Coolmore's $16m flop Green Monkey to be tourist attraction

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The Green Monkey, a world record $16million (£9m) purchase by Coolmore at the Florida Fasig-Tipton sales in 2006, has been bought to go to stud - but will also be used to attract visitors on special tours of the farm where he will be based.

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Poor return: The Green Monkey has been retired after failing to win a race

The four-year-old ran just three times, finishing third once and fourth twice for champion US trainer Todd Pletcher, but has been partly bought from Coolmore's Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith by his previous owners Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds near Ocala, Florida.

Irish agent Demi O'Byrne won a determined bidding war with Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager John Ferguson to secure The Green Monkey for Coolmore, but the colt developed physical problems and injuries which restricted his training.

Coolmore will still own half of The Green Monkey's stallion rights if he is successful in that sphere according to stud owner Dean De Renzo.

He said: "We purchased half of him to stand at stud in 2009, and he arrived at our farm last week. We're waiting until 2009 because he came in late and I feel that people have already booked their mares.

"His contract reads that he has to go to Ashford (Coolmore's American stud in Kentucky) if he does well."

Named after the Green Monkey golf course at the Sandy Lane resort in Barbados which is owned by Smith and Irish millionaire racehorse owner JP McManus, the son of Forestry follows in the footsteps of Seattle Dancer, the previous most expensive horse to be bought at auction.

Robert Sangster paid $13.1m for the son of Nijinsky in 1985, but the half-brother to American triple crown winner Seattle Slew won only $150,000 on the racetrack before proving a flop at stud.

De Renzo and stud partner Randy Hartley now plan to build The Green Monkey his own barn to allow visitors to gain a look at the most expensive racehorse in the world.

De Renzo said: "I think people would like to see him. He's a pretty special horse. His price was the most expensive in history and he is a part of thoroughbred history."