Sale Ring Strength

With the final Australasian yearling sales now complete for 2026, it has been extremely pleasing to see the continued strength of the market for progeny by Woodlands Stud stallions.

Across all Australasian sales, our stallions once again delivered outstanding results for breeders, reinforcing their reputation as some of the most commercial and reliable sires in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sweet Lou led the charge, topping the sire tables by total sales, with 72 yearlings generating an outstanding $3,858,500 in aggregate and averaging over $53,500 per lot. The depth of his market continues to grow each season, with buyers showing tremendous confidence in the consistency and performance of his progeny.

Champion sire Bettor’s Delight once again proved why he remains one of the most trusted names in the industry. His 46 yearlings sold for $3,786,500 in total, averaging an impressive $82,315, one of the strongest averages among the major pacing sires.

Rising star Downbytheseaside also enjoyed another excellent sales season, with 57 yearlings producing $2,907,500 in turnover at an average of $51,008. His progeny continue to gain momentum on both sides of the Tasman, and the demand at the sales ring reflects his rapidly growing racetrack success.

Up-and-coming sire Lather Up also made a strong impression, despite having only a small number of yearlings offered. His nine yearlings sold accumulated more than $157,000, returning an average of over four times his competitive service fee. A young sire already producing outstanding results from limited crops, Lather Up’s presence at the yearling sales is only set to grow in the coming seasons.

Meanwhile, the ever-reliable American Ideal continued to offer tremendous value for breeders as his stock number reduce since his passing. His 25 yearlings generated $965,500, averaging $38,620, while maintaining a strong presence across the Australasian marketplace.

Collectively, these Woodlands stallions accounted for more than $11.6 million in yearling sales, a remarkable result and a fantastic return for the breeders who continue to support them.

It is particularly encouraging to see such strong demand across all levels of the market, from the top-end buyers to those looking for quality racehorses in the middle price brackets, highlighting the ongoing strength and appeal of these World Class sire with proven bloodlines.

A huge congratulations to all breeders, vendors and buyers involved this season. We look forward to following these youngsters as they progress through the system and, hopefully, onto the racetrack in the seasons ahead.

**These statistics and figures have been used from Clarinda Park’s report.