With little exposure to black type racing of late, 6yo Lonhro mare Stylish recorded her first black type victory, winning the $300,000 G2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m) at Flemington for Ben, Will and JD Hayes.
A narrow fifth last time out where less than three quarters of a length separated the first five across the line, Stylish was well-fancied in the Rose of Kingston Stakes, jumping away on the third line of betting behind favourite Gold Coast Belle.
Jockey Ethan Brown took the mare forward to settle in second position, a length behind leader Tennessee Bound while Stylish had the race favourite tracking her along in fourth.
As Jabez Johnstone started to ride Tennessee Bound along, it was quite clear that Stylish was going better as Brown asked his mare for an effort where she pulled alongside the leader with 300m to run.
Hands and heels all the way to the line, there was no need for the whip as Stylish secured victory by a little under a half length margin from Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s Gold Medallist with 60/1 chance Bewitchery nabbing third.
“Ethan, it was a great ride,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes. “Very decisive.”
“Went forward and she began so quickly. It was good that she got her head down for a great group of owners.
“She's rock hard fit deep into her campaign so the plan worked out nicely.
“A little shout out to Phil Campbell who is in our ownership group. He was my first footy coach at Eurora and it was good to train a group two winner for him."
Having never ridden the mare before, it was first time lucky for jockey Ethan Brown.
“First sit on her and she relished the heavy track,” said Brown. “She was well prepared by the boys. She was fit and ready to go.”
“They said this was her grand final so roll forward from the gate in a lovely position from inside the leader. She had a mid-race breather and just had to balance her up in that ground and keep kidding to her.
“She let go with that good turn-of-foot that she has and she put them away late.
“Back to mares grade, very well placed. The heavens opened up this morning for her which I think helped her a lot. Very good for her pedigree and for her owners.”
Taking her overall record to seven wins and eight placed efforts from 30 starts with earnings of $701,885, Stylish was retained to race by her large group of breeders after being withdrawn from the Inglis Premier yearling sale draft of Blue Gum Farm.
The lone runner, and winner out of the G3 placed Encosta de Lago mare Alaskan Rose who passed away after producing three live foals, Stylish is from the family of G1 winner Pontal Lass as well as G2 winners Quays and Charlie Boy.
Stylish became the 101st individual stakes winner for Darley’s former Champion Sire Lonhro, who sons at stud include the Coolmore Stud based Pierro.
