by Pete Denk

Mammad Huseynov, the Azerbaijani businessman who purchased the sale-topping Storm Cat colt at the 2008 Keeneland April sale of selected two-year-olds in training, has purchased Brookhill Farm in Lexington.

Huseynov plans to operate a breeding facility at Brookhill, according to bloodstock agent Hanzly Albina, who serves as Huseynov’s chief of North American operations.

Mr. and Mrs. Huseynov finalized the purchase of Brookhill on Yarnalton Road in early July. Brookhill formerly operated as a Saddlebred farm.

The Huseynovs maintain a large breeding and racing operation, including a newly built racetrack, in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Huseynov's primary business is real estate, but he has always loved horses and has owned many of various breeds across the world. While visiting Keeneland Race Course in 2004, Huseynov was taken by the beauty of the land and devotion to the horse, according to a press release issued Tuesday.

After that visit to Kentucky, Huseynov abandoned plans to start a racing and breeding operation in France and decided to come to Kentucky.

Huseynov bought Don Gato—a Storm Cat colt out of Here I Go, by Mr. Prospector—for $800,000 and a Smarty Jones colt out of Dance On the Green, by Green Dancer, for $75,000 at the Keeneland April sale. Don Gato is a half brother to 2005 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Summerly. The Smarty Jones colt, named Baku Breeze, is a half to stakes winners Formal Miss and Gold Pirate.

Both horses recently shipped to Skylight Training Center outside of Louisville and are being trained by Ian Wilkes and Carl Nafzger.

Previous sale results and media reports spelled Huseynov’s name several ways, including “Gusseynov.” Albina said there is no ‘h’ in Huseynov’s native language and that the English spelling is a rough translation.

Albina said Huseynov is likely to begin shopping for broodmares at the November breeding stock sales.

Pete Denk is sales editor for Thoroughbred Times