Kingston Park Stud at Merricks North on the Mornington Peninsula developed as a thoroughbred breeding operation in the early 1970’s. From a small band of broodmares purchased in Australia and overseas Kingston Park Stud produced some of the most exciting horses seen on Australian racetracks.
The most notable of these was Kingston Town - Australasia’s first million dollar stakes winner and three times winner of the classic Cox Plate. Dual Oaks winner, Lowan Star and champion race filly Rose of Kingston (whose progeny include 1990 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule) were also bred and raced by David and Helen Hains in the early days of the Stud.
The good fortune continued in the 1980’s with multiple Group 1 winners, Spirit of Kingston (also dam of 1996 VRC Derby winner Portland Player) and other Group horses Chiamare, Reganza, Big Grey Roo and Kingston Heritage.
In 1983 Kingston Park Stud expanded to Kentucky, USA with the intention of breeding their top calibre mares with the champions of the international turf. Again from a small group of mares, these matings produced some outstanding horses in the 1990’s including Kingston Rule (USA), Portland Player (NZ), English 2000 Guineas winner Mystiko and Irish Champion 2 yo Basim.
The USA operation was discontinued in the mid 1990’s having served its purpose in providing some exciting female bloodlines at a time when Australian breeders did not have easy access to overseas blood. The Stud has some beautifully bred mares by Seattle Slew and Alydar to compliment some of the strong homebred lines.
Through the mid 1990’s Kingston Park also produced some fine racehorses at home including Riva Diva,Muirfield Village and Love Comes To Town. The later 1990’s were also exciting with Portland Player, Kensington Palace and Coupe de Grace excelling at Group 1 level.
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Portland Player winning the 1996 VRC Victoria Derby
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Kingston Park Stud has always maintained a policy of high quality on every level and has operated as a private breeding and racing operation (the farm did adopt a commercial aspect in the late 1980’s and held the Australian Sales Record of $1.4 million for a Biscay colt - for the next 10 years).
The broodmare band has been restricted to around 20 mares and it is a credit to all those involved that these small numbers have produced such outstanding results.
In 2002, Kingston Park embarked on an exciting expansion programme which saw the purchase of a magnificent 2,500 acre property in North Western Victoria which will operate to accommodate the 50 or so broodmares and foals.
This property is geared towards production of high quality lucerne and oats for personal and commercial use. We have also decided to breed our own stallions. This is largely a result of the problems relating to over use and unsuitability of many of the more "commercial" horses and this new programme commenced in the 2002 season.
On the racetrack we hope to continue the stakes winning form of 2002 winner 3yo’s Coupe and also see some of the other lightly raced 3yo’s and beautifully bred 2yo’s perform.
We look forward to the next period with excitement and commitment to continuing the excellent traditions that make Kingston Park outstanding.
