Dunshaughlin: €13mA winning 180-acre stud a short canter from Dunshaughlin in Co Meath, a lodge where you get two houses for the price of one on 30 acres in Co Kildare, and a striking modern house in Sallins - all three near the K Club. Robert O'Byrne and Lauren Mulhall report

Since acquiring it eight years ago, Gerrardstown House Stud's owner has spent a lot of money on the place. And presumably recouped some of it too, since during the same period his stables have bred a number of serious winners including "Jewel in the Sand", "Conquest", "Silent Times" and "Alexina".

And it's a safe bet that next month's sale of Gerrardstown will comfortably gallop home too, not least thanks to its location. Though less than two kilometres outside Dunshaughlin, Co Meath the 180-acre estate displays none of that town's anarchic bustle but instead exudes an atmosphere of bucolic calm.

The estate is being sold through Jordan Town & County and Coonan Real Estate Alliance and has an AMV of €13 million.

Impressive gates purr open to admit the visitor up a winding drive lined with mature trees judiciously supplemented with more recent planting.

To either side lie railed paddocks holding future equine stars while at the end stands the main residence with its various outbuildings clustered like foals around a mare.

Gerrardstown House is something of an architectural enigma, having been altered by successive owners including the present one who, among other details, is responsible for the handsome granite entrance portico and fine wrought-iron railings.

The building appears to date from the late 19th century, initially being of three bays and two storeys over basement.

At some later date, a large two-bay extension was added to the western side of the house and this now holds the drawingroom on the groundfloor and the main bedroom above.

Both benefit from south-facing French windows offering a prospect over the impeccably-maintained rear gardens which are bordered by a high beech hedge and feature a number of different terraces.

There are two other bedrooms on the first floor while below, in addition to the drawingroom, can be found a study and diningroom each entered through charming arched double doors.

And at the rear of these a kitchen runs more than 40ft - long enough for a good trot.

Downstairs are two further big rooms that could provide accommodation for either staff or teenagers in need of their own quarters, plus a substantial utility room.

While there are fireplaces throughout, these have all been converted to gas but could be returned to burning solid fuels.

Adding to Gerrardstown's architectural puzzle, barely a short canter away from the main house lies another and older building.

Now serving as home to the estate manager, it seems to be a two-storey 18th century farm residence, mimicking the period's Palladian style with its own miniature wings.

Behind this is a modern three-bedroom staff cottage that fronts the main stableyard containing 23 boxes, an indoor training arena, a six-unit horse walker, tackroom and all other necessary facilities for the running of a successful stud.

Gerrardstown's grounds feature a fine collection of horse chestnut, beech and oak and of late there has been a lot of clearing and replanting in the immediate vicinity of the houses.

As for the rest of the land, at present this is in permanent pasture and divided into some 20 paddocks, all of which have been post-and-railed.

The whole place has been thoroughly refurbished and could be occupied by a new owner without changing anything.

But whoever does buy Gerrardstown through will most likely be thinking ahead. Especially with an AMV over €13m, odds are that an estate located so close to Dublin will sooner or later yield a better return breeding new commuter homes rather than racehorses. Gerrardstown's greatest winner could yet be called "Eye to the Future".