Riccarton Double - Stylish Win with Plenty

Easy as you like, Plenty O’ Style (3 g Embellish – Opulent, by Keeper) won the $18,500 Maiden 1600 metres on 7 March at Riccarton.

Very much a Te Akau homebred product, bred by the Te Akau Opulent Syndicate (who raced her mother), Plenty O’ Style is by Embellish (Savabeel), who David Ellis CNZM purchased as a yearling at Karaka, and won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) before standing at Cambridge Stud. Ellis also purchased his dam Opulent, who won three races, finished fifth at Group Three level, and has now left three individual winners.

Plenty O’ Style had done well off a three wide trip for third in the Maiden 1600 metres on 18 January and fought well for second after leading the Maiden 1600 metres on 10 February, both at Riccarton, and deservingly broke through at his fourth start.

Utilising barrier two to position handily on the outer for jockey Warren Kennedy, Plenty O’ Style was good to go approaching the home turn and it was obvious at the 200m that nothing from the pack would threaten.

In the race named Book a Suite for Autumn Racing, he scored by three and a half lengths, running 1600 metres in 1:36.9 and paid $3.60 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

“He’s been a slower maturing horse, but he’s just getting strong enough now to be competitive and it was a really good win,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“It’s good to see him finish off a mile so strongly and he should just keep getting better as an older horse.

“He’s another horse bred at Te Akau Stud, and follows in the footsteps of Champion Two-Year-Old Maven Belle (Burgundy) and NZB Filly of the Year Belle En Rouge.”

Headed by 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) runner-up Talisker, the winner of three races, Plenty O’ Style became the sixth Te Akau trained winner by Embellish, whose oldest progeny are three-year-olds, and a he is a sire with a burgeoning future.

Recently, Embellish has been represented by Tasmanian Derby (Gr. 3, 2200m) winner Bold Soul, trained by Patrick Payne, who previously won the Lauceston Guineas (Gr. 3, 2100m).

“It’s always especially exciting for Karyn and me, and the Te Akau owners that breed horses like this, to see them win,” Ellis said.

“Opulent is from one of the best families in the studbook and a beautiful filly with plenty of strength and great balance when we bought her as a yearling at Karaka.

“She was a smart filly that worked effortlessly and looked the part when trialling as a two-year-old, and while she may not have reached the heights we hoped for, she has become a great mother and bred talented horses.

“We’re lucky to be breeding from a mare like her. Keeper (Danehill) is a great sire of fillies and we have already trained an NZB Filly of the Year by Keeper, Insouciant.

“We’ve been really impressed with the progeny of Embellish, and Hunter (Durrant) and our team at Riccarton have done a really good job with them in training.”

The third dam, Dancing Show, is by Nijinsky (Northern Dancer) and the family includes Group One winners: Redoute’s Choice, Platinum Scissors, Manhattan Rain, Umatilla, and Hurricane Sky.

Of note, a family member was purchased for A$1.9 million at Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast, and the dam of Opulent, Silk Slipper (Woodman), was retired through injury after finishing second at her only start.

Plenty O’ Style was strapped by Kaydence Ferguson.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz