El Gran Senor (USA)
April 21, 1981 – October 18, 2006
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Sex Appeal (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 8-f
April 21, 1981 – October 18, 2006
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Sex Appeal (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 8-f
One of Northern Dancer's most beautiful sons, El Gran Senor ran to his looks, winning four championship titles in Europe. Subnormal fertility hampered him as a stallion, but he was nonetheless a good sire and has had influence through his daughters, particularly 2002 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Toussaud.
Race record
8 starts, 7 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$520,929 (converted from English and Irish earnings)
1983:
1984:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 131 pounds by Timeform as a 2-year-old.
Rated at 136 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
An attractive, well-balanced bay horse with a great deal of quality, El Gran Senor had a brilliant turn of foot and was an exceptionally fluid mover. His good looks were marred by a parrot mouth, and foot issues sent him into retirement. He had an excellent disposition.
As a stallion
El Gran Senor's stallion career was hampered by his subnormal fertility, which perhaps discouraged some breeders from sending their best mares to him. In addition, he tended to pass on his own parrot mouth and foot problems. Nonetheless, he was a successful sire, getting 249 winners (60.0%) and 53 stakes winners (12.8%) from 415 named foals according to records kept by The Jockey Club; The Blood-Horse credits him with 55 stakes winners (13.3%). He was primarily a turf sire, and many of his offspring scored their greatest successes in Europe.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Al Hareb (USA), Belmez (USA), Corrazona (USA), George Augustus (USA), Gran Alba (USA), Helmsman (USA), Kundalini (USA), Le Triton (USA), Lit de Justice (USA), Rodrigo de Triano (USA), Saratoga Springs (CAN), Senor Tomas (USA), Spanish Fern (USA), Toussaud (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Chester House (USA), Chiselling (USA), Empire Maker (USA), Gran Vitesse (ARG), Grand Slam (USA), Honest Lady (USA), Ice Horse (ARG), Ice Point (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, El Gran Senor was bred by E. P. Taylor in partnership with Vincent O'Brien, John Magnier and Robert Sangster. He was owned by Robert Sangster and was trained by Vincent O'Brien. El Gran Senor entered stud in Maryland in 1985 at Windfields Farm and moved to Ashford Stud in Kentucky in 1986. He was pensioned in 2000 due to declining fertility and was humanely destroyed in October 2006 due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
El Gran Senor is inbred 4x5 to 1933 dual English Classic winner and six-time English champion sire Hyperion. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1935 American Horse of the Year Discovery. He is a full brother to 1977 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1978 Irish champion miler Try My Best; to 1989/1990 South African champion sire Northern Guest; and to Grade 3 producers Golden Oriole and Bella Senora, both the second dams of Grade 1 winners. He is also a half brother to Grade 3 winner Solar (by Halo); to Grade 3 producer Carillon Miss (by The Minstrel); and to stakes producers Russian Ballet (by Nijinsky II) and Lotta Lace (by Nureyev). The last-named mare is also the second dam of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye.
El Gran Senor is out of Sex Appeal, a half sister to 1975 Irish champion 2-year-old male Malinowski (by Sir Ivor) and to 1982 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Blush With Pride (by Blushing Groom), dam of French Group 2 winner Smolensk (by Danzig), Irish Group 3 winner Turnberry Isle (by Deputy Minister), and Grade 2 winner and 2007 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (by Deputy Minister). Sex Appeal is also a half sister to English Group 2 winner Giegud (by Sir Ivor) and Irish Group 3 winner Monroe (by Sir Ivor), dam of 1997 European champion 2-year-old male Xaar (by Zafonic), French Group 3 winners Masterclass (by The Minstrel) and Diese (by Diesis), and listed stakes winner Ile de Jinsky (by Ile de Bourbon).
Sex Appeal is out of 1968 Comely Stakes winner Best in Show, also the dam of Grade 1 producers Minnie Hauk (by Sir Ivor) and Nijinsky's Best (by Nijinsky II) and of stakes producer Show Lady (by Sir Ivor), who has established an important branch of the family in Australia. The 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Best in Show is a full sister to stakes-placed Reckless Driver, dam of multiple stakes winner Greenbriar (by Nashua) and third dam of multiple Australian Group 3 winner Tolanda and Grade 3 winner Clamorosa. Best in Show is also a half sister to 1963 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Journalist (by Nashua) and to Stolen Date (by Sadair), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Bubinka (by Nashua) and French stakes winner Stoshka (by Nashua); second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Lady Carlotta; and third dam of 2003 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 2004 Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Grey Swallow, 1999 Indian champion sprinter Indiscretion. and Irish Group 3 winner Moonlight Dance. In addition, Best in Show is a half sister to Hourly Desire (by Advocator), dam of juvenile stakes winner Existing Desire (by Our Native).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: September 11, 2024
Race record
8 starts, 7 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$520,929 (converted from English and Irish earnings)
1983:
- Won William Hill Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1, 7FT, Newmarket)
- Won B.B.A./Goffs National Stakes (IRE-G2, 7FT, The Curragh)
- Won P. J. Prendergast Railway Stakes (IRE-G3, 6FT, The Curragh)
1984:
- Won Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Joe McGrath Irish Sweeps Derby (IRE-G1, 12FT, The Curragh)
- Won Gladness Stakes (IRE-G3, 7FT. The Curragh)
- 2nd Derby Stakes (ENG-G1, 12FT, Epsom)
Honors
- Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame (inducted in 2018)
- English champion 2-year-old male (1983)
- Irish champion 2-year-old male (1983)
- English champion 3-year-old male (1984)
- English champion miler (1984)
- Maryland-bred Horse of the Year (1984)
- Maryland-bred champion 3-year-old male (1984)
- Maryland-bred champion turf male (1984)
Assessments
Rated at 131 pounds by Timeform as a 2-year-old.
Rated at 136 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
An attractive, well-balanced bay horse with a great deal of quality, El Gran Senor had a brilliant turn of foot and was an exceptionally fluid mover. His good looks were marred by a parrot mouth, and foot issues sent him into retirement. He had an excellent disposition.
As a stallion
El Gran Senor's stallion career was hampered by his subnormal fertility, which perhaps discouraged some breeders from sending their best mares to him. In addition, he tended to pass on his own parrot mouth and foot problems. Nonetheless, he was a successful sire, getting 249 winners (60.0%) and 53 stakes winners (12.8%) from 415 named foals according to records kept by The Jockey Club; The Blood-Horse credits him with 55 stakes winners (13.3%). He was primarily a turf sire, and many of his offspring scored their greatest successes in Europe.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 3rd on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1992; 10th in 1990.
Notable progeny
Al Hareb (USA), Belmez (USA), Corrazona (USA), George Augustus (USA), Gran Alba (USA), Helmsman (USA), Kundalini (USA), Le Triton (USA), Lit de Justice (USA), Rodrigo de Triano (USA), Saratoga Springs (CAN), Senor Tomas (USA), Spanish Fern (USA), Toussaud (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Chester House (USA), Chiselling (USA), Empire Maker (USA), Gran Vitesse (ARG), Grand Slam (USA), Honest Lady (USA), Ice Horse (ARG), Ice Point (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, El Gran Senor was bred by E. P. Taylor in partnership with Vincent O'Brien, John Magnier and Robert Sangster. He was owned by Robert Sangster and was trained by Vincent O'Brien. El Gran Senor entered stud in Maryland in 1985 at Windfields Farm and moved to Ashford Stud in Kentucky in 1986. He was pensioned in 2000 due to declining fertility and was humanely destroyed in October 2006 due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
El Gran Senor is inbred 4x5 to 1933 dual English Classic winner and six-time English champion sire Hyperion. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1935 American Horse of the Year Discovery. He is a full brother to 1977 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1978 Irish champion miler Try My Best; to 1989/1990 South African champion sire Northern Guest; and to Grade 3 producers Golden Oriole and Bella Senora, both the second dams of Grade 1 winners. He is also a half brother to Grade 3 winner Solar (by Halo); to Grade 3 producer Carillon Miss (by The Minstrel); and to stakes producers Russian Ballet (by Nijinsky II) and Lotta Lace (by Nureyev). The last-named mare is also the second dam of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye.
El Gran Senor is out of Sex Appeal, a half sister to 1975 Irish champion 2-year-old male Malinowski (by Sir Ivor) and to 1982 Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) winner Blush With Pride (by Blushing Groom), dam of French Group 2 winner Smolensk (by Danzig), Irish Group 3 winner Turnberry Isle (by Deputy Minister), and Grade 2 winner and 2007 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (by Deputy Minister). Sex Appeal is also a half sister to English Group 2 winner Giegud (by Sir Ivor) and Irish Group 3 winner Monroe (by Sir Ivor), dam of 1997 European champion 2-year-old male Xaar (by Zafonic), French Group 3 winners Masterclass (by The Minstrel) and Diese (by Diesis), and listed stakes winner Ile de Jinsky (by Ile de Bourbon).
Sex Appeal is out of 1968 Comely Stakes winner Best in Show, also the dam of Grade 1 producers Minnie Hauk (by Sir Ivor) and Nijinsky's Best (by Nijinsky II) and of stakes producer Show Lady (by Sir Ivor), who has established an important branch of the family in Australia. The 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Best in Show is a full sister to stakes-placed Reckless Driver, dam of multiple stakes winner Greenbriar (by Nashua) and third dam of multiple Australian Group 3 winner Tolanda and Grade 3 winner Clamorosa. Best in Show is also a half sister to 1963 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes winner Journalist (by Nashua) and to Stolen Date (by Sadair), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Bubinka (by Nashua) and French stakes winner Stoshka (by Nashua); second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Lady Carlotta; and third dam of 2003 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 2004 Budweiser Irish Derby (IRE-G1) winner Grey Swallow, 1999 Indian champion sprinter Indiscretion. and Irish Group 3 winner Moonlight Dance. In addition, Best in Show is a half sister to Hourly Desire (by Advocator), dam of juvenile stakes winner Existing Desire (by Our Native).
Books and media
- El Gran Senor is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
- Footage of El Gran Senor's wins in the 1984 Two Thousand Guineas and Irish Derby can be accessed through his page at the Maryland Thoroughbred Hall of Fame (https://mdthoroughbredhalloffame.com/index.php/the-horses/class-of-2018/el-gran-senor).
Fun facts
- El Gran Senor was named for National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame trainer Horatio Luro. Nicknamed “El Gran Senor,” the Argentine-born trainer was the conditioner for a number of E. P. Taylor's top horses, including Northern Dancer.
- El Gran Senor and his Derby Stakes conqueror Secreto, both sons of Northern Dancer, were both bred by E. P. Taylor (alone or in partnership). Not only were they both foaled at Windfields Farm's Maryland division, but they reportedly shared the same paddock as yearlings.
- Both El Gran Senor and Secreto put on such compelling performances in the Derby Stakes that the connections of both were invited to the Royal Box, a privilege traditionally extended only to the winner's connections.
Last updated: September 11, 2024