Paul Messara is to wind down his training business to assume the position of stud master at his family’s Arrowfield Stud.
The departure of Sam Fairgray to sales company William Inglis has prompted Messara to take the reins at Arrowfield sooner than planned with many of the country’s best-bred horses to be sent to various Sydney trainers.
Paul Messara, the trainer of Group One winners Alverta and Ortensia, will retain a small team at the Hunter Valley property when he takes up his new position from August 1, the first day of the new racing season.
“I’m looking forward to returning to the stud business and am very grateful for the support of outstanding stable staff and wonderful owners over the past eight years,” Messara said.
Messara’s father, Arrowfield proprietor John Messara, said it was a natural progression although it had come a little sooner than planned.
“It is a good thing for Arrowfield to have a member of the family in the family business,” he said.
“Paul will still prepare a small private string for us of around eight to 10 horses.
“The others will be farmed out to other Sydney trainers.
“It is a natural progression to have Paul at the stud. He has grown up with it.”
Paul Messara’s experience includes stints at the Irish National Stud and Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.
Arrowfield’s stallions include multiple champion Redoute’s Choice, his half-brother Manhattan Rain and his Group One-producing sire sons Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt.
Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom stood his first season in 2013 while new prospect Dundeel joins the roster this spring.
As part of a restructure at Arrowfield, the adjoining Bellerive Stud, which is the base for clients’ broodmares and young stock, has been fully integrated into Arrowfield.
