by media personality Mike Willesee in the early 1980's. Willesee developed the farm into Trans Media Park Stud, building world class facilities and standing outstanding stallions such as Snippets and Rubiton.
In 1993, the property became an integral part of Jack and Bob Ingham's Woodlands Stud. It was home to a large proportion of the Woodlands mares as well as stallions such as Strategic, Domesday and Derby winner Quest For Fame.
The Stud was sold to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley as part of its acquisition of the Ingham's racing and breeding interests in 2008. Since then it has played a central role in Godolphin's Australian racing operations and has been the base for outstanding racehorses such as Appearance, Exosphere, Epaulette and Guelph.
Olly Tait has unparalleled international experience in the racing and breeding industry. Having established Darley in Australia and going on to manage it in Japan and the United States, he relocated to England and was responsible for its operations globally.
Since leaving Darley, he has combined a consultancy business with breeding horses commercially. The red and white colours of Olly Tait's family have been carried by some of Australia's best racehorses including Baguette, Tie The Knot and Spinning Hill. In 2014 the Tait family was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
"Not only is Australia home, racing in Australia leads the world in so many ways. It is accessible, vibrant and the commercial breeding industry is extremely dynamic," Tait said.
"The Stud has an incredible past and has belonged to giants of the turf, Mike Willesee, the Ingham brothers and Sheikh Mohammed. We are looking forward to making it our home and adding to its history."
The sale of Twin Hills Stud was brokered by William Inglis and Son.
