Some of the most exciting racing in the Southern Hemisphere is about to unfold over the next 10 days, and our sires are heading into this period in exceptional form.

Last week delivered an outstanding run of results across Australasia, highlighted by 12 individual 2-year-old winners, Group 1 success, other feature race victories and standout performances across all age groups. We also congratulate the connections of the 12 Woodlands Bred and/or raised winners across the seven days.

Photo: What The Hill

REACHING THE TOP OF THE HILL

WHAT THE HILL may not be back in the Southern Hemisphere, but his progeny are firing and there will still be limited opportunities to secure his stock at the upcoming sales. Last week he was one of the standout trotting sires across Australasia, producing:

9 winners

2 feature race victories

A treble and a double at Maryborough's Redwood two-day Carnival

Sired the Group 1 Redwood Classic winner

It was a Redwood Carnival to remember, with What The Hill landing a treble on Friday and a double on Sunday, including the prestigious Group 1 Redwood Classic.

Day 1 Results

Day 2 Results

NOTANOTHA NAUGHTY (Here Comes Herbie dam) was the winner of the Group 1 Redwood Classic. It was a brave effort after sitting parked for a majority of the event and managing to hold off his rivals in the closing stages to claim the win. That makes it 3 wins from 4 starts and over $45,000 in earnings. Congratulations to his connections including the Cathels family who bred and race him.

Another feature result came earlier in the week in New Zealand with YA RITE DARL, who claimed the Group 3 Hambletonian at Ashburton on Monday in a NZ Record time.

At Alexandra Park, HILLBILLY BLUES and BRAVEHEARTHIGHLANDER scored a siring double on Friday, with the latter leading home a What The Hill quinella in the Northern Metro Trotters Final.

Photo: Downbytheseaside

50 2YO WINNERS FOR SEASIDE

The Downbytheseaside wave continues to build, and build strongly.

Last week he delivered:

4 two-year-old winners

10 winners total for the week

Passed 350 total Australasian wins for 2025

Reached 50 individual Australasian 2YO winners this season
(the most of any sire in Australasia, Bettor’s Delight follows with 42)

2YO HIGHLIGHTS

SEASIDE BOY (Live Or Die dam) — 13m debut romp at Bendigo in 1:52.8

YOTTIE (Modern Art dam) — third win in a row

EYENEEDTHAT (Rocknroll Heaven dam) — defeated older horses at Ballarat

IMPOSING SEA (Art Major dam) — stylish debut winner at Cambridge. Bred & raised at Woodlands and sold for $20k as a yearling to Mary Corboy

OTHER STANDOUTS

Woodlands Stud bred COASTAL BABE (Bettor’s Delight dam) was back in the winner's circle at Albion Park on Saturday night. She scored in a career-best time of 1:54.5 and has now earned over $400k.

SEASIDE FANTASY (Red River Hanover dam) put in a huge effort at Winton, going from last to first in the final 400m of the race with electrifying closing sectionals! It was her first win from three starts.

Momentum. Talent. Strike rate. His stock keep stepping up, and the best still looks to be ahead.

Photo: Bettor's Delight

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE CUP

A dominant force in New Zealand Cup history, BETTOR’S DELIGHT has some great stats:

Sired 6 of the last 11 NZ Cup winners

First Cup starter: Bettor’s Strike (2nd, 2009)

First winner: Adore Me (2014) — beginning a five-peat siring streak

This year he once again holds a powerful hand, with seven of the top 10 in the current Cup rankings (final rankings to come) including:

Leap To Fame

Republican Party

Mounga

Sooner The Bettor

Akuta

Don’t Stop Dreaming

We Walk By Faith

A sire who continues to shape the biggest week in New Zealand racing.

He is healthy and thriving this season and has limited space available in both New Zealand and Australia.

Photo: Sweet Lou

THE SWEET WAY TO PLAY

SWEET LOU continues to underline his reputation as one of the world’s most influential pacing sires, with another standout performer on Saturday night. His son HORN PLAYER (American Ideal dam) delivered a brilliant victory at Menangle, notching up his 11th career win and pushing his earnings past $220,000.

What made the performance even more impressive was his sheer speed, clocking a scintillating 1:49.3 mile and outpacing the ever-consistent Max Delight (by Bettor's Delight) in the process.

It was the kind of tough, high-cruising-speed effort that typifies the Sweet Lou profile, and further strengthens his position as the leading all-age sire in Australia for 2025 (also the leading all age sire in North America).

His progeny continue to step up in big races, and the momentum behind this global powerhouse sire shows no sign of slowing.

Due to his ongoing success, his service fee has increased in North America to $30,000 USD for next season!

As Spring feature racing intensifies, the momentum behind our stallions is undeniable.

We look forward to an extraordinary 10 days of racing, and sharing the results with you as they unfold.

When you breed with Woodlands, you’re not just breeding a horse, you’re choosing the best chance of success.

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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