The Minstrel
| The Minstrel | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Northern Dancer |
| Grandsire | Nearctic |
| Dam | Fleur (USA) |
| Damsire | Victoria Park |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 11 March 1974 |
| Country | Canada |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Breeder | Windfields Farm |
| Owner | Robert Sangster |
| Trainer | Vincent O'Brien |
| Record | 9: 7-1-1 |
| Earnings | ₤333,197 ($570,605) |
| Major wins | |
|
Dewhurst Stakes (1976) 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (1977) Epsom Derby (1977) Irish Derby (1977) K. George VI & Q. Elizabeth Stakes (1977) |
|
| Awards | |
| Horse of the Year in the United Kingdom (1977) Horse of the Year in Ireland (1977) Timeform rating 135 |
|
| Honours | |
|
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1979) Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh |
|
| Last updated on February 18, 2011 | |
The Minstrel (11 March 1974 – 3 September 1990) was a Canadian-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Bred in Ontario, he was sold as a yearling and exported to Europe, where he was campaigned in Ireland and the United Kingdom. As a two-year-old The Minstrel was unbeaten in three races including the Dewhurst Stakes, but lost two of his first three starts in 1977. He was then moved up in distance and won his remaining three races: the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
His performances led to him becoming the Horse of the Year in the United Kingdom, and later being inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The Minstrel spent his stud career in the United States where he had considerable success as a sire of winners.
The Minstrel was a "stocky" chestnut colt with a white blaze, four white stockings and a gentle disposition, foaled at E.P. Taylor's Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The Minstrel was the son of Northern Dancer out of Fleur, a daughter of Victoria Park. He was a three-quarter-brother to the 1970 English Triple Crown champion Nijinsky II (who was by Northern Dancer out of Flaming Page, the dam of Fleur).
The Minstrel was purchased for $200,000 at the 1975 Keeneland Sales yearling auction by the British Bloodstock Agency (Ireland), acting on behalf of a group headed by Robert Sangster (1936–2004). The colt was shipped to Ireland under trainer Vincent O'Brien and ridden by champion jockey Lester Piggott.
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