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In the realm of Australian racing and breeding, few names resonate with as much reverence and admiration as Bettor’s Delight. Revered as Australia’s most sought-after stallion, the Woodlands Stud flagship embodies a rare combination of harness racing prowess and impeccable breeding pedigree that has solidified his status as a true champion sire.
Bettor’s Delight’s credentials speak volumes about his impact on the sport. A 13-time champion sire of Australia, eight-time champion sire of three-year-olds and a three-time champion sire of two-year-olds, he stands at the pinnacle of breeding excellence. His progeny has consistently dazzled on the racetrack, with an impressive roster of four Australian Horses of the Year to his name. Among these champions are horses that have dominated both Australian and international racing circuits, showcasing the enduring legacy of Bettor’s Delight’s genes.
Despite living in the shadow of Bettor’s Delight for most of his stud career, the late American Ideal carved a special niche for himself among the siring ranks, producing Grand Circuit and cup class performers and classic-winning two and three-year-olds. He has consistently ranked among the top 10 sires in Australia on the all aged and two and three-year-old lists, finishing runner-up in the two-year-old premiership on three occasions.
Equally impressive is that American Ideal figures as the sire of five ‘down under’ bred million dollar earners and his Australian born progeny has earned more than $50,000 per starter with an amazing 80 percent of his starters as winners.
The legacy of American Ideal is now being carried on by his sons as sires.
A gamble by Woodlands Stud to import the outcross sire Sweet Lou a decade ago has proved one of the master strokes of the Australian standardbred breeding industry.
The now fully booked stallion enjoyed a breakout season in 2024, topping the two and three-year-old stakemoney premierships and finishing third on the all aged list in Australia. The world champion son of Yankee Cruiser has jumped into second place on this year’s sire premiership.
A major breed shaper in Australia, Sweet Lou has gained a solid reputation as a sire of quality performers of both sexes and top flight juveniles through to Grand Circuit and cup pacers.
Lather Up, a brilliantly fast grandson of Bettor’s Delight, is starting to make a real impact with his first two small racing crops. From his first crop he sired the metropolitan winners Calexico, Preparation, Basilisk Bob and Solo Safari, while his second crop is headed up by the Bathurst Gold Tiara runner-up Sparkling Sea and the Albion Park winner Enjabonarlo.
A member of the dominant Direct Scooter sireline, Downbytheseaside is proving a consistent source of winners in Australia with his biggest crops still to represent him. He has already sired an impressive three Oaks winners, demonstrating his ability to leave not only top colts but fillies in the same class.
Downbytheseaside is the leading two-year-old sire in Australia this season with 16 individual winners.
The Woodlands Stud roster for the upcoming stud season headed up by Bettor’s Delight, Sweet Lou and Downbytheseaside – all Top Ten stallions – along with Lather Up and the trotters What The Hill and Speeding Spur is a formidable one from every standpoint.
