Downbytheseaside tops off busy season with strong sale crops

It was a rocky start to the 2021-22 Australasian breeding season for young sire Downbytheseaside, after suffering a bout of colic shortly after arriving in New Zealand from North America back in August.

The champion son of Somebeachsomewhere had to undergo lifesaving surgery while in quarantine where they removed a small portion of his bowel. He ended up missing the first month of the season, but he healed well and exceeded all expectations when he eventually got the green light to resume his stud duties in the middle of October.

With glowing reports from trainers and breakers on his yearlings in Australasia and after a hugely successful season with his debut crop in North America, Downbytheseaside is a sire in hot demand in the Southern Hemisphere. At the closing of the breeding season last week, he has served around 340 mares across Australasia with a full book of 150 in Australia and just under 200 in New Zealand.

He was the leading first season sire in North America and second overall on the 2-year-old leader board after his first crop set tracks alight. His son, Gulf Shores was crowned Ohio 2-year-old of the Year.

Due to his popularity, his progeny in the upcoming yearling sales are sure to be sought after. At the NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sales starting this weekend he is represented by 21 lots across the three days of sales.

He has 13 progeny entered in the North Island sale being held at the Karaka Sales complex on Sunday, 13th February. It is a stellar bunch of yearlings that includes a half-brother to 2021 New Zealand Cup Winner Copy That, a half-brother to recent Australian Performer Bettor Call Me and a close relation to Harness Jewels winner A Bettor You.

The pacing sale then moves South to Christchurch on Tuesday, 15th February where eight lots represent the sire. There is plenty of depth to the pedigrees here also including a very close relation to recent performer South Coast Arden and the first foal out of a sister to Sir Lincoln.

LOT                        SEX         DAM

Lot 1                      colt         Two And Sixpence

Lot 35                    filly         Callmemaybe

Lot 36                    filly         Delightful Image

Lot 39                    filly         Destiny

Lot 37                    colt         Everlasting Grace

Lot 47                    filly         Forever Royal

Lot 65                    filly         Jessies Girl

Lot 78                    colt         Lively Nights

Lot 79                    colt         Hunua Belle

Lot 89                    colt         Mockingjay

Lot 116                  colt         Saturation

Lot 120                  filly         Ranfurly Brogden

Lot 125                  colt         Showbiz

Lot 128                  filly         Splendid Bet

Lot 222                  colt         Winter Rose

Lot 289                  filly         Emira

Lot 297                  filly         Gabriel Marie

Lot 305                  colt         Glenisthebettor

Lot 336                  colt         Lincolns Keepsake

Lot339                   colt         Maheer Mystic

Lot 348                  filly         Major Donna

Lot 410                  colt         Styx On

2021-22 - The Season to Breed

LATHER UP BREEDING INCENTIVE

There is no doubt that the steady decline in mares being bred across New Zealand each season is a concern to the whole industry. As our foal numbers lessen, demand for our product offshore increases – rapidly. Bloodstock agents and trainers are struggling to keep up with demands from buyers in Australia and America. There is no doubt that without some drastic action we could be facing a horse shortage in years to come.

There has never been a better or more important time to breed. If you have a mare sitting in the paddock that you weren’t sure if you should breed from, then take this as your sign that you should. There is still time to get her in foal and it is a decision you are unlikely to regret.

To help sweeten the deal, Woodlands Stud in conjunction with Taylor Made Standardbreds would like to offer New Zealand breeders a secondary payment option for mares served by our newest pacing sire Lather Up. Currently if you use a preferred semen base to get your mare in foal you can get him with an automatic 20% discount for $4,800 + GST (payable on a 42 day positive) but we would like to add an additional incentive for breeders with a pay on live foal option including a 10% discount when you use a preferred semen base, making him $5,400 + GST payable on confirmation of a live foal next season.

Lather Up is standing for Woodlands Stud at Llowalong Farms in Victoria, Australia which makes him Vicbred eligible – only adding more value to the future sale of his foals. He also retired sound, which is an important asset for a sire and the longevity of their progeny. He has good conformation, and his racetrack record speaks for itself.

He was one of the greatest racehorses of our time. A dual World Champion with two world records. He was a top 2-year-old, great 3-year-old and a world class 4-year-old. He broke seven track records and two world records. He became the fastest 4-year-old in harness racing history and equal fastest horse ever when he paced the mile in 1:46 flat at the Meadowlands. He then broke his second world record in his following start, going 1:59.2 for the mile and one-eighth also at the Meadowlands.

He defeated some of the greatest pacers of our time including McWicked and Stay Hungry. He had unmatched speed and a will to win, which combined with his terrific pedigree makes him a great fit for Australasian mares. Don’t let the opportunity speed on by, breed your mare to Lather Up!

Lather Up service on offer to support Life After Racing

Unlike Lather Up, not every standardbred can be the fastest horse in the world, but they all have the right for a chance to have an enjoyable life once their days in the racing stables are over. This is where the likes of Stable To Stirrup and the other standardbred rehoming groups across New Zealand and Australia step up.

Standardbreds are well-known for their quality traits including having terrific temperaments and a willing attitude, this makes them ideal candidates for being ridden companions. Stable To Stirrup is a registered charitable trust that was established in 2019, and even though they are relatively new to the industry, the people behind the charity have life-long equine knowledge and a deep passion for standardbreds and their lives after racing.

They take in standardbreds who have retired from racing, carry out any rehabilitation they may need and then retrain them to be ridden under saddle. They establish them to a level where they are ready to find a loving home that will enjoy everything our versatile breed has to offer. However, doing this work comes at a considerable cost, so the trust relies on donations and actively fundraising in the community through grant applications and special events. The funds received play a critical role in providing feed and primary healthcare for the standardbreds in the trust’s care.

Woodlands Stud realise the importance of groups and individuals such as Stable To Stirrup for the longevity of our sport and the well being of the horses we all love so much so we have set aside a budget to support this area where we can. Part of this included a donated service fee to our exciting pacing sire Lather Up for Stable To Stirrup’s Fundraising night that was to be held at Addington Raceway last month, however due to Covid restrictions this had to be cancelled. The service fee is still available to them, and we encourage any breeders to support the cause and put a tender in for the service.

Lather Up is a dual world champion. He holds two world records, is the fastest 4-year-old standardbred in history, the equal fastest standardbred in history and the fastest standardbred in history over 1 mile and one eighth. His speed on the track was unmatched and with Bettor’s Delight and In The Pocket in his bloodlines he is set to be one of the great sires in Australasia.

Together we are all breeding world class horses, but the ones who don’t make it to the track or have retired after a successful career still deserve the chance at a long and joyful life after they have finished on the racetrack. As a team we can work together to grow awareness for our breed both on and off the track.

To enter a tender or to find out more ways in which you can help Stable To Stirrup in their mission you can contact them on the details below – tenders need to be in by October 24th:

Website:  www.stabletostirrup.org

Email: stabletostirrup@gmail.com

Phone: 0212 010 899

For more information on Woodlands Stud, Lather Up or our other stallions please contact:

Australasia:        Mark Hughes - +61 451 650 707 – mark@woodlandsstud.co.nz

New Zealand:    Stacey White - +64 21 595 492 – stacey@woodlandsstud.co.nz

Cameron Grant - +64 22 096 1897 – cameron@woodlandsstud.co.nz