Qatari horse dynasty snaps up Croom land
And while auctioneer John Flynn was very pleased with the result, which was a regional high for the Golden Vale area, the identity of the buyer was unknown.
The only hint of an unusual purchase was perhaps that the property was bought in trust by Andrew Nolan of Goff ’s Country, who scooped up the 63 acres for just over €1 million.
Last week, however, it emerged that the buyer was Qatar Racing, an emerging force in the worldwide blood-stock industry.
The land, which is close to Rathmore Stud and will be overseen by management there, is the first Irish acquisition by the Gulf state’s royal family — owners of a number of properties internationally through Qatar Racing.
Qatar Racing was formed in 2011 by Sheikh Hamad, Sheikh Suhaim and Sheikh Fahad Al Thani of Qatar, and the multimillion dollar enterprise is managed by David Redvers, who is reported as saying there are no plans to stand stallions on the property in Croom.
According to Peter Moloney, who manages Rath-more Stud, the Croom purchase will allow the al Thani family to keep their blood-stock in Ireland while at stud, and the purchase was an investment move because the area has some of the best land in the country for horses.
There are a number of first class studs in the area with grade one winners, said Moloney, who suggested Qatari Racing would raise young horses there.
Meanwhile, another Qatari national is believed to have purchased Kilfrush Stud at Knocklong, Co Limerick, in the late summer.
This nursery stud was bought in trust by David Ryan of Aran Bloodstock, who manages the racing and breeding interests of Mubarak Al Naemi, who is chairman of the Qatar Owners’ and Breeders’ Association. This week, he was part of a heavy-hitting Qatari group who met Irish Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and an Irish industry delegation of 60 senior representatives from the agri-food and bloodstock sector who are promoting Irish interests in the Middle East.
Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, comprise the Arab Emirates. Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai, who is Prime Minister of the Emirates, is one of the foremost bloodstock breeders and trainers in the world, with a number of properties in Ireland.
