Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice president of the United Arab Emirates and owner of the Manchester City football club, has just acquired a prestigious stud farm in Normandy for 28 million euros.
It is the Fresnay-le-Buffard stud farm (Orne) and its team announced the acquisition in a statement: “‘Al Wathba Stud’ of Abu Dhabi, belonging to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Vice First Minister and President of the Presidential Court of the United Arab Emirates, has acquired the ‘Haras de Fresnay le Buffard’.”
The news was revealed by the local newspaper Ouest-France, which revealed the information, the amount of the transaction would amount to 28 million euros in an operation that was closed on December 26.
“Founded in 1903, it is a historic thoroughbred horse breeding stud in France. Located mainly in the municipality of Neuvy-au-Houlme, in the Orne department, in Normandy, it acquired international fame under the ownership of Marcel Boussac since 1919, then Stavros Niarchos since 1979, and has been home to numerous champion horses,” reads the press release.
The operation also includes some properties. According to the offer published on Deauville Sotheby’s International Realty, the estate includes a “castle, with an area of more than 640 m² spread over four levels. The main part of the ranch extends over 240 hectares in one piece, including 205 hectares of pastures and 12 hectares of parks”.
