THE stunning Ballymacoll Stud in Dunboyne, Co Meath, is set to go to public auction at the end of the month with a guide price in the region of €6-8 million.

Steeped in racing history as the birthplace of the famous Arkle and home of nine classic winners, the 294 acre stud farm arrived on the market last year.

Founded by Henry Hamilton around the end of 18th century, the stud was bought by Dorothy Paget in April 1946. She owned the stud until her death in 1960 but during that 14-year period she never actually visited the property.

In June 1960, Michael Sobell and Arnold Weinstock bought the stud, with 130 horses, on the recommendation of Sir Gordon Richards for £250,000.

For the last 45 years the stud has been expertly managed by Peter Reynolds who, with the late Simon Weinstock, has been responsible for the outstanding breeding record of Ballymacoll Stud. Interestingly, the current band of 18 broodmares is descended from the original 1960 package with 12 descended from Country House (1955) and six from Sunny Golf (1951).

A total of 31 Group 1 winners of 55 Group 1 races have been produced at Ballymacoll. The roll of honour includes Golan, Troy, North Light, Sun Princess, Conduit, Spectrum, Helen Street, Pilsudski, Islington and Fiorente.

Of the sale, Peter Reynolds said: “Ballymacoll Stud has been an amazing breeding ground for future champions and all at Ballymacoll will wish any new owner a similar level of success in the future.”

At the entrance to the magnificent farm is a great but uninhabitable old gate lodge, which leads, through the one mile beech hedge-lined drive of railed paddocks surrounded by mature trees, to the main yard.

The yard has 34 boxes, a tack room, feed room and large two storey office, together with a flat in need of renovation. Adjacent is the beautiful manager’s house, a comfortable four bedroom property.

Beyond this there are two foaling units with a total of 12 boxes, a six-horse walker and a large exercise arena. Another yearling yard with six boxes, a feed house and a hay store stands just off the front drive, where there is also a three bedroom bungalow house.

Yet another residence, known as the back lodge, stands at the second entrance to the property. There is an isolation yard sitting on its own 25 acres with six stables, a feed house and hay barn.

The land is laid out in stud railed paddocks, all with water connected. An internal road runs through the stud farm from the front to the back lodge making for easy access throughout.

For sale by public auction, the famous stud is being offered in three lots. Lot 1 comprises the main farm on 269 acres with the manager’s residence, staff accommodation, 56 boxes and ancillary buildings. Lot 2 offers the isolation farm on 25 acres with the three bedroom bungalow and six stables, while Lot 3 offers the entire farm.

The agents handling the sale are Rupert Sweeting for Knight Frank and Willie Coonan of REA Coonan. Ballymacoll Stud is certain to cause some excitement when it goes to auction on Tuesday, June 27th at 3pm in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin 2, with a guide price of €6-8 million.