Woodlands Stud stallions impact on Nutrien’s Melbourne sale

Since its foundation in 1992 by Dr Charles Roberts and his veterinary partner Dr Andrew Grierson, Woodlands Stud has established itself as one of the leading semen bases in the southern hemisphere.

As a measure of their dominance in the breeding industry, three of Woodlands stallions in Bettor’s Delight, Sweet Lou and American Ideal finished first, third and fifth respectively on last season’s Australian all aged sires’ list.

Sweet Lou was the premier sire of two and three-year-old performers, while Downbytheseaside’s stocks continue to rise and he is cementing his position among the leading stallions.

 “Downbytheseaside is ticking a lot of boxes. He’ll probably be the one that will be stand up among all the sons of ‘Somebeach’ besides Captaintreacherous,” Woodlands Stud Australian manager Mark Hughes said.

“His biggest crop is the current two-year-old crop and the one behind that’s a very big one as well in both countries.”

Hughes is also upbeat about the stocks of emerging siring force Sweet Lou.

“He’s the successor to the big boys Bettor’s Delight and Art Major, there’s no doubt about that,” Hughes stated.

Hughes said that the outcross stallion Lather Up has had “a very positive start this year in both Australia and NZ and some good early winners in North America.”

“Last year he bred five Group 1 mares. We always thought that he was the point of difference for breeders just like Sweet Lou,” he said.

Woodlands Stud stallions will have a strong presence at the Nutrien Equine Melbourne Yearling Sale at Oaklands Junction on Sunday, April 13. They are represented by almost 25 percent of the catalogued lots.

Downbytheseaside has eight entries including half-brothers to Tough Tilly, Centenario, Act Now, Pectacular and Idyllic and fillies out of the good racemares Two Times Bettor and Perfect Look.

Among the five Bettor’s Delight youngsters are a half-brother to Joanna, a colt from Amelia Rose and a filly out of the Group 1 winner Kualoa.

Sweet Lou has two colts and three fillies nominated for the sale including a sister to Naturally Gifted and a half-sister to Delightful Tara.

The late American Ideal will be represented by three fillies including daughters of the classy racemares Punch Line and Leigha Miller, while Lather Up has a colt from a Victoria Oaks finalist and a half-sister to Holdonsu.

• Portland breeder-owner Heath Bourke produced two finalists in the Bathurst Gold Tiara in Discernment (third) and Myra’s Mint (sixth)

• The broodmare Bellasario, bred and owned by the Munnerley family, left three winners in the space of a fortnight in Captain Bellasario (Melton), Bella Louise (Cranbourne) and Rio Rock (Mildura)

• The three-year-old trotting filly Bar Tab, a winner at Cranbourne at her second start, was bred by Victorian pedigree expert Philip Trainor

by Peter Wharton, for Harness Racing Victoria