NSW/VIC border &
Adelaide Hills SA
Liz Kirkby
PO Box 225
Hahndorf SA 5245
Liz Kirkby: 0427 936 213
Email: liz@kirkby.au
Web: www.kirkby.au
Registration: ASHS#229660
Foaling date: 30/11/2012
Colour: Grey
Height: 15.2hh
Breeder: Phillip Kirkby
Current Owner: Kirkbys Stud
Genetic Testing #: OLWS, HERDA, PSSM1, HYPP, GBED, MH – Clear n/n.
VIEW FULL INTERACTIVE PEDIGREE CHART >>
| Sire: Kirkbys Stud Echo – HSH | Adios Reflect – IS HSH | Abdul – IS HSH |
| Barona Amy – FM HSH | ||
| Kirkbys Stud Orchy – HSH | Warrenbri Omega – IS HSH | |
| Kirkbys Stud Epaulet – IM HSH | ||
| Dam: Kirkbys Stud Madonna – HSH | Warrenbri Omega – IS HSH | Warrenbri Romeo – IS HSH |
| V Bar N Bonnet – IM | ||
| Polo Lass – IM HSH | Abdul – IS HSH | |
| Run Girl – IM | ||
The strength of the genetics behind Kirkbys Stud Elvis places him firmly among the most important stallions to emerge from one of Australia’s most influential performance-horse programs. His pedigree carries a double cross of Warrenbri Omega, a stallion whose impact on both Kirkbys Stud and the broader Australian Stock Horse industry can’t be overstated.
An icon of his era, Omega produced 383 registered ASHS progeny, many of whom excelled at the highest levels of competition before becoming influential breeding animals themselves. A winner of the Warwick Gold Cup in 1990 and runner-up again in 1996, Omega was exceptionally quiet, with power, athleticism and outstanding cow sense – qualities that became hallmarks of his progeny. Recognising the magnitude of his influence, Phillip Kirkby purchased a half share in Omega, a decision that would shape the stud’s direction for decades. Omega went on to sire 124 registered foals carrying the Kirkbys Stud prefix.
Respected horseman Lindsay Knight once described Omega as “extremely powerful but soft in the mouth – cattle couldn’t get away from him,” a rare blend of authority and responsiveness that defined his success. Those same traits are clearly evident in Kirkbys Stud Elvis, who closely resembles his grandsire in looks, type and natural ability.
It was this unmistakable connection that led Liz Kirkby to bring Elvis back into the program in 2026, ensuring the continuation of the Omega line at Kirkbys Stud. “Omega was so influential for the stud,” Liz said. “It’s important to me that Kirkbys Stud continues to have Omega as a foundation.”
Like Omega, Elvis is exceptionally quiet in temperament yet an extraordinary competitor – an essential combination in Liz’s breeding philosophy. “While I breed campdraft horses, I want them to be genuine all-rounders that suit a wide range of riders. Elvis ticks all those boxes,” she said.
That versatility runs deep through the family. Elvis’s maternal sister has proven the adaptability of the line, producing a highly successful showjumping gelding by Conman exported to Japan.
Elvis’s dam, Kirkbys Stud Madonna, is a novice campdraft mare whose progeny are already achieving success. She is a full sister to several standout performers, including Open-winning mare Kirkbys Stud Pearl, and Kirkbys Stud Theo, the first stallion to win the ASHS double – claiming the National Futurity in 2004 and the Maturity in 2005. Theo has also sired progeny in the United States.
On the sire’s side, Kirkbys Stud Echo carries the blood of two of the stud’s most influential sires in Warrenbri Omega and Adios Reflect. A successful competitor in his own right, Echo boasts wins in both Open and Ladies events. His pedigree is further strengthened by his dam, Kirkbys Stud Orchy, a ten-time campdraft winner and runner-up in the Canning Downs at Warwick. Orchy descends from a powerful maternal line, with her dam Kirkbys Stud Epaulet recognised as an elite campdraft producing mare (https://braeview.com.au/2024-campdrafting-magazine-article/).
Together, these layers of proven performance, temperament and versatility position Kirkbys Stud Elvis as a stallion bred not only to compete – but to continue a legacy.
Elvis was originally sold by Liz’s father, Phillip Kirkby, through one of the stud’s annual production sales, offered on his dam as a foal at foot. He was purchased by Andrew Sheridan, who retained the mare before selling Elvis as a weanling to Bernie and Rachael McMaugh. It was under their ownership that Elvis would go on to forge an outstanding competitive record.
Elvis quickly proved himself as a genuine all-rounder. In 2019, he and Bernie claimed the King of the Ranges Novice Challenge, the only challenge they competed in, showcasing Elvis’s athleticism, intelligence and natural versatility. The following year, his consistency earned him the ABCRA All-Round Campdraft Horse of the Year title, as well as the Maiden Campdraft Horse of the Year. Elvis then had a break from competition while he recovered from a fracture to his near-side knee. After a 22-month break, Elvis and Bernie won the Paradise Lagoons Stallion Draft in 2022 and has continued to compete consistently.
Throughout Elvis’s competitive career, Liz watched his progress with quiet satisfaction. After taking over management of Kirkbys Stud in 2020 following Phillip’s passing, she recognised that reintroducing these influential genetics would be an important long-term goal for the stud.
In 2025, she was speaking with Bernie and Rachel at the Stock Horse Nationals at Bundarra and asked if they would sell Elvis. They immediately said no. “I said, ‘let me know if you ever change your mind’”. When that call came, Liz was thrilled to bring Elvis back to Kirkbys Stud.
While Elvis’s pedigree is a major drawcard, Liz is equally drawn to his individual qualities. “He has everything I look for in an all-round Stock Horse -size, expressive movement, walking ability, and he’s comfortable to ride,” she said. “He’s producing quiet, sensible progeny with ability, and you really can do anything with his foals.”
Elvis epitomises the iconic Australian Campdraft horse – he travels fast and flat, is quick to cover ground, moves efficiently, but is also very soft and checks effortlessly. He gets his job done in a way that is easy to ride. “He has that natural cow chasing, flat-running instinct that camdprafters love, just like his sire. And like Omega is dead-quiet. He is chilled-out but has so much presence and sire appeal”, Liz said.
2025
2024
2023
2022
Kirkbys Stud Elvis resumed his competitive career in 2021, 22 months after fracturing his knee.
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2018 black gelding
Dam: Canome Nicky (by Chevin Ivory)
Ridden by Alex Marshall
2025
2024
2023
2018 chestnut mare
Dam: Hazelwood Cat Con (by Hazelwood Conman)
Owned by Samuel Trimble
2023
2022
2019 grey gelding.
Dam: Expected Candy (by Blue Moon Mystic)
Owned by the Kennedy family.
2025
2024
Lot 40 – Barmac Earl (2yo gelding)
Sold $16,000
Lot 73 – Barmac Elvannah (yearling filly)
Sold $8,000
Lot 34 – Capehawk Lizzie (2yo mare)
Sold $8,000
Lot 187 – Barmac Cecil (6yo gelding)
Sold $9,000
Lot 40 – Glenridge Cruella (yearling filly)
Sold: $8,000
Lot 42 – Priscillas Rose (yearling filly)
Sold $15,000
Kirkbys Stud Echo was one of the very first horses to join Select Sires back in 2012. This was his story:
Horses from Kirkbys Stud are performing with distinction in all disciplines in all states and territories in Australia. Their success can be attributed to one thing:
STACKING GENETICS
…Proven performance, proven bloodlines…
Phillip Kirkby and his family have been breeding horses for over a hundred years and during this time they have remained loyal to the concept of high quality with conformation, ability and temperament being paramount.
Phillip is very keen to preserve the heritage and bloodlines of our Australian Horses. “Those good, big, strong-boned horses that have performed in Australian horse sports for a very long time.”
They have maintained their mare lines and have retained only the best for breeding purposes.
KIRKBYS STUD ECHO represents Phillip’s current contribution to the Stock Horse industry and he feels he is among the elite horses in the country. He ticks all the boxes with his sire and dam both coming from exceptionally strong camp drafting families.
In Phillip’s youth, his family had a quality band of broodmares which were descendents of Bignell’s Radiant. He then bred to Warrenbri Omega extensively as he represented the best of the Reality bloodlines.
Phillip was then looking for a new sire for his home bred broodmares. He had great admiration for Abbey and his bloodlines and went looking for an Abbey bred stallion with plenty of size. He purchased Reflect as he was not only a descendent of Abbey but he came from a powerful mare line
KIRKBYS STUD ECHO represents the best of both the Abbey bloodlines and the Reality bloodlines. He has type, ability, temperament and is performing with distinction. He has 3 Warwick Gold Cup Winners in his ancestory and with his progeny just starting to compete, THE BEST is all ahead of him.
Echo went on to have a distinguished career in both the campdraft and Show arena before his untimely death a few years later. Achievements include:
Kirkbys Stud Madonna is a novice campdraft mare and producer of successful progeny.
She is a full sister to several standout performers, including Open-winning mare Kirkbys Stud Pearl, and Kirkbys Stud Theo (the first stallion to win the ASHS double, claiming the National Futurity in 2004 and the Maturity in 2005). Theo has also sired progeny in the United States.
Madonna’s successful progeny include:
Warrenbri Omega has 383 registered progeny on the ASHS database, producing horses that have excelled in both their performance and breeding.
Lindsay Knight is quoted as saying, “Omega was extremely powerful but soft in the mouth, cattle couldn’t get away from him”.
Achievements include:
Progeny include:
Adios Reflect was a black stallion by 1973 Warwick Gold Cup winner ABDUL, and out of foundation mare BARONA AMY (ASHS article).
2024
Photos taken February 2026 by Ken Anderson.
2025
Sire: Kirkby Stud Echo
