The capacity of renowned Victorian private training facility Macedon Lodge will be tripled and an extensive development to house the significant increase in horses is continuing while the property is placed on the market.
Hospitality millionaire Bruce Dixon, who reportedly bought Macedon Lodge west of Melbourne for $20 million in 2022, is “testing the market” to find a buyer for the former Lloyd Williams-owned establishment.
Alternatively, Dixon is hoping an expression of interest process, which is being conducted by Elders Real Estate, could unearth a joint venture partner to help shape the future of the training facility which is being marketed with a valuation above $30 million.
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller has a permanent presence at Macedon Lodge, running in tandem with his Melbourne stable at Flemington, with his leading Cox Plate hope Via Sistina and Melbourne Cup fancy Buckeroo spending time at the facility during their spring campaigns.
Buckeroo was runner-up in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.
Macedon Lodge executive chairman Mark Player confirmed Dixon was committed to the business if a buyer wasn’t forthcoming.
“Bruce was just keen to test the market and see whether somebody was in a position where they wanted to take it on completely or whether some partners might want to come into the business with him,” Player told The Straight.
“Really, it's about the fact that we've created a massive opportunity and we have incredible belief in the property and that's why we'll start building (new boxes) and so on very soon.”
Macedon Lodge features several state-of-the-art training surfaces including a 1500m uphill polytrack, a 1000m round fibresand track, trails and a deep sand bullring. Horse pools, treadmills, water walkers and equine spas are also among the training aids available for use.
Macedon Lodge features several state-of-the-art training surfaces. (Photos: Reaslestate.com.au)
Council approval to up the horse population from 75 to a maximum of 225 at Macedon Lodge was an important factor in Dixon’s longer-term business model when he purchased it more than two years ago.
“It's a facility with a great range of things but the challenge with all these types of facilities is that they are expensive to run,” Player said.
“If you can build scale into the business then you're fine and that's what we needed to do at Macedon Lodge to be able to make sure it was going to be part of the Australian thoroughbred landscape for many years to come.”
Liam Howley, who was at one stage Williams’ private trainer at Macedon Lodge, operates his public stable out of the centre while Queensland-based John Symons and Sheila Laxon have a team of horses in work at the property for the spring.
Laxon trained 2001 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner Ethereal from Macedon Lodge while Symons was the first trainer to take up residence there after it was developed by Kurt Stern in the late 1990s.
Top-class sprinter Bel Esprit, who won the 2002 Blue Diamond, was trained by Symons from the 120-hectare Macedon Lodge while under Williams’ reign Fawkner, Efficient, Almandin and Green Moon and Zipping won Group 1 races after being trained from the farm.
A pre-training business is also currently operating out of Macedon Lodge.
Expressions of interest close with Elders Real Estate on December 5.
