Horse breeder John Messara expands Arrowfield Stud

The prominent horse breeder John Messara has expanded his Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley.

The recent $880,000 purchase secured an additional 45 hectare parcel.

It took Arrowfield Stud's total spend to around $6.6 million, over 15 years, to around 255 hectares at Segenhoe near Scone. 

Since he established the Arrowfield Group in 1985, it has played a telling role in the Australian breeding industry.

For much of the 1990s it was publicly listed, then privatised in 2000.

Messara, the son of a Cretan father and Italian mother, was first drawn to racing as a child in Alexandria, captivated by Arabian horses in Egypt's post-colonial 1950s.

He arrived in Australia as an 11-year-old.

The successful mare Scomeld was among his first successes in the late 1970s.

Unquestionably one of Messara's greatest achievements was bringing the champion Danehill to Australia in 1990.

Danehill went on to be the father of champion sire Redoute's Choice and world champion Frankel.

Earlier this year a yearling by Redoute's Choice fetched $2.5 million, smashing the record for a seller at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

There's also Messara's stallions Snitzel doing their bit for foals at $176,000 per service.

Messara began his life as a stock-broker, a world that one of his son's Mike figures prominently in New-York.

Late last year Messara retired as the longest serving chairman of Racing New South Wales and chairman of Racing Australia.

He also formerly chaired the boards of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse Marketing.

Messara's grandest dream is apparently the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris.