Secret Hills, Beaudesert, thoroughbred horse breeding stud for receivership sale

Secret Hills, Beaudesert, thoroughbred horse breeding stud for receivership sale
Nicola TrotmanDecember 8, 2020

Secret Hills, the 87-hectare Beaudesert thorougbred breeding farm, has been listed for October 5 auction under instructions of Ernst & Young.

It last sold in 2009 for $4.6 million to breeders John Doherty and Janette Gilchrist, who expanded their breeding interests with the acquisition of the then known Palmaday Stud.

The inaugural stallion to stand at Secret Hill Farms was Exceedingly Good.

In June this year it was reported by The Warwick Daily News that John Doherty was being pursued by a finance company over funds used to buy thoroughbred racehorses.

Documents lodged in the Supreme Court of Queensland showed Westlawn Finance Limited lodged a claim against Doherty and his partner, Janette Gilchrist, after financing Secret Hill Thoroughbreds.

The statement of claim sought $511,124.79 from the couple, including $510,302.03 in outstanding loan payments, and more than $70,000 in interest accrued since June 30 last year, plus costs.

The property which has been listed through Ray White Rural agents Bruce Douglas, Des Cuffe and Andrew Thomson, includes a 1400-metre sand and grass training track, 40 stables, breeding barn and horse hospital.

There's also a three bedroom main homestead and four staff/guest dwellings.

It is located 78 kilometres from the Gold Coast and 77 kms from Brisbane's CBD.

Another property owned by Secret Hill Farms Pty Ltd on Cryna Road is listed for auction on October 5 under instruction from Ernst & Young receivers Justin Walsh and Philip Campbell-Wilson. Located at 423 Cryna Road, the 22 hectare property sold for $1.05 million in July 2009.

Nicola Trotman

With a penchant for the written word, Nicola has built a career doing just this – now Creative Director at thriving Melbourne-based PR agency, Greenpoint Media.

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