Irish Horseman Dermot O'Rourke Buys Plantation Stud

Dermot O'Rourke, former director of the Irish National Stud, bought historic Plantation near Newmarket, England, for an undisclosed sum, according to the Irish Field.

The deal includes the 187-acre farm, existing structures, and practically all the bloodstock. The farm was listed with Bidwells for more than £3.5 million (about $6.2 million). With his wife, Perle, O'Rourke has horses in training in Ireland and England.

Plantation has been home for a number of outstanding horses over the years. It was founded by the 17th Earl of Derby to stand his 1924 Epsom Derby winner Sansovino. During World War II, Lord Derby relocated his great champion Hyperion from Woodland Stud to Plantation to keep him out of harm's way.

Plantation was bought by Lord Howard de Walden in 1958, and from it came such stars as Dieses, Grand Lodge, Kris, and Slip Anchor, the 1985 group I Epsom Derby winner. Howard de Walden died in 1999, and the stud was run by an outfit on behalf of his family. It was decided to sell the farm and bloodstock because of financial reasons.

The bloodstock includes mares in foal to such stallions as Rock of Gibraltar, Hawk Wing, Montjeu, and Galileo, and yearlings by Generous, Grand Lodge, and King's Best.