We are here to ensure that we keep excelling in all areas of the Australian Thoroughbred Industry, whilst also maintaining the passion for racing amongst the Kruger Family and many generations to come.
When the history of the Queensland Racing Industry is researched, there is no doubting the integral role which Lyndhurst Stud has played for well over 100 years – and will continue to play for many years to come.
Founded in 1857 by the Gore family, the property was sold in 1886 to Mr. C.E. McDougall who commenced his thoroughbred breeding operation with a number of well bred mares and his newly purchased Sire, Archie. To this day, his contribution to the Queensland Breeding Industry is acknowledged each year when the McDougall Stakes is run as the first Metropolitan Two Year Old Fillies race in Queensland.
Over the first 70 years, Stallions of the calibre of Ladurland, Syce, Seremond and The Buzzard, stood with distinction at Lyndhurst. The Buzzard’s achievements as a Sire warrant special mention. From his Queensland base at Lyndhurst, he produced 45 Stakes winners, including the Melbourne Cup winners, Old Rowley and Rainbird, Caulfield Cup winners, Buzalong and Basha Felika and 1937 Auckland Cup winner, The Buzzer.
Lyndhurst Stud was purchased by brothers Percy and Ted Kruger in 1956 and has remained in the Kruger family ownership ever since. The Kruger family foundation Sire, was the imported Stallion, Smokey Eyes. Foaled in 1947 and being a grandson of the 1933 English Derby winner and world famous Sire Hyperion, Smokey Eyes was, for almost a decade, the leading Sire of winners for the whole of Australia. Whilst Smokey Eyes produced many great horses, he produced one filly – who then, and to this day – has left an indelible mark on the Queensland and indeed Australian Racing Industry.
Raced by the Kruger brothers, Eye Liner as a two year old, had won eight consecutive races – seven by winning margins of between 6 and 10 lengths. She was taken to Sydney to contest the time honoured 6 furlong (1200 metres) Champagne Stakes at Randwick. Eye Liner won the Champagne Stakes against the cream of Australian two year olds in 1 minute 9.9 seconds and in doing so, bettered the time record held by the champion Todman. In her illustrious career, she won 14 races and carried up to 69kgs (10stone12lbs) to victory and was named 1967 “Horse of the Year”.
As testament to Lyndhurst Stud’s ability to keep producing winners, she had ten foals (to five different Lyndhurst Sires) of which nine raced and all were race winners including the Group Winners, Pacific Ruler and Pacific Prince. Progeny where the name Eye Liner appears in sales catalogues, are still keenly sought after at Yearling or Broodmare Sales. Annually, memories of her are revived when the Ipswich Turf Club stage the listed Eye Liner Stakes during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Since Smokey Eyes, a plethora of top Stallions have stood at Lyndhurst Stud. Imported successful Stallions to make their mark between Smokey Eyes and today’s current line up of Stallions, include Grand Chaudiere, Non Proven, Tudor Monarch, Head Over Heels, Hail to Success (who set a two year old winners record in his first season), Grey Seas (the Sire of Champion Creeker Red Seas who later stood at Stud in America) and Lysander II (Sire of Alsop who was beaten a head in the 1969 Melbourne Cup by Rain Lover). Grand Chaudiere (Can) is worthy of special mention in the history of Lyndhurst Stud.
Once again, the foresight which has been a trait at Lyndhurst of having the ability to select a top Stallion, came to the fore. The then Studmaster, Merrell Kruger, took a huge punt and decided to import into Australia the first son of a Stallion called Northern Dancer. Northern Dancer, at the time, had not established himself as the best Sire of Sires the world has ever seen. Grand Chaudiere (Can) became Australia’s leading Sire of winners in 1980-81 and in his career at stud, produced 455 individual winners of over A$6 Million.
The Broodmares sired by Grand Chaudiere (Can) have been prolific producers of top thoroughbreds over many years. To give but one example, the highly successful Australian Stallion, Snippets, is the result of Lunchtime being mated to Grand Chaudiere’s daughter, Easy Date.
EYE LINER, a brown mare by Smokey Eyes (imp), was foaled 31st August,1962. Here with her chestnut colt foal by NON PROVEN (IMP). EYE LINER is the grandam of the broodmare Mean Eyes. 1998 and 1999 Group One Winner GRAND ARCHWAY is a daughter of Mean Eyes.
Today’s Stallion line up consists of Better Than Ready, Rothesay, Hidden Dragon and Champions Gallery. A plethora of successful stallions have filled the Lyndhurst Breeding Barn since the stud was founded. These previous line ups have consisted of Celestial Dancer, Canadian Silver (CAN), Carry The Flag (GB), Hayil (USA), Irish Royal (IRE) and Sequalo. These Stallions, even though they have passes, they still continue to ensure that Lyndhurst Stud is kept in the forefront of the Australian Breeding Industry. When looking at The Australian Sires List in respect of wins, it is a fact that 25 times in the last 38 years, a Lyndhurst Stallion has topped that list.
Lyndhurst Stud is set on approximately 2,500 acres of prime Darling Downs land and has up to 500 thoroughbreds on the property during peak breeding season.
The Stud is situated approximately 189 kilometres south west of Brisbane and adjoins the boundary of the City of Warwick with a frontage to the Condamine River. Utilizing their own bore and harvested water supplies in conjunction with an arrangement from the Warwick Shire Council – thus allowing extensive irrigation through flood centre pivot and spray – Lyndhurst Stud has been made as drought proof as is humanly possible. The irrigation allows the Stud to crop their own lucerne, barley, wheat and maize etc. to supply the property – the excess crops being sold to the retail market.
As well as their own Broodmare band, Lyndhurst Stud agist mares, yearlings, and weanlings all year round for clients from other Australian States and Asia.
Two Yearling Barns, Seventy Boxes ensure there is plenty of room to prepare the quality yearlings which are annually taken to the various sales around Australia.
As further demonstration as to how the Stud have been leaders in the Australian Thoroughbred Industry over many years, Lyndhurst was the first stud in Australia to bloodtype foals for parentage validation – before it was made compulsory by the Australian Stud Book. They were also the first Stud in Australia to monitor Broodmares – nearing and during foaling – using closed circuit television with infrared.
We are here to ensure that we keep excelling in all areas of the Australian Thoroughbred Industry, whilst also maintaining the passion for racing amongst the Kruger Family and many generations to come.
Lyndhurst Stud Farm
PO Box 348
Warwick QLD 4370
Lyndhurst Stud Farm
70 Lyndhurst Lane
Warwick QLD 4370
Jeff Kruger – 0429 076 610
Griff Kruger – 0427 010 096