WS NEWS | 150 for Downbytheseaside
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Photo: Downbytheseaside
150 FOR DOWNBYTHESEASIDE
The most popular sire in New Zealand for 2025, DOWNBYTHESEASIDE continues to make his mark, bringing up his 150th New Zealand-bred winner last week when SEASIDE BRUCIE (Bettor's Delight dam) saluted at Addington Raceway’s Premier meeting on Saturday.
With a further 133 winners in Australia, he now sits at 283 winners across Australasia and is adding to that tally week by week, closing in quickly on 300.
His week was kicked off by an impressive two-year-old winner, YIPPEE KIYAY (Bettor’s Delight dam), who cleared maiden ranks in the 2YO event at Albion Park on Tuesday, zipping around in a 1:55.9 mile rate.
Rounding out the week was SEASIDER (McArdle dam), who captured the Listed Riverina Championships Males Final at Wagga Wagga — see more below.
A terrific run of results and a great reflection of the consistency and class coming through from Downbytheseaside’s progeny on both sides of the Tasman.
Photo: Hollywood Strip
WAGGA WINNERS
On a big night of racing at Riverina Paceway, the Woodlands stallions stood up through the performances of their progeny in the feature events of the night.
SWEET LOU took top honours, siring an impressive treble, including two feature victories:
HOLLYWOOD STRIP (Sportswriter dam), only beaten once in his career to date, paced to an emphatic victory in the Wagga Pacers Cup. Bred by the Howe's he has now had 11 starts for 10 wins and a placing, with earnings just shy of $300,000.
GUNNA RELOAD (McArdle dam) took out the Listed Riverina Championships Mares Final for her group of breeder-owners. It was her 13th win, pushing her earnings to just shy of $340,000 in stakes.
As mentioned above, DOWNBYTHESEASIDE also got on the board, with his son SEASIDER (McArdle dam) pacing to a strong victory in the Listed Riverina Championships Males Final. One of the outsiders in the field, he paced a slick 1:53.6 mile rate to score for his connections. It was his seventh career win, taking his earnings to over $150,000 in stakes. He was bred by the Ellul's.
Photo: Lot 309, a Downbytheseaside colt out of star mare Heavens Trend. Offered by Durham Park Standardbreds
FINAL 2026 YEARLING SALE
This weekend sees the final major yearling sale of 2026, with the Nutrien Standardbred Equine Melbourne Sale.
The sale will be held Sunday from 11am at the William Inglis Stables in Oaklands Junction, with a parade scheduled for the day prior.
Woodlands sires are represented by 13 lots in the sale:
American Ideal – 2
Bettor’s Delight – 3
Downbytheseaside – 4
Sweet Lou – 4
We wish the breeders, vendors and preparers the very best of luck and hope you all have a successful sale.
Photo: Multiple Group 1 winner Aardiebytheseaside as a weanling
WEANLING SALE MOVES ONLINE
The National Weanling Sale has long been one of the big events on the calendar, but in an ever-changing world it will now move to an online format through the Gavelhouse platform.
The last time the sale was held this way was during the Covid period, and the Woodlands graduates to emerge from that sale have been both numerous and impressive, including the likes of Pinseeker, Aardiebytheseaside, Mantra Blue, Triple G, and even recent Group place-getter Johnny Who.
Woodlands Stud will present a smaller but quality draft of weanlings, in a sale that has built a reputation for finding quality at a fraction of the cost.
Dates are currently being finalised, but the sale is expected to begin around mid-May. We are also planning an on-farm parade of our draft, with a tentative date of Saturday 9 May, the day following Group 1 night at Alexandra Park.
Full photos and videos of each weanling will be available, and our draft will be announced in the coming weeks - so keep your eyes peeled.
It’s been another exciting week for the Woodlands stallions and their progeny, and with the final yearling sale and our upcoming weanling sale on the horizon there’s plenty more to look forward to. Thank you for being part of the Woodlands journey.
