Stylish reward for patience
Rob Courtney
When your horse has won just two races (both on the grass) and the two wins were back in the 2022 season, some 20 starts ago, one might question the chances of a win in a $25k race at Addington headquarters.
Richard Woolford left, Millie and James Dunn, Kate Southern with Woodlands Stud’s Andrew, Cam and Stacey, 8 August 2022 Geoff Dunn and Rita Bonita, Gerard O’Reilly
Style Council had obviously not read the script and at odds of 30 to 1 and after receiving a good trip on the outer from Fernside trainer Kyle Cameron, did exactly what his owners had wished for.
To be fair, the 5g by A Rocknroll Dance from Electric Lady had been a model of consistency in his recent racing and with better luck, that elusive win might have arrived earlier.
His breeding suggests that his record of just over $40k in earnings could yet increase further even if that might rest in another country such as Australia.
Bred by Richard Woolford of Christchurch he is the 5th live foal (4th winner) from his dam Electric Lady with a son of Bettor’s Delight in Emmanuel (9 wins + $76k + 1:52.7) the best of them at this time.
When one explores his pedigree further, there is some justification in thinking that Style Council might go on to more tightly assessed classes.
Electric Lady (Artiscape – Angela Jane), unraced, was a full sister to the smart 2yo Steve McQueen (3 wins as a 2yo including the Group 3 Cardigan Bay Stakes) but who, unfortunately, ran into a ‘sensational’ stablemate Auckland Reactor who went on to win his first 17 starts at the races.
Style Council and Kyle Cameron winning Easter Saturday, Addington
Steve McQueen went on to win nine and $221k in stakes, here and across the Tasman.
Granddam Angela Jane, bred by the late Alan Georgeson, showed above average ability right from the start of her racing career as a 2yo from the Mark Purdon stable. She was a winner at Group 2 level and a multiple Group 1 placegetter on the way to winning 7 and accumulating $145k in stakes.
By Falcon Seelster, she, in turn, was from the imported mare Armbro Map (Abercrombie – Norma Almahurst) and although she didn’t win a race, was a full/half sister to 11 winners including Real Hilarious who was a ‘world champion’ and US 2yo pacing filly of her year.
As a broodmare, Angela Jane left five winners and besides Steve McQueen, the best was arguably Uptown Lady, who after winning two here went on to record a 1:50.6 mile in America. She was by Art Major and Canterbury horseman Bruce Negus is breeding from a full sister (Angela Art) who was the last of the Angela Jane foals.
In 2022 she produced a colt by Captain Crunch, her first.
At the height of her popularity as a broodmare, a Christian Cullen – Angela Jane filly sold for $150k on behalf of Croon Bloodstock at the 2009 PGG/Wrightsons yearling sales in Auckland.
The Southwind Frank, Sansa Stark, colt
As for Style Council, the trainer advised he will be back at the trials next week to get his mobile ‘ticket’ so that he can come back to Addington for further riches. His pedigree might just stand him in good stead for such assignments.
Richard is not breeding at the moment having shifted farms recently. However, he has a trotter with Geoff and James Dunn, To Be Frank (2019 4 B g Southwind Frank – Sansa Stark – Angus Hall), hopefully to be see at a race track soon.
