Art Major to shuttle

Blue Chip Farms has announced that Art Major, in addition to his stud duty in North America, will be standing the 2005-2006 breeding season in Australia at Rob Van Dyke's Pepper Tree Farms.



"We've sold a lifetime lease for the southern hemisphere breeding rights and we've (the northern hemisphere) also retained one third of the southern hemisphere rights," said Blue Chip Farms owner Tom Grossman.



Art Major's breeding rights have been sold to Van Dyke and partners, of Pepper Tree Farms in Australia, for $1.5 million.



"We spent a week or two with Rob Van Dyke, working on a potential deal, and Dr. Burns, Blue Chip's veterinarian, spent a week in Australia at his place, and we spent some time with the people at Coolmore (a leading global Thoroughbred breeder), learning how they do it and the ins and outs of the business," said Grossman. "I could never get very comfortable with the previous model of shipping a horse down there with someone who doesn't really have an interest in the longevity of the horse. They've come up with $1 million cash. "They're in no hurry to over-breed the horse or damage the horse."



Art Major will stand for $6,000 (AUS) while Down Under.

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