Welcome to Woodlands Stud

About Us

In 1987 Charles Roberts purchased the property previously operating as the standardbred farm Harness World at mortgagee auction. Over the next 5 years the property was further developed with emphasis on pasture management. In 1992 Charles and his veterinary partner Andrew Grierson established Woodlands Stud. The name Woodlands Stud was the farm's original name dating back to the 60's. In the first years of the operation Woodlands stood stallions on lease with mixed success. One stallion stood out and In The Pocket was to become the most important influence on the NZ standardbred in modern times. After the dominance of this flagship stallion Woodlands came of age, however that was to change. In 2005 In The Pocket was sold by the US owners and unfortunately left the farm. Those with knowledge in standing stallions understand the time and effort it takes to promote a sire. Most do not become a commercial success. So in 2006 both Charles and Andrew took a new direction - securing sires by purchasing the southern hemisphere rights. With a positive approach to the future of the Standardbred Industry Woodlands purchased a controlling interest to the SH rights of the stallion Bettor's Delight and the next year American Ideal was purchased. Woodlands mandate is to provide the very top stallions and make them affordable to all breeders.

The rest as they say is history - Bettor's Delight holds the all-time NZ 2YO & 3YO Earnings Records along with the AUS 3YO All-time record also. At the start of 2012 in New Zealand he tops the 2YO,3YO,4YO & All Age lists sitting 7th on ther 5YO list with only 3 starters. In the US he ended 2011 as the Leading All Age Money Winning Pacing Sire with $14.85mil some $500k ahead of the great Western Hanover. On the 3YO list he again ended the year on top with $5.18mil. Under Woodlands management his first crop of 2YO back in 2010 rewrote the record books.

Bettor's Delight took out many awards in 2010/11 with star filly Carabella being named NZ Harness Horse, Pacer, 3YO Filly,Nth Island 3YO Filly & Nth Island Filly/Mare Of The Year. Gold Ace being named 3YO Colt & Nth Island C&G Of The Year. Bettor's Delight was crowned NZ & Nth Island Stallion Of The Year - his 2010/11 3YO crop ending the season with a record braking haul of $2,539,412 more than double the stakes of 2nd place and amazingly some 6 times the earnings of 3rd place.

American Ideal first crop of 2YO in 2010 saw him ranked as the leading first season sire  with Idyllic p3 1:50.0 & $1,296,967 (his first millionaire) being named Obrien Award 2YO Filly Of The Year. Idyllic beat the 22 straight win Bettor's Delight filly See You At Peelers to set a track record and personal best 1:50.0 then she moved onto the time honoured Jugette, winning her elim by 10 1/4 lengths then the $292k final. In 2011 American Jewel set a World Record in the $633k She's A Great Lady Stakes final lowering her own mark set in the elemination, she went on the win the $281k Kentukiana Stallion Managment 2YO Fillies Takes, the $132k Eternal Camnation to name a few.

In New Zealand he ended the 2010/11 season in 11th place with only 6 starters. Then in 2011/12 with stars like Ideal Scott & Besotted amoung others his progeny started the year with a bang Ideal Scott's 2nd placed run in the NRM Sires Stakes Final in 2012  Ideal Scott won the final of the $275k PGG Wrightson Yearling Sales Open Final with Besotted flying home into 3rd. As of mid Jan he sits 2nd behind Bettor's Delight on the Leading NZ 3YO Sires List.

Historically Woodlands has stood mostly pacers but recently they purchased the well credentialed trotting sire Pegasus Spur. His first crop down under has left Paramount Geegee the 2010 NZ 2YO trotter of the year. Pegasus Spur sire line SJ Photo crosses well with  the Sundon mares. In 2011 Pegasus Spur sired both the 2YO & 3YO Australasian Breeders Crown Trot winners with Paramount Geegee making it a back to back titles taking out the 3YO Crown while sensation Flying Isa won the 2YO Crown in emphatic fashion.

Woodlands Stud, a picturesque 640 acre property is situated on the 4 kms northeast of the small rural town of Clevedon. The stud is only 30 minutes from Auckland International Airport with its rolling hills and quality pasture, it makes the perfect location for a breeding base. During the winter months all mares and foals move to one of two Woodlands runoff properties. The first runoff property is the historic Puketutu Island located 5 minutes from Auckland International Airport. Puketutu Island is 282 acres and used to raise young horses and spell racehorses. Sandstone Rd Runoff is a block of 450 acres in East Tamaki where the bulk of the broodmares live over the winter months. Some hay and balage is made at Sandstone Rd in early summer when most horses are at Woodlands for the breeding season. All farms are cross grazing with sheep and cattle. Moving horses to the runnoffs over the winter has allowed the luxury of a pasture management strategy and fresh grass in the spring and summer months when Woodlands stud is at its busiest.