Wai Eyre Farm - a 2025-26 breeding success story

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

As a self-confessed "little guy in the breeding game" Wai Eyre Farm principal Darryl Brown is proud of what he and his team have achieved this last season.

In 2025-26 they bred over 300 mares on their 320 hectare farm that borders the Waimakariri and Eyre rivers (hence the name Wai Eyre farm).

“The previous year we did 156. I thought it would be up 20 percent, not 100 percent," says Brown, "foaling numbers also doubled.”

Their increase played a major role in the rise in breeding numbers nationally. A total of 1,670 individual mares were served, an increase of 99 mares or 6.3%, the biggest rise in 16 years.

For Brown the increase is especially gratifying as he made some bold changes to his business model last year, giving the wider breeding industry a bit of a shake-up in the process.

“I haven’t been afraid to push the boundaries which hasn’t always been popular with some of the country’s other major studs” says Brown.

"But we all want the industry to succeed even if we do differ sometimes on the ways to achieve it."

Brown's goal is for Wai Eyre being a premier stud farm playing a vital role in the industry now, and even more so into the future.

“Part of my vision was to go all in and give it a real go,” Brown says, "and  that included positioning the farm with some serious stallion power.”

Headlining the roster are dual hemisphere stallions Lazarus and US Captain (pictured above).

Now 13, Lazarus was purchased by Brown last year after a stellar career that netted 37 wins, $4.4m in stakes and multiple Group 1s, including back-to-back New Zealand Cups.

US Captain, who stands for $3000, is a son of Captaintreacherous who won 22 races and previously stood in North America before Wai Eyre Farm and Southland’s Macca Lodge purchased him outright last year.

“He’s impeccably-bred, but I did not expect him to get the support he got,” Brown says, “Brent McIntyre from Macca and myself are absolutely thrilled with the support breeders have shown him.”

US Captain served 94 mares in 2025–26, third nationally behind Downbytheseaside (196) and Sweet Lou (145).
 
Wai Eyre also stand the trotting trio of On A Streak, All Cashed Up and Carlton. On A Streak and All Cashed Up stand at the farm through a partnership with Yabby Dam Farms’ Pat Driscoll.

“Pat is just so passionate and knowledgeable about trotting,” Brown says, “he’s been a real mentor for me.”

Alongside the new stallions, Brown has re-shaped the farm’s business model. He assessed his pricing structure and made some big decisions aimed at encouraging more breeding.

They include :

· Lower foaling, breeding, working and weaning fees
· Stallion services that included the working fees and in some cases the breeding cost as well
· Discounts for multiple mares and prompt payment

“We wanted to reduce the cost for breeders – not something that often happens,” he says.

"In some instances that's seen services that did cost $600-$800 going down to $400," says Brown, "and that is one of the ways I have rattled the cage."

"It hasn't gone unnoticed that other studs have followed suit."

He also launched a Lease to Buy scheme where Wai Eyre puts someone else’s mare in foal at no cost to the mare's owner. Brown owns the foal, but the breeder can buy it back at an agreed price after weaning, this price covering Brown’s costs such as service stud, vet fees and grazing.

"One owner for instance was adamant he will only be interested in buying back a colt foal. And that is just fine with me," says Brown.

“This scheme proved really popular with a good number of well-bred mares offered up. It takes away the inherent risks involved with breeding, and gives breeders confidence that they will have a viable weanling at the end of the process.

Started by Brown’s late father Mike in the 1960s, the farm expanded into horses over 30 years ago with Darryl working alongside his father to transform the property into the breeding and agistment hub it is today.

From the 1980s through the early 2020s, Mike bred more than 80 horses and trained 42 winners from the farm -  many carrying the “Eyre” name, including Johnny Eyre (10 wins - pictured above) and Drovers Eyre (9 wins).

A quarter of a century ago the Farm even stood superstar stallions Christian Cullen and In The Pocket.

Brown plans to “keep pushing for the next three to five years” before reassessing.

“I’d really like the US Captain’s to do a good job. If they turn into good racehorses and perform well, that would be so satisfying.”