Big-buying billionaire's bold breeding boast

Billionaire Australian businessman Gerry Harvey is gunning for Waikato breeding giant Sir Patrick Hogan, saying he wants to "topple" him "from the top of the breeding mountain".

"I will be the biggest breeder and seller of racehorses in New Zealand – I've told that to Patrick (Hogan) and I want him to live to see it happen," Mr Harvey told the Waikato Times.

The co-owner of Australasian retail giant Harvey Norman – who last year bought Westbury Stud for a multimillion dollar price from Eric Watson, and recently expanded his empire with the purchase of Matamata's former Bloomsbury Stud for nearly $10 million – said he had enormous respect for Sir Patrick and held three shares in his champion sire Zabeel. But he said toppling him was a challenge he would relish.

Sir Patrick said he hoped his "very good friend" Mr Harvey would follow up on his words.

"Bring it on ... he would have to buy Cambridge Stud and all of its bloodstock in order to come through on those sorts of promises," Sir Patrick said.

He welcomed Mr Harvey's competition. "Without competition you don't have an industry and without foreign investment our own industry will not prosper."

Foreign investment had been a key ingredient in driving the Australian racing industry forward, according to Sir Patrick, who said major players from Dubai, Hong Kong and the United States had been crucial.

Mr Harvey, 70, is focused on his Kiwi-based goals. "I will be bringing at least 100 mares across from Australia which I hope will benefit the entire industry over here," he said.

He made his intentions clear at the official launch of "his latest business acquisition" Westbury Stud, which he purchased last year for a multimillion-dollar sum.

"So I now have five stud farms across Australasia, 500 mares, 50 horse trainers, 150 horses in work and 1000 horses in total – so I guess I'm starting to get pretty serious about it all," Mr Harvey said.

He also had a serious message for New Zealand breeders who were desperate to breed a thoroughbred more in line with the Australian racing fashion of early speed.

"Here you have a top reputation for breeding middle and long distance horses – but if you went as far as Australia has gone you would become just a little Aussie clone, which means Australians will not come here to buy horses."

- © Fairfax NZ News