BRENDAN and Anne Marie Hayes have put the immaculate 250-acre Knocktoran Stud on the market. Coonan Property has been appointed to conduct the sale.

The couple are not, however, exiting the business, but rather downsizing, and will continue to breed from a second farm they own. Brendan Hayes spoke to The Irish Field from Deauville where he is selling fillies by Blue Point and Dark Angel.

“We will continue to breed from a group of a dozen select mares. Thankfully we are in good health, but we have plans to enjoy our time, and Anne Marie in particular would like to travel more. We have put our soul into Knocktoran, enjoyed so much success with some special families, and hope it will be a happy place for its new owners,” Hayes said.

The farm has been designed and operated to an impeccable standard, and represents one of the finest opportunities in recent years to acquire an extensive and renowned stud farm in Co Limerick, and one which is well-served with residential accommodation and modern facilities. It has a network of internal roadways, while a unique feature is the excellent shelter provided by the mature hedging throughout the property, along with established tree plantations.

The property has over two kilometres of road frontage, and is bound by the Morningstar River. The top-quality lands are stud rail-fenced, and the property is in exceptional condition. There are four residential properties attached to Knocktoran Stud. The main residence is a delightful Georgian residence dating back to 1847, and has retained many of its period features.

The yards are in pristine condition. The main yard comprises 32 loose boxes, including two stallion boxes, six foaling boxes, veterinary stocks, a tack room and a two-storey stewards’ house. The second yard comprises a nursery barn in an American-style barn with nine loose boxes, and a seven-bay hayshed. The Hillfield area of the farm, laid out in six divisions, contains seven isolation boxes.

Brendan and Anne Marie Hayes have owned Knocktoran Stud since 1987, and it has an outstanding reputation. They have been extremely successful in producing high-class winners, including the 2017 Group 1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas winner Précieuse, and Tie Black who won the same classic nine years earlier. The list of group winners bred there is extensive.

The farm’s previous owner Geoffrey Brooke kept bloodstock for John Pearse, while the present owners have done so for Gerry Oldham of Citadel Stud. The property is being sold at public auction on September, 28th at 3pm in the Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick and is offered in four lots. Knocktoran Stud is guiding in excess of €3,700,000.

Will Coonan of Coonan Property said: “This phenomenal property presents a fantastic opportunity to acquire one of Limerick’s hidden gems, and a stud farm renowned for producing blacktype bloodstock.”

Web: coonan.com