Queenslander Dick Karreman purchased The Oaks Stud property in August 2002 with his vision ‘to make it one of the top stud farms in Australasia.’ Rick Williams was appointed as General Manager, with responsibility for implementing and realising this directive.

 

A closely controlled expansion program has since been undertaken with a view towards positioning The Oaks as a leading stud. The continued focus is upon ‘quality’ -  stallions, broodmares, yearlings, racing team, stud facilities and pasture management.

 

The Oaks four stallions include: Darci Brahma a five time Group One winning son of Danehill; Sakhee's Secret Europes Champion sprinter of 2007; Bachelor Duke a Group One winning son of Miswaki from the family of Sadler’s Wells, Nureyev & Fairy King; Roc de Cambes a homebred son of Red Ransom and a headline horse in Japan. 

 

The Oaks policy regarding stallions is to purchase equity in each horse, thus guaranteeing the stud and its clients long term continuity of access.

 

At the time of Dick Karreman’s purchase of The Oaks in 2002, the stud’s broodmare band consisted of 42 young mares and this number has now increased through fillies retiring off the track and a large number of quality international purchases to over 100 mares. Around 100 mares is seen as the ideal number, with the goal of marketing 60-70 yearlings each season throughout the Australasian sales series.   

 

Since 2002 landholdings at the Cambridge Farm have increased from 200 acres to 550 acres. The purchase of a 150-acre neighbouring property, Norelands Stud, in August 2003 marked the start of an on-going expansion programme. In mid 2005 an additional purchase was completed of a neighbouring 200 acre dairy farm.

 

This extra land, together with increased stud facilities was required to cater for the expanding horse numbers represented by the growing stallion and broodmare band, together with an ever expanding client base. 

 

The Karreman Racing Team involves 15-20 horses in work throughout New Zealand and Australia, generally fillies, with the aim of achieving black type and eventually adding to the quality of the stud’s own broodmare band.  Dick Karreman’s philosophy is centred strongly on his passion for racing – as such all fillies and colts not able to be presented at the yearling sales also join his racing team.

 

In Australia, Glenfern Park is a 200 acre pre-training and agistment property at Mt Macedon Victoria also owned by Dick Karreman. The property operates on a stand-alone basis and provides an ideal base for The Oaks Stud bloodstock when they are in Australia.