STYLE AT DONCASTER

By Sarah Whitelaw
10 September 2004

 

Few broodmares produce as many as four stakes winners in their lifetime. Fewer still produce three consecutively. Names like Hasili and Toussaud recently spring to mind- with the latter pair on five individual stakes winners currently.

Another mare rapidly making a name for herself is Magnificent Style. She has some way to go to match the mares mentioned, but is well on track to do so. A descendent of the blue hen Bourtai, she is a daughter of retired stallion Silver Hawk. Out of the Icecapade mare, Mia Karina, she is a half sister to the tough Strub Stakes winner, Siberian Summer.

Her sire, Silver Hawk, was a good racehorse, winning the Craven Stakes and running third in Golden Fleece's Epsom Derby. Retired to stud in Kentucky, he has consistently thrown good horses, but being perceived as a long distance turf sire, he never quite reaped the rewards his stud career deserved.

Bred and owned by Buckram Oak Farm, she raced 11 times in North America and England as a three year old. A good filly, she won the Musidora Stakes over subsequent French Oaks winner, Sil Sila. She also ran second to Oaks runner up Pricket in the Pretty Polly Stakes. Described as a "strong galloper" by Timeform of 1996, she was sent to North America at the end of her three year old campaign where she ran seven times for three seconds.

Bred to Storm Cat in 1998, the filly she produced was named Stylelistick. She won a pair of stakes races in the U.S. and was third in the grade three Regret Stakes.

Her next foal was Echoes in Eternity, who made one start for her breeder, Robert Sangster, for an impressive debut win.

Godolphin duly purchased this daughter of Spinning World, who after disappointing in her first three starts for Godolphin, came back to win the Group Two Sun Chariot Stakes. The filly has gone to win the Park Hill Stakes, also group two, as a four year old.

Sent to Europe's best, Sadler's Wells, for her next mating, Magnificent Style produced her best horse to date, Percussionist.

The colt won the 2004 Lingfield Derby Trial by 10 lengths, started an outsider at Epsom, where he ran a creditable fourth place to North Light, Rule of Law and Let The Lion Roar.

Magnificent Style's two year old daughter, Playful Act,
an own sister to Percussionist, has made two starts to date, winning the Group Two May Hill Stakes on her last start. She looks a possible classic prospect for 2005.

Magnificent Style, who is just 11 years old, has a yearling by Danehill. She looks to continue her impressive start at stud.