Racing: Ra Ora to be disbanded

By MIKE DILLON

One of New Zealand's most famous thoroughbred stud farms, Ra Ora, is to be completely disbanded.

The 63-year-old South Auckland establishment is to dispose of all its stock at an evening auction at the stud on May 12.

Ra Ora was established by business tycoon Sir Woolf Fisher in 1937 and from the early 1950s became one of the driving forces of the country's thoroughbred breeding industry.

Sir Woolf died in 1975 and the stud has since been run by the trustees of his estate.

Ironically, Ra Ora has virtually been pushed out of existence by the growth of the East Tamaki industrial area, jointly established by Sir Woolf.

The rapidly expanding industrial corridor now completely envelops the Ra Ora Stud site.

"It has been obvious for some time that to continue to maintain a major horse stud on what is essentially an urban industrial area is not possible," said Ra Ora chairman Noel Robinson.

Robinson said consideration had been given to re-locating Ra Ora, but that was hampered by the terms of Sir Woolf's will.

"In the finish disbanding became the only viable option," he said.

The Ra Ora land has been re-zoned industrial and the Fisher Estate is developing it into a major industrial park.

The stallion line-up at Ra Ora, starting with Gabador in 1950, has been stunning.

Pharamond and Sovereign Edition, the sire of 50 stakes winners, were followed by Stunning, Imposing, Nassipour, Famous Star, Straight Strike and Desert Sun, the sire of champion mare, Sunline.

More recently Ra Ora has been involved in the shuttle stallions Last Tycoon, Carnegie, Groom Dancer, Soviet Star, Housebuster and Bigstone.

In the early 1980s Ra Ora was floated as a public company and a few years later was taken over by the major Australian stud operation, Arrowfield.

The Fisher Estate bought Ra Ora back off Arrowfield in the late 1980s.

Going under the hammer will be 50 broodmares, 40 foals and a number of untried stock.

One of the real highlights will be the auction of a share in sire sensation Zabeel, the value of which is difficult to estimate because of its exclusivity.

Robinson: "It is not often an opportunity exists for thoroughbred breeders to buy into one of the best broodmare bands in New Zealand on an unreserved basis."