Northern Guest (USA)
April 28, 1975 – April 17, 2002
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Sex Appeal (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 8-f
April 28, 1975 – April 17, 2002
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Sex Appeal (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
Family 8-f
Sandwiched in between his champion full brothers Try My Best and El Gran Senor, Northern Guest was injured as a young horse and never made it to the races. Given a chance at stud in South Africa, he did very well, leading the general sire list once and becoming a great sire of broodmares.
Race record
Unraced
As an individual
A handsome, muscular, well-balanced bay horse with great presence and a strong look of his sire, Northern Guest had a markedly sloping rump. He crashed into a fence while being trained on the Ballydoyle gallops and ran a large splinter into a foot, leaving him with a permanent limp. He had an excellent temperament.
As a stallion
Northern Guest sired 172 winners (16.8%) and 34 stakes winners (3.3%) from 1023 named foals according to records kept by The Jockey Club. Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers) credits him with 41 stakes winners. He tended to pass on his own excellent temperament and physical quality.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Angus (SAF), Imperious Sue (SAF), Mystery Guest (SAF), Northern Princess (SAF), Senor Santa (SAF), Spook and Diesel (SAF), Travel North (SAF), Unaware (SAF)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bold Ellinore (SAF), Crimson Palace (SAF), Honour the Guest (ZIM), Icy Air (SAF), JJ the Jet Plane (SAF), Pomodoro (SAF)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Northern Guest was bred by E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm. He was sold for US$1 million when just five weeks old, going to Coolmore’s Robert Sangster and associates. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Following his injury, he stood briefly in Ireland without ever being marketed as a commercial stallion, siring about two dozen foals. He was then purchased for £200,000 by brothers Mick and Pat Goss, owners of Summerhill Stud in South Africa, and took up stud duties there during the 1983 Southern Hemisphere season after syndication. He died at Summerhill in April 2002.
Pedigree notes
Northern Guest 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 male Try My Best and to 1983 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1984 English champion miler and champion 3-year-old male El Gran Senor. He is also a full brother to Grade 3 producers Golden Oriole and Bella Senora, both the second dams of Grade 1 winners. In addition, Northern Guest is 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 2018 dual Japanese Classic winner Almond Eye.
Northern Guest 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 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).
Fun facts
Last updated: July 20, 2023
Race record
Unraced
As an individual
A handsome, muscular, well-balanced bay horse with great presence and a strong look of his sire, Northern Guest had a markedly sloping rump. He crashed into a fence while being trained on the Ballydoyle gallops and ran a large splinter into a foot, leaving him with a permanent limp. He had an excellent temperament.
As a stallion
Northern Guest sired 172 winners (16.8%) and 34 stakes winners (3.3%) from 1023 named foals according to records kept by The Jockey Club. Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers) credits him with 41 stakes winners. He tended to pass on his own excellent temperament and physical quality.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
- Led the South African broodmare sire list in 2008/2009, 2009/2010, and 2011/2012; 2nd in 2010/2011; 3rd in 2013/2014; 7th in 2014/2015; 8th in 2012/2013; 10th in 2015/2016.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the South African general sire list in 1989/1990; 2nd in 1990/1991, 1994/1995, and 1997/1998; 3rd in 1992/1993, 1996/1997, 1998/1999, and 1999/2000; 4th in 1995/1996; 6th in 1988/1989, 1993/1994, and 2000/2001; 10th in 1991/1992.
- Led the South African broodmare sire list in 2000/2001 through 2003/2004; 2nd in 2001/2002; 5th in 1995/1996 and 1999/2000; 6th in 1997/1998 and 1998/1999; 8th in 1996/1997; 9th in 1994/1995
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the South African general sire list in 1989/1990.
Notable progeny
Angus (SAF), Imperious Sue (SAF), Mystery Guest (SAF), Northern Princess (SAF), Senor Santa (SAF), Spook and Diesel (SAF), Travel North (SAF), Unaware (SAF)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bold Ellinore (SAF), Crimson Palace (SAF), Honour the Guest (ZIM), Icy Air (SAF), JJ the Jet Plane (SAF), Pomodoro (SAF)
Connections
Foaled in Maryland, Northern Guest was bred by E. P. Taylor at his Windfields Farm. He was sold for US$1 million when just five weeks old, going to Coolmore’s Robert Sangster and associates. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Following his injury, he stood briefly in Ireland without ever being marketed as a commercial stallion, siring about two dozen foals. He was then purchased for £200,000 by brothers Mick and Pat Goss, owners of Summerhill Stud in South Africa, and took up stud duties there during the 1983 Southern Hemisphere season after syndication. He died at Summerhill in April 2002.
Pedigree notes
Northern Guest 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 male Try My Best and to 1983 English and Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1984 English champion miler and champion 3-year-old male El Gran Senor. He is also a full brother to Grade 3 producers Golden Oriole and Bella Senora, both the second dams of Grade 1 winners. In addition, Northern Guest is 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 2018 dual Japanese Classic winner Almond Eye.
Northern Guest 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 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).
Fun facts
- When the Goss brothers agreed to buy Northern Guest from Coolmore for £200,000, they were already heavily in debt and had no further lines of credit available to them. Further, their initial attempt at syndicating him failed. Fortunately for them, the 12-week delay while permission was being secured for the required currency exchange bought them enough time to make another attempt at syndicating him, which was successful.
- Every morning, as Northern Guest was being led out from his barn to his paddock, Summerhill management staff would pause their morning meeting to go out and watch him as the stallion took a few minutes to survey his domain before going on to his paddock—their acknowledgement of the horse who had saved their farm.
Last updated: July 20, 2023