Heike Bischoff and Niko Lafrentz, the long-standing owners of Gestüt Görlsdorf, have announced plans to cease breeding at the historic farm, with their entire collection of broodmares and foals set to go under the hammer as part of a complete dispersal during the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale.“We have reached the age where it is time to pass on the baton,” read a joint-statement issued by Bischoff and Lafrentz on Monday, confirming their intention to retire from the business.“As there is no successor within our family to continue the stud farm in its current form, we are actively looking for a successor to take over operations by mid-2027.”Founded in the Uckermark region north of Berlin in 1883, Gestüt Görlsdorf has been owned by the Bischoff family for over three decades, with Heike's father, Dr. Hinrich Bischoff, first leasing the stud in 1991 and then completing the purchase a short time later. Heike took over the management of the farm in March 2006 following the death of her father at the end of the previous year.Gestüt Görlsdorf will perhaps be best remembered during the tenure of the Bischoff family for the achievements of its homebred Deutsches Derby winner Sea The Moon, who was crowned German Horse of the Year for 2014.Now a stallion based at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, Sea The Moon is responsible for another leading light bred by Gestüt Görlsdorf in Quest The Moon, who won the G2 Grosser Preis der Badischen Wirtschaft and was beaten just a neck by Barney Roy in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in 2020.The statement added, “It is business as usual for Sea The Moon. He will continue to stand at his home base, Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades Stud in Newmarket, for the 2027 breeding season. Breeders wishing to cover their mares with Sea The Moon next year are invited to contact Lanwades Stud or us directly, as always.”The post End of an Era at Gestüt Görlsdorf appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.