Meet the owners behind some of Queensland's wealthiest horse studs, and their award winning horses
While racing may be known as the Sport of Kings, it's not the only equestrian discipline raking in big bucks for savvy owners and breeders across the state. Meet the people behind 15 of Queensland's richest studs.
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It’s no secret the horse industry continues to capture the nation, but it’s not just race horses raking in the cash.
While racing continues to bring big bucks at yearling sales like the Gold Coast’s major Magic Millions event, other equine sports are also bringing in major dollars.
From Paradise Lagoons to Warwick, major campdrafting events offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money every year.
Prestigious hack classes, jaw dropping showjumping events and off-the-track programs all bring the best in the state and the country to compete.
Behind these competitors are some of the states richest studs and stallions, breeding top competition horses with stellar bloodlines ready for buyers who want to make their mark on the horse industry.
See our list of 15 of Queensland's richest studs and their stallions:
Please note every effort was made to find the most recent and accurate information, if something needs to be updated let us know.
Boonara Performance Horses
Home to some of the most celebrated cutting and campdrafting stallions in the country, Boonara Performance Horses has become an icon in the state’s equine industry.
Located in the Gympie region of Tansey, the equine facility is owned and operated by Huon and Colleen Smith.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the equestrian industry, Huon has cemented himself as one of Australia’s premier trainers.
The legendary horseman has won or finaled in some of the most celebrated events including the Cloncurry Stockman’s Challenge, Warwick Gold Cup, Australian Stock Horse Association Futurities and Maturities across Australia and the National Cutting Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity.
The pair’s breeding centre has two stallions standing at stud; Boonara Mentor and Glencoe Last Word, but also host some of the campdrafting world's most recognisable stallions including One Stylish Pepto.
One Stylish Pepto
With a combined lifetime earning of more than $155,000, One Stylish Pepto has become an icon in the Australian cutting and campdrafting industry.
Bred by Todd Graham the stallion is currently standing for stud in Tansey at Boonara Performance Horses with a $6600 service fee.
Sired by Peptos Stylish Oak, a horse with offspring earnings of more than $2m and dam One More Spin, lauded as the second highest money earning horse in Australia, One Stylish Pepto was bred for success.
The 2003 born Quarter Horse was purchased by Mark Buttsworth at auction in 2013 for $120,000.
At the 2023 Nutrien Classic sale, two of One Stylish Peptos progeny sold for a combined $150,000, topping the 2022 sale where two more progeny sold for a combined price tag of $107,500.
Boonara Mentor
The resident stallion at Boonara Performance Horse, Boonara Mentor, the 2002 bred bay stallion has impressed many with his trainability and presence.
At just three years old the stallion won the Working section of the 2006 Australian Stock Horse Nationals Futurity.
In more recent years the impressive stallion was awarded the Champion Open Horse for the Australian Campdrafting Association South East Zone, alongside a multitude of placings and wins at campdraft events across the state.
The stallion has gone on to sire his own line of impressive progeny including Sailor Moon, which was sold at the 2022 Berragoon ASH Stud Sale for $62,000 following an award-winning World Cup Polocrosse career.
In the past two years progeny for the stallion have been sold at various auctions across the country for more than $190,000.
Boonara Mentor is currently standing at stud for a $3300 service fee.
Youngstar Stud
Started by Rick Young in 1999, Youngstar Stud of Dalby has become one of the most recognisable campdrafting and cutting equine studs in the industry.
The business began with the purchase of yearling colt Marnies Destiny, a horse which has become one of the most successful and prolific stallions in campdrafting.
Mr Young expanded the business in 2010, with the purchase of stallion Soda Bradman and 29 broodmares.
The stud continues to house both Marnies Destiny, Soda Bradman and young gun stallion Youngstar Marnies Duke, celebrated as the stud’s next generation stallion.
With a combined service fee of almost $8000 the Youngstar stud has proven its legacy.
Marnies Destiny
In 2017 the brown Australian Quarter Horse stallion owned by Rick Young was inducted into the Australian Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame following one of the most impressive competitive careers in the sports history.
As of that year, Marnies Destiny had either won or placed in more than 185 campdrafts or challenges across the country, including the 2015 Canning Downs campdraft and the 2015 Clermont Gold Cup.
The stallion is sired by the legendary Acres Destiny and dam Marnie James, a mare regarded as one of the best producing mares in the country, with her own list of impressive wins.
The list of this horses achievements, both in and out the competitors circle is almost endless, making it difficult to put a price tag on this stallions value to the industry.
Marnies Destiny is currently standing at stud in Dalby by Rick Young, with a $5500 service fee.
Nathan Wilson Training Stables
Based just outside of Biggenden in the North Burnett, the Nathan Wilson Training Stables cemented itself as a training and breeding stable with a stellar reputation.
With the work of powerhouse duo Nathan Wilson and Brydie Hughes, the equine centre has become associated with some of the richest horse auction results in recent years.
In 2021 alone, the 16 horses presented by the stables at the Nutrien Classic Sale sold for a cool combined gross of $516,000.
Perhaps the stables most iconic auction was in 2023, when Mr Wilson rode stallion Brother Tuff Wood to a $300,000 sale.
So impressed by the work put into the stallion, which had come back from a seven year break, the new owners The Tuff Syndicate left the stallion in Mr Wilson’s hands for future campaigning.
The duo behind the stables have their own incredible stallion standing at stud, Beniah, a solid and eye-catching 15.1hh stallion who across the 2022/23 season sired 25 foals.
Beniah
The Australian Stock Horse stallion is the result of Nathan Wilson’s stallion Boonara Gigolo, and his dam Chickasha Stacey.
Despite being born out of season in 2010, the stallion hit the ground running and within five years was winning open challenges at Cloncurry, a competitive arena for anyone in the stock horse realm.
The value of this incredible stallion would be near impossible to place, with most recent wins including Casino Stockmans Challenge Open Winner and the Australian Stockman‘s Challenge Association Open Horse of the Year Co-Champion.
Perhaps most impressive is the price tag placed on this stallion’s progeny which include $40,000 for two year old filly Bengaline, $50,000 for four year old mare Southern Star Matilda and $40,000 for four year old mare Peptos Abenie all in 2023 alone.
Standing at stud at Nathan Wilson Training Stables in Biggenden with a service fee of $2420 it is no wonder this incredible stallion is one of the most sought after in the state.
Bellhaven Horse Stud
Backed by proprietor and bloodstock agent, Deborah Heindl Bellhaven Horse Stud is the home to the competitive warmblood breeding in the country.
The 32 hectare property in the Noosa Hinterland currently has six stallions standing at stud with a combined stud fee of almost $12,000.
The stud prides itself on its international bloodlines, including German bred Cassini I a stallion who represented Denmark at the European Championships in the late 1990s.
One of their most celebrated stallions, Bellhaven Coraldo, was sired by the great Corrado a stallion whose progeny have competed in multiple international and Olympic events.
The stud also sells its own line of foals and yearlings from its impressive stud line-up including Brookside Regency a three-year old filly currently on the market for $22,000.
Bellhaven Coraldo
The 2006 born grey stallion hit the ground running when he was awarded as a premium foal in Germany.
The stallion has since gone from strength to strength with his progeny competing at an international level in the show jumping ring.
According to the Bellhaven website, the stallion produced the top five-year-old eventer in the country and won Judges Choice for five-year-old champion at the Sydney International Equestrian Center.
The stallion is currently standing at stud with a $2500 service fee at the Bellhaven Horse Stud.
Finch Farm
Westbrook stud Finch Farm has become one of the most recognisable and awarded stables in Queensland, backed by the talent of owner David Finch.
A celebrated jockey, coach and trainer in his own right, David Finch was named Equestrian Queensland Coach of the Year in 2022 for his contribution to the showjumping and equine industry.
His home base at Finch Farm has been recognised as one of Australia’s premier breeding grounds for sport horses with Olympic capabilities.
In 2022, 18 foals nominated by the stables were assessed by German international expert Jens Wehrmann on behalf of the Australian Continental Equestrian Group.
Nine of the foals received the highest commendation possible, earning a ranking of Elite, with the remaining seven foals were awarded Premium.
The stud is home to three stallions, all highly regarded in the showjumping and eventing world; Calgary GNZ, Charlemagne Ego Z and Massimo Quality BWP each carrying a $2200 service fee.
Charlemagne Ego Z
This 2005 bred grey has become an icon of the Finch Farm offering, as an eye-catching 17hh stallion with impressive bloodlines.
Sired by Calvaro Z, a horse which has competed in the most iconic international events in showjumping history including at the Sydney and Rome Olympics.
Charlemagne Ego Z is currently competing at a World Cup level within Australia, jockeyed by some of the best riders in the country.
The stallions progeny are already making their own names for themselves in the industry, with Finch Farm Clifford competing on the international show jumping circuit.
Massimo Quality BWP
Celebrated as the “the future of the sport” by Finch Farm, this 17hh bay stallion has some of the most impressive bloodlines in the country.
Imported in 2013 to Australia, Massimo Quality has become a sought after stallion in the showjumping world, with unbroken progeny selling for tens of thousands of dollars.
It’s no wonder when you consider the 2012 warmblood stallion is sired by French showjumping stallion Mylord Carthago, a horse which in 2019 ranked 10th as the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses top show jumping sire.
Mylord Carthago lists a plethora of accomplishments including competing in the 2012 Olympic Games, and winning the Nations Cup at the Concours Hippique International Officiel Aachen event on behalf of the French team.
Eureka Stud
Founded in 1935 by Andrew McAlpine, Eureka Stud of Darling Downs has become one of the most celebrated thoroughbred studs in Australian racing.
The stud currently stands two stallions; Encryption and Spirit of Boom, which according to the Magic Million Gold Coast Magazine produced 21 individual stakes winners in five years.
In 2023 the stud sold 14 yearlings at the Gold Coast Magic Millions sale for a combined $607,000.
The 809ha property and stud farm was managed by Andrew’s son Colin McAlpine until his death in 2016 and is now under the stewardship of his sons Harry, Angus and Charlie.
The stallions standing at the stud have produced top quality racehorses including Keshi Boom, a three-year-old filly which recently won the $125,000 Burgess Queen Stakes in Ascot this year.
The filly, sired by Spirit of Boom was purchased for $120,000 as a yearling and has within her first three starts banked more than $100,000 in prizemoney.
Encryption
Standing at stud with a $13,200 service fee, the brown stallion entered his fifth year at stud in 2023.
Within the first year the stallion proved his success as a stud, with his first crop of progeny to race in the 2022/2023 season earning more than $1m in prize money.
This impressive feat earned the stallion the title of Champion First Season Sire of Queensland, edging out barn mate Spirit of Boom who finished second for the same title.
With a lifetime racing earning of $743,500, Encryption impressed as a racehorse, finishing in the top four in 10 of his 19 starts across his racing career.
According to the Eureka Stud website, “Encryption enters his fifth year at stud in 2023 after covering four impressive books of over 120 mares in each of his first seasons.”
Spirit of Boom
It is clear that stallion Spirit of Boom is the king of the Eureka Stud grounds, with an eye-watering $38,500 service fee.
The Group 1 stallions progeny are well sought after in the sale ring, with the stallion average a sale price of $150,000 for yearlings in 2023.
His first crop of foals have reportedly already earned more than $14m in prizemoney, cementing the stallion as a money making stud.
Since entering the stud yard in 2015, the stallion has sired 783 foals, with foals exported across the globe to countries including Hong Kong, New Zealand and Macau.
The stallion has earned the title of Champion Sire of Queensland four times in his breeding history.
Aquis Farm
Regarded as a world-class thoroughbred facility in the Gold Coast Hinterland, Aquis Farm is a recognisable name for anyone in the equine world.
Acquired in by Hong Kong billionaire Tony Fung and his family in 2015, the farm underwent a $30m redevelopment guided by the property mogul.
The stud currently houses seven stallions on its standing roster, with a combined stud fee landing at just under $80,000.
The 447ha property represents an amalgamation of several properties under the Aquis Farm banner.
The stud is lauded for its Group One and Two stallion roster, who share lifetime racing earnings of more than $7m.
Jonker
Celebrated as the “epitome of genetic evolution” by Aquis Farm, the 2015 stallion is sired by a horse also present on this list; Spirit of Boom.
With a racing career earning of $2,065,660 across 30 starts, Jonker was welcomed to the Queensland Stallion ranks in 2022.
The Group One winner stands at stud for a service fee of $16,500, though none of his foals have begun their racing career as yet.
Jonker has been applauded for his own racing career, including winning the Group 1 Manikato Stakes in 2021, recording the fastest time of any gelding or stallion to enter the race.
Lyndhurst Stud
With a 166 year history in the Queensland racing world, Lyndhurst Stud has become one of the most reputable in the country.
Founded by the Gore family, and sold in 1886 to Mr. C.E. McDougall the Warwick stud farm has produced some of the most reputable race horses in the state.
Currently overseen by Stud Managers and Directors Jeff and Griff Kruger, Lyndhurst Stud has three standing stallions; Barbaric, Better than Ready and Rothesay.
With a combined stud fee of just under $40,000 the stallions represent the years of dedication instilled in the Lyndhurst brand.
The stallions have gone on to produce prize winning progeny, including Apache Chase, a 2017 gelding with a lifetime earning of more than $2 million.
Better Than Ready
The eye-catching stallion that is Better Than Ready is a Group One winning racehorse who in 2012 broke the Northern Meteor’s Randwick 1200m track record.
Perhaps it comes as no shock that the stallion won 8 of his 16 career starts across both Queensland and New South Wales.
The 16.1hh 2009 bred stallion first entered the stud yard in 2o16, and within a few years was awarded Champion Australian First Season Sire for 2018/2019.
The $27,500 stud fee may prove a sound investment, with 69 of his progeny selling for more than $5m across this years yearling sales according to Breednet.com.
Plaintree Farms
Plaintree Farms is home to both record setting Thoroughbred and Australian Stock Horse stallions, bred by some of the most insightful breeders in the country.
The Darling Downs property is home to racing and campdrafting stallions including Conatus Explosive, a stallion bred under the hand of mogul Gerry Harvey.
The stud farm is owned and operated by David and Heather Pascoe, who in 2009 bred their award-winning stallion Nonda Southern Cross.
Nonda Southern Cross is just one of the impressive lines developed by Plaintree Farms in their 100 year history.
In 2021, five of his progeny sold at the Nutrien Classic Horse Sale for a combined $152,000, and 12 short months later another of his progeny sold at the same auction for $45,000.
Nonda Southern Cross
Nonda Southern Cross, fondly known as “Denzel” launched in the cutting industry with an impressive third place at the 2013 The National Cutting Horse Association Snaffle Bit Futurity.
Sired by the legendary Australian Stock Horse stallion Acres Destiny and dam Nonda Happy Ever After, “Denzel” has become a legend in his own right.
In 2014, in his ninth ever campdraft run, the stallion scored an impressive 91 in the Chinchilla Novice draft, one of the most competitive events of the season for up-and-coming campdrafters.
From there “Denzel” remained consistent, finaling at major campdrafting events across the state including the Condamine Bell draft in 2018 and winning the Warwick Stallion draft in 2021.
Standing at stud for $4,400 and owned by David and Heather Pascoe, “Denzel” has produced his own line of impressive progeny.
James Equestrian
Celebrated as a specialist dressage and showjumping training stable just 15 minutes north of Toowoomba, James Equestrian is home to award-winning competition horses and studs.
The work of dynamic duo Rachel Berry and Hayden James, James Equestrian is backed by the international competition experience of the team.
In 2018 Hayden James represented Australia as part of the winning team in the trans tasman test for Horse of the Year in New Zealand.
The training ground produced international quality show jumping and dressage horses including Champion Du Monde, now competing in America with Paige Jardine.
The pair has two stallions standing at stud; James’ Bellini’s Boy and Blenheim Park Footloose both with a $1750 service fee.
Blenheim Park Footloose
Applauded as a “premium” stallion in 2018 by the Queensland Festival of Dressage, Blenheim Park Footloose is a showstopping 17.1hh dressage competitor.
Sired by German dressage champion Fürstenball, a stallion ranked number one by the German Equestrian Federation in 2015.
Blenheim Park Footloose sprang into the sport in 2015 winning his first dressage test as a four year old.
The same year the stallion was selected for the Stephen Clarke Symposium, where FEI 5* judge Stephen Clarke remarked the horse “has a natural ability to come up through the shoulder and a beautifully expressive front leg which comes from a naturally engaged hind leg.”
Harris Park Warmbloods
Located on the Scenic Rim of the Great Dividing Range in Southeast Queensland, Harris Park Warmbloods use home grown and imported bloodlines in their impressive stud line-up.
The business was born in 2006 by proprietor Shanna Antrim, with a vision to create top performing warmbloods for Olympic disciplines.
Purpose bred from international bloodlines Harris Park stallions have been Licensed, Performance Tested or classified by a World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) Stud Book within Australia.
The stud currently stands four of its own stallions, alongside dozens of proven outside stallions.
Harris Park also produces its own line of sale stock, with all foals entering the market with a minimum $10,000 price tag.
The jewel in the Harris Park breeding plan is stallion HPW Emmett RW, with a $2,200 service fee.
HPW Emmett RW
The Australian Warmblood stallion fondly known as Emmett was born to Harris Park in 2014, as part of Revelwood Warmblood Stud‘s ‘Designer Foal’ program.
Ridden by co-owner Mattea Davidson, Emmett has an impressive track record, including multiple placings in the Queensland Dressage Championships.
In 2020, the stallion was accepted by the Australian Continental Equestrian Group as a ‘preliminary licensed stallion’ and two years later reassessed as a ‘fully licensed stallion.’
While the eye catching liver chestnut stuns in the dressage ring, licensed judge Frank Weißkirchen awarded the stallion a high rank for his free jumping scope.
Davidson Equestrian
Davidson Equestrian is a purpose built equestrian centre in Queensland’s Darling Downs, backed by the professional expertise of Mattea and Shane Davidson.
Coach, athlete and vet, Mattea Davidson has ridden from pony club into World Cup showjumping and CCI4* eventing.
In 2012 she was awarded both QLD Equestrian Sports Star of the Year and QLD International Eventing Rider of the Year after she won the Melbourne International 3 day event in the CCI2*.
Husband Shane Davidson has his own impressive track record, including spending several years riding and training in Germany before becoming a qualified bereiter (horse trainer).
Backed by this experience, Shane competed home-bred stallion Fairbanks Catargo to represent Australia at World Young Jumping Horse Championships in Lanaken, Belgium in 2005.
Fairbanks Catargo is one of two stallions the team have standing at stud with a service fee of $1,100, alongside stallion Spectre D.
Spectre D
Awarded with a 9 out of 10 for his jumping ability by the Australian Warmblood Horse Association, Spectre D represents the next generation of breeding for Davidson Equestrian.
In 2022 the 16.2hh stallion stepped into the 1.20m ring, in his second year of competition.
According to the Davidson Equestrian website, “he is brave and careful, with a super bascule and technique over a fence.”
The stallion is sired by stallion Stakkato and respected showjumping mare Fairbanks Lulu who is known for her presence in the World Cup showjumping ring.
The stallion is currently standing at stud for Davidson Equestrian with a $1,800 service fee.
Fairbanks Catargo
The homegrown hero of the Davidson Equestrian stud offering, the now retired stallion is recognised for his impressive international career.
As the first Australian bred representative at the 2005 World Young Horse Championship, Fairbanks Catargo was named Champion of Champions for Jumping Horses by Dressage & Jumping with the Stars.
Despite being in his early 20s the stallion continues to impress with his progeny who have gone on to compete among the elite in the show jumping and eventing world.
The chestnut stallion carriers a $1,100 service fee.
Embrook Stables
Founded by the recognisable and regarded Langbecker family, Embrook Stables is home to some of the state’s most impressive thoroughbred and performance horses.
With over 30 years of experience in the racing industry, including alongside Black Caviar, Letitia Langbecker oversees the thoroughbred side of the business.
She is supported by daughter Emma, who within a year of finishing high school began working on her own draft of horses, presenting a 100% clearance rate for the family business and clients alike.
Kerry Langbecker is known as one of the top showjumpers, and alongside daughter Brooke the pair travel the country to top showjumping events.
The stables are home to their stud Quintago 1, a World Cup level show jumper with a $2,200 service fee.
Quintago 1 (IMP)
With Olympic bloodlines and an undeniable jumping ability, Quintago 1 is the star of Embrook Stables.
The chestnut stallion is sired by Quidam De Revel, a stallion which represented the French Olympic team at the Barcelona Olympics.
In recent years the 16.2hh stallion has been ridden by Brooke Langbecker, and in 2018 was sitting third place in the Australian World Cup League.
According to Embrook Stables the stallion “combines a great pedigree, type and ability with a super temperament that carries over to his progeny.”
Doongara Stockhorses
Established in 2000 by the Warren family in Lockyer Water Queensland, Doongara Stockhorses are backed by five generations of horsemanship knowledge.
Built by Geoff Wallen and his wife Wendy, the pair reportedly weren’t interested in breeding to begin with until they purchased yearling colt Regal Power.
The colt would go on to change the business plan for the pair, who were encouraged to join the Australian Stock Horse Association.
Now deceased, Regal Power won many awards including the prestigious Australian Stock Horse Society Prince of Wales National Trophy for excellence and this excellence was passed onto his progeny.
Doongara Stockhorses now stand two colts bred from this stallion in their studbook; Doongara Powerade and Doongara Manpower both with a $2,200 service fee.
Doongara Manpower
This 2008 bred stallion is one of the most awarded in state, including being named the 2022 Australian Stock Horse Society Westpac Star of the Year.
In the years prior the stallion has won or placed in some of the most competitive campdrafting arenas in the country, including 2nd place in the Warwick Gold Cup in 2021.
The 15.2hh stallion carriers heritage bloodlines, through grandsire Kirkbys Stud Remedy something he has passed onto his impressive progeny.
In 2019, mare Doongara Powerwishes, sired by Doongara Manpower won the National Futurity at 3 years old in the Australian Stock Horse Nationals.
Two short years later, another progeny of the stallion would win the same award as a 2 year old after being purchased at the Nutrien Supreme sale in 2019 for $14,000.
Oaklands Stud
Established in 1979 on what was once a Friesian dairy farm, Oaklands Stud has become one of the states premier thoroughbred breeding facilities.
The property is operated by Stud Principal Neville Stewart, alongside his family in the Toowoomba region of Umbiram.
Neville brings a wealth of racing experience to the stud having served as The Toowoomba Turf Club chairman for twenty-one years alongside serving six years on the Queensland State Racing Board and as Chairman of The Downs and South West Racing Association for more than a decade.
The stud is currently home to three stallions with a combined service fee of more than $30,000; Power, Exosphere and Prince Fawaz.
Power
Standing at stud with a 2022 service fee of $13,200, Power is the jewel of the Oaklands studbook.
Sired by European racehorse champion Oasis Dream, a stallion with a lifetime earning of more than $800,000, Power brings British racing bloodlines to Australian shores.
The 2009 stallion carries his own impressive racing stats, including winning the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh (1400m) as a two year old.
His efforts as a stallion have brought the stud equal success when the stallion was awarded the New Zealand Champion First Season Sire 2016/17 for winners, wins and prize money.
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