WE’RE OFF TO A FLYING START

101 mares served in Australia in the first four weeks of the breeding season, and the momentum isn’t slowing down.

Foals are hitting the ground thick and fast (42 at Woodlands Stud already!), and things are heating up on the track too.

A blockbuster week for Woodlands stallions - world records smashed, Lexington sales dominated, Group 1 winners crowned and double-digit victories across the tracks. From the breeding barn to the winners’ circle, our sires are setting the pace.

Video: Loua Dipa breaking the 2-year-old fillies World Record!

LOU AND BEHOLD – HE'S DONE IT AGAIN

The number one sire in North America and the stallion taking the harness world by storm, Sweet Lou continues to make headlines. His progeny are doing his marketing for him, and his siring story is only just beginning.

In North America, his daughter LOUA DIPA (Pet Rock dam) became the fastest 2-year-old in history, pacing a sensational mile in 1:48 flat at The Red Mile - see the replay above!

At the Lexington Sales, he was the leading sire on Day 3, producing the overall top lot, the top two pacing lots, and also sired the top-priced pacing filly on Day 2. A third of his offerings sold for over $100,000 and he averaged a superb $80,879 across the week, the third highest pacing sire.

In Australasia, Sweet Lou sired 18 winners for the week, including a sensational night on Friday with four winners each at Albion Park and Gloucester Park, plus a double at Albion Park.

Photo: LOT 44 - A Downbytheseaside filly out of a Sweet Lou dam who fetched an incredible $500,000 at last week's Lexington Sale and in turn was the highest price pacer of the entire sale.

THE SEASIDE STANDARD

It’s hard to argue that any pacing sire is more exciting right now than Downbytheseaside. His progeny have the wow factor and their results speak volumes:

11 winners for the week, including five 2YO wins

Leading pacing sire at Lexington, averaging $93,088 across 33 lots

Top-priced pacer overall – a filly out of a Sweet Lou dam selling for $500,000

11 lots sold for over $100,000

In Australasia, his juveniles continue to light up the tracks. He sired both 2YO winners at Addington, including INDULGE ME (Sweet Lou dam), who led home a Woodlands Sired First Four, and FUGITIVE (Bettor’s Delight dam), who helped claimed a Woodlands quinella. Both of these winners stem from the Woodlands Stud/Charles Roberts bloodlines.

Another highlight was the Benstud bred RACHELS LEGACY (Art Major dam), who won on debut at Mildura by a massive 28.4 metres.

Downbytheseaside remains the leading 2YO sire by individual winners across Australasia in 2025 with 42 winners accumulating 61 wins, and last week he broke $1 million in 2YO earnings!

Photo: Lather Up

TIME TO LATHER UP

Lather Up’s progeny kicked off Friday night’s racing in style with two winners in the first 10 minutes and another to close out the night.

DEBBIE LINCOLN (Sir Lincoln dam) showed blistering speed to claim her fourth win in 1:53.5 at Alexandra Park.

TACT TEVA (Albert Albert dam) produced a big, sustained run from last to first at Addington.

DO YOU WANNA DANCE (American Ideal dam) broke through for a well-deserved maiden win.

In Australia, he added another first-time winner with FRENCH BUBBLES (Perfect Art dam), who bolted in by 11.2 metres.

OTHER NEWS

A GOOD NIGHT AT THE OFFICE - 11 FROM 19

Friday night in New Zealand delivered a dominant display. Across 19 races at Addington Raceway and Alexandra Park, our sires produced 11 winners - and it could have been 12 had a cheeky Bettor’s Delight son not added some fancy footwork near the line!

The wins were spread across the roster:

3 – Downbytheseaside

3 – Lather Up

2 – Sweet Lou

2 – Bettor’s Delight

1 – What The Hill

Click here for the Addington Raceway Results

Click here for the Alexandra Park Results

GROUP 1 GLORY FOR AMERICAN IDEAL

Even 20 months after his passing, American Ideal continues to leave a legacy. His daughter FAKINIT (Alta Christiano dam) was his latest Group 1 winner, taking out the WA Pacing Oaks at Gloucester Park on Friday and leading home a Woodlands-sired trifecta. She now boasts over $166,000 in career earnings for her breeder/owners in the Estate of B Richardson, G Ralston and K Hall.

Following on from our seven winners on course last week, this win was part of another huge night for Woodlands stallions at Gloucester Park, with six winners overall - four by Sweet Lou, one by Bettor’s Delight, and Fakinit for American Ideal. Click here for the full results from the night.

OPEN CLASS STARS FOR BETTOR’S DELIGHT

Bettor’s Delight continues to dominate at every level. He’s the leading sire of 2-year-olds by stakes in both Australia and New Zealand and delivered a quinella in the 2-year-old race at Menangle last week. But his older stars are just as formidable:

Champion son LEAP TO FAME returned to winning form at Albion Park, gearing up for major assignments including the Victoria Cup and New Zealand Cup.

SOONER THE BETTOR made it three wins in a row at Alexandra Park, securing his spot in the New Zealand Cup with victory in the Group 3 Holmes DG.

As the breeding season gathers momentum and the racing action intensifies, the influence of our stallions is being felt in every corner of the harness racing world. From record-breaking performances on the track to standout results in the sales ring, they continue to shape the future of the sport and deliver success for breeders, owners and trainers alike. With so much achieved already and the busiest months still ahead, the next chapter promises to be even more exciting.

Contact our friendly team today if you have any bookings or queries regarding our sires for the 2025-26 season.

Cameron Grant (NZ): +64 22 096 1897 or cameron@woodlandsstud.co.nz

Mark Hughes (AU): +61 451 650 707 or mark@woodlandsstud.co.nz

Office: +64 9 292 8250 or office@woodlandsstud.co.nz

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