Lime Country Thoroughbreds with a big move and big plans in the Hunter
In late 2016 New Zealanders Greg and Jo Griffin made the leap across the Tasman and into the Australian breeding and racing industry and, since making the big move, they’ve made a serious impact with their Lime Country Thoroughbreds operation.
Originally, they based their business out of Think Big Stud in the NSW Southern Highlands, leasing the property from the late Dato’ Tan Chin Nam.
The opportunity to function out of a well established farm with an esteemed record for breeding and raising high quality horses enabled them to hit the ground running and ultimately launch their brand successfully.
Specialising in the preparation of yearlings and breeding stock for the major auctions around the country, their results have been stunning, particularly for a new player in a fiercely competitive market.
In 2018 Lime Country Thoroughbreds sold $2.8 million worth of yearlings, and grew that to $6.8 million in 2019. In 2020 that figure rose to $7.8 million and this year they shifted $8.6 million worth of stock.
Importantly, since passing through the sales ring some of those horses are now performing well on the racetrack.
“Our first crop of Magic Millions offered yearlings in 2018 (of which there were only three) has produced one of Chris Waller’s current stable stars in Nudge bred by John Bromley which ran second last weekend in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara hot off winning a Group 3 last month,” said Jo Griffin.
“Our second crop of Magic Millions yearlings in 2019 has produced the very exciting La Mexicana bred by Makybe Stud. She is both a Group 3 and Listed winner and looks like a serious Group 1 contender this coming season.”
The Griffin family are re-investing whenever and wherever they can and so far this year have taken shares in five mares valued at around $1.4 million with clients and plan to further develop their own core group of top class mares, both in partnership and on their own.
Now well entrenched in the Australian scene, they recently made their biggest investment yet by purchasing Ballygrove Stud in the Hunter Valley.
“When we moved to Australia we were always planning on buying a property at some stage. While where we were was a great stepping stone we felt with a growing client base and larger resident broodmare band we were better being closer to where the action is,” said Greg Griffin.
Speaking to ANZ Bloodstock News from the paddocks of their newly acquired farm, Griffin admitted it wasn’t easy finding a suitable property.
“We started looking earnestly in November last year and looked at about 12 places before buying this one. It was about to hit the market and it went out to expressions of interest. We put our bid in and we managed to land the property.
“It’s not easy to find a place the right size with a generous water allowance, which was important to us. We didn’t want to move onto a smaller property and just prep yearlings, we wanted something with scope to grow and loved the genuine rural feel of this place. It’s got a beautiful outlook.”
Located 35 minutes from Scone at Blandford, the new-look Lime Country Thoroughbreds is set on 285 acres and industry reaction to the move north has been positive.
“Every client on the farm is coming with us and some of those clients are sending us more horses. We are fielding enquiries fairly regularly from new clients. I think people think being closer to the Hunter is of benefit.”
While there is a solid amount of horse infrastructure already in place, Griffin said improvements are currently being made to accommodate their business needs.
“Our regular broodmare band will be around 50 and we are always willing to take on good clients and we want to be prepping 50 yearlings for the major sales.
“We will also have the ability to house 20 mares and foals undercover once we finish our new foaling unit.”
Lime Country Thoroughbreds mark two will officially open for business in the coming days with a number of mares already filtering in from Queensland.
Although led by husband and wife team Greg and Jo, their children Georgia and Jamie are being given every opportunity to play an integral role now and in the long term.
“My dad always said to me that farming and horses is something you have got to love and want to do otherwise there is zero point. We have never pushed them into it or tried to. If they make a decision to carry on that’s great and hopefully they do,” said Greg Griffin.
“Georgia is hooked on it and Jamie loves the farming side of it. He’s been here with us now helping with the fencing. He’s a real rural land-loving guy and will embrace it.”
The Griffins are certainly in Australia to stay.