(Edited press release)
Student Council, a grade I winner on dirt and synthetic surfaces, will be retired at the conclusion of this year’s racing season and will stand at Millennium Farms in 2009 as property of a syndicate that will include breeder Will Farish's Lane's End Farm.
Millennium Farms is currently syndicating Student Council; his stud fee will be announced later this year. In the meantime, the 6-year-old son of leading international sire Kingmambo is next scheduled to defend his title in the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar Aug. 24.
“We are thrilled to announce that Student Council will join our stallion roster next year,” said Millennium Farms owner Ro Parra. “His racing career has brought us much excitement and after a few more races this year, we are sure that the combination of his pedigree, conformation, soundness, toughness, durability and great race record will make him desirable to breeders around the world.”
Farish added, “I have always believed that Student Council would make an excellent stallion, which is why Lane's End has retained an ownership in him. His sire, Kingmambo, is one of the most successful stallions in the world, and his son Lemon Drop Kid, with three grade I winners already, speaks to Kingmambo's success as a sire of sires.”
Student Council has earnings of over $1.5 million from eight wins, four seconds and four thirds in 29 starts. He is out of the grade II winning mare Class Kris (by Kris S.), and is a half-brother to graded winner Gradepoint. Prior to his purchase by Parra in August of 2007, Student Council took the Maxxam Gold Cup Handicap at Sam Houston Race Park. After his victory in last year's Pacific Classic in his first start for Millennium Farms, he won the Hawthorne Gold Cup (gr. II).
Student Council won the Pimlico Special (gr. I) in May, and was third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) June 28. In his most recent start, the July 26 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, Student Council ran second to the front-running Commentator, running a 112 Beyer Speed Figure, second best of the year at one mile or more on dirt.
Student Council has raced at 14 different tracks, in eight states and on two continents. He has won stakes in California, Maryland, Illinois and Texas.
Kingmambo is the sire of 80 stakes winners. In addition to Student Council, his group/grade I winners in 2008 include Henrythenavigator and Archipenko.
For more information on Student Council, Ro Parra or Millennium Farms, visit www.millenniumfarms.com. Mare nicking reports for all Millennium Farms stallions, including Student Council, are available at www.truenicks.com.