Magnificient Style is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. She only raced as a three-year-old, winning two of her four races, including the Musidora Stakes. Since retiring from racing she has become a successful broodmare, with her progeny including Playful Act, Nathaniel and Great Heavens. She was trained by Henry Cecil and owned by Buckram Oak Holdings.
Magnificient Style made her racecourse debut on 8 April 1996 in a ten-furlong maiden at Kempton Park. Jockey Willie Ryan held her up near the rear of the field and took the lead with two furlongs left to run. In the closing stages she pulled clear and won by six lengths from Migwar. Magnificient Style's next start came in the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket. She started as the favourite, but Pat Eddery could not get her to settle in the race and she finished third, five and a half lengths behind winner Pricket. Pricket then went on to finish second in the Oaks on her next start. On 14 May 1996, Magnificient Style started at the price of 5/2 for the Group 3 Musidora Stakes at York and faced four rivals. Ridden by Mick Kinane, she took the lead from the start. She was never caught and won the race by one and three quarter lengths from Sil Sila, with Obsessive a further length behind in third place. Sil Sila won the Prix de Diane in her following race. Magnificient Style's fourth and final race was the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot, where she was ridden by Pat Eddery and started as the 13/8 favourite. As in her previous race, she led from the start, however she could not stay in front and faded to finish sixth, over ten lengths behind winner Tulipa. During her racing career, Magnificient Style won £30,744 in prize money.
Stud career
Magnificient Style was retired to Swettenham Stud, where she established herself as a top broodmare. She was purchased privately by Kincorth Investments in 2007, and her foals so far are:
Playful Act – a bay mare sire by Sadler's Wells and foaled in 2002. She was a successful two-year-old, winning the May Hill Stakes and Fillies' Mile. As a three-year-old she won the Lancashire Oaks and finished second in the Irish Oaks. In 2007, Playful Act broke the world record for the price of a broodmare, when she was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed for $10.5 million at Keeneland's November breeding stock sale.
Distinctive Look – a bay mare sired by Danehill and foaled in 2003 who won a maiden race at Goodwood.
Petara Bay – a bay gelding sired by Peintre Celebre and foaled in 2004. He raced from 2006 to 2012 and won the Feilden Stakes in 2007.
Great Heavens – a bay mare sired by Galileo and foaled in 2009. She only raced once as a two-year-old, before winning her first four races as a three-year-old in 2012, including the Lancashire Oaks and Irish Oaks. She then finished sixth in the 2012 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and fourth in the British Champions Fillies' and Mares' Stakes, which was her last start.
Throne Room – a bay colt sired by Oasis Dream and foaled in 2011. He raced in two maidens in 2013, finishing fourth and second, but died as a two-year-old.
Willoughby – an unraced filly sired by Oasis Dream and foaled in 2012.
Rocksavage – a colt sired by Fastnet Rock and foaled in 2013. He raced twice in 2015 without winning.
Pedigree
Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut, gr. = Grey * Magnificient Style is inbred 4x4 to Nearco. This means that the stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.
