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Godolphin have sold Twin Hills Stud at Cootamundra in NSW to Oliver and Amber Tait, members of one of Australia’s best known breeding families.

The 2500 acre thoroughbred stud was originally known as Dawson Stud when owned by the late Ferd Calvin.

Media personality Mike Willesee purchased the stud in the early 1980s and developed it into a leading nursery as Transmedia Park standing leading sires Snippets and Rubiton.

In 1993, the property became an integral part of Jack and Bob Ingham’s Woodlands Stud, standing a big roster of stallions including Strategic, Domesday and Quest For Fame.

The stud was sold to Darley when Sheikh Mohammed acquired the Ingham racing and breeding empire in 2008.

Oliver Tait is returning to Australia after a long stint overseas working for Darley in the US, Japan and Europe before starting his own consultancy business and breeding commercially.

The Taits will begin operating from Twin Hills in April providing racehorse and broodmare agistment, sales preparation and consignment as well as being home to their own bloodstock.

“Having grown up close to Twin Hills and been fortunate enough to work and live in the major thoroughbred breeding centres of the world, I know how lucky we are to have this opportunity,” Tait said.

“It is a magnificent property with world class facilities on beautiful land.”

The Tait family, based at Jugiong not far from Cootamundra, have bred and raced some of Australia’s great racehorses including Baguette, Tie The Knot and Spinning Hill.

In 2014 the Tait family was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.