Ruby Lodge Stud to be sold

Press, 23 April 1987, Page 29

Ruby Lodge Stud to be sold

Special correspondent Auckland Roy and Barry Purdon, * for the last decade the J leading New Zealand ? trainers of standardbreds, ’ will train their team from ' the same stables again ' from the end of next month. It is almost two years ' since Roy Purdon bought the well-appointed Ruby Lodge Stud, situated in

' Burnsides Road, near Ardr: more, from Mr Bob Clarke. A public auction of the

property will be held on May 29, under the direction of Wrightson Real Estate, and the new owner(s) will take charge from August 1. Roy Purdon said yesterday although the decision to sell the property was made within the last few weeks, great interest has been forthcoming. “A lot of people are already, wanting to come out and have a look around the place,” he said. “It’s amazing the interest people are showing.”

Purdon said the shift from Clevedon, about 3km down the road, was made “mainly to give Mark (Purdon) a bit more experience.” The Clevedon stable has been in the Purdon hands for nearly 18 years. Roy Purdon shifted there in 1970 after training at Pukekohe for about six years. One of the reasons for Roy Purdon moving was to allow another son, Owen, to expand and train a team of his own.

“He (Owen), is getting a fair team behind him now and the place just isn’t big enough for Barry and him. Owen is looking around for a place of his own,” said Roy.

“Rather than run two stables, as we have been doing for the last two years, we thought it would be best to make the move back and be as one unit again.” Since forming a partnership in 1977, Roy and Barry Purdon have won the last nine trainers’ premiership titles and are well on the way to winning their tenth. Their tally of 80 wins, already a record for a single season, is well in

front of Michael Stormont and Richard Brosnan, both in second place with 33.

Roy and Barry Purdon will have 10 stablehands to help care for the large team.

“That’s counting me,” said Roy. “We have found that number is quite comfortable to do the horses properly.”

Purdon said the Clevedon property will undergo extensive refurbishment once things settle down.

“We will bring the fencing, posts and rails up to scratch and generally tidy the place up,” he said.

Purdon says he will have no regrets when he leaves the Ardmore property, which has gained a “showplace” reputation second-to-none in the north.

“In fact this will give me the chance to take things a little bit easier,” he said.

“I have been working virtually seven days a week for the last 44 years and I might be able to find a little time to do one or two other things,” he said.