Laurel River will shuttle to Australia: arriving at Woodside Park Stud

The notable winner of the 2024 Dubai World Cup (G1) will travel from Japan in the second half of the season

The thoroughbred industry in Oceania received a news story of global impact with the confirmation that Laurel River, the extraordinary son of Into Mischief, will travel under the shuttle system to Australia for the breeding season of the second half of 2026. The agreement will allow the hero of the 2024 Dubai World Cup (G1) to stand at Woodside Park Stud, owned by Eddie Hirsch, providing Australian breeders a unique opportunity to access one of the most dominant bloodlines in the world.

The bay, who began his campaign under the tutelage of Bob Baffert defending the colors of Juddmonte, will arrive in Victoria from Big Red Farm in Japan, his base in the Northern Hemisphere. His record is enviable: a winner in 6 of his 11 starts, with earnings exceeding 7.5 million dollars and a versatility that allowed him to shine both in sprints and at the demanding 2,000 meters.

The turning point in Laurel River's trajectory occurred at Meydan, under the training of Bhupat Seemar. Following an exhibition in the Burj Nahaar (G3), the maternal grandson of Empire Maker delivered one of the most impressive performances of the modern era by winning the Dubai World Cup by 8 1/2 lengths. That performance catapulted him to the top of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse in 2024, with a rating of 128, sharing the lead with the stellar City of Troy (Justify).

"He was an exceptional racehorse. When you have a rating of 128 and you are the best horse in the world, you are at the top of the tree," highlighted Mark Dodemaide, nomination manager for Woodside Park. The stud's bet aims to replicate on Australian soil the phenomenal success that Into Mischief and his sons have had in the north, especially for their ability to produce precocity and speed.

Laurel River will begin his new stage in the southern hemisphere with a service fee of 22,000 Australian dollars (approximately 15,800 US dollars), under a live foal condition. With this move, Woodside Park Stud reinforces a luxury roster that already includes names such as Celestial Legend (Dundeel), Benbatl (Dubawi), and Shalaa (Invincible Spirit), consolidating itself as an unavoidable destination for breeders seeking international power and genetic solidity.