The win was a triumph for his owner-breeder Anne Patterson, of Cannington (South Canterbury). It was the biggest win for his Levels trainer, Murray Tapper, who has been training fulltime for five years.
Stylish Monarch was driven by Ricky May, who drove Monkey King to win the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday and New Zealand Free-For-All yesterday.
Stylish Monarch lowered the record set by La Coocaracha in the 2002 Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park.
The previous Addington record was 4.05.5 by Take A Moment in the 2003 Dominion.
"It was one for the hobby breeder," Patterson said.
Stylish Monarch is the only foal bred by Patterson from Stylish Summit, whom she bought as a 16yr-old from Dave Waller.
The winner of three races, Stylish Summit had then left two one-race winners, Stylish Grant and Stysun, from six foals.
Patterson sent Stylish Summit to Monarchy to produce Stylish Monarch. The mare missed to further matings and she died in July last year.
Patterson has harness racing in her blood as a daughter of Jack Phillips, of Timaru. He has raced several useful winners and headed Harness Racing NZ as president.
Patterson has bred and raced other winners, including the pacer Sir Jasper (five wins).
"I lived alongside where Phar Lap was born (Seadown) but knew I would never have the resources to breed thoroughbreds," Patterson said. "I just like animals."
She has bought Stysun, a half-sister by Sundon to Stylish Monarch, as a broodmare.
May drove Cedar Fella to win the 1998 Dominion.
Stylish Monarch has now won 13 races and been placed in 13 of his 32 starts. The $106,250 first prize boosted his stake earnings to $326,082.
• Monkey King won the NZ FFA yesterday to become the first horse to win the NZ Trotting Cup-FFA double in successive years.
The previous winner of successive NZ Free-For-Alls was Robalan in 1972 and '73. Seven horses have won successive NZ FFAs but Monkey King is the only pacer in the group to win the NZ Cup in successive years.
"He [Monkey King] is just a part of our family," Robert Famularo, his owner, said.
Monkey King led and won by three-quarters of a length in 2.23.7, compared with 2.22.4 last year.
He will have his next start in the Miracle Mile at Menangle on November 28. He won that race last year. Be Good Johnny (2005-06), Sokyola, Holmes D G, Chokin and Westburn Grant have won the Miracle Mile in successive years.
Carabella, a stablemate of Monkey King, with Brendon Hill, will contest a heat of the Sires' Stakes Fillies Championship at Addington next Friday. She won fresh up in record time at Ashburton on Thursday.
