Black Minnaloushe (USA)
February 5, 1998 – ?
Storm Cat (USA) x Coral Dance (FR), by Green Dancer (USA)
Family 20-d
February 5, 1998 – ?
Storm Cat (USA) x Coral Dance (FR), by Green Dancer (USA)
Family 20-d
Black Minnaloushe was not the most reliable of runners, but at his best he was a top-class miler. A winner in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) at 20-1 odds, he franked the form in his next outing by winning the St. James’s Palace Stakes (ENG-G1) at Royal Ascot. He failed to win again and was retired at the end of his 3-year-old season. He proved a disappointing sire.
Race record
11 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$490,005 (includes converted English and Irish earnings)
2000:
2001:
Assessments
Highweighted among 3-year-old males over 7.5-9 furlongs in Ireland in 2001.
As an individual
A muscular, masculine, well-balanced bay horse with a deep girth, Black Minnaloushe had the typically strong Storm Cat body and hip. His feet were small. Gifted with natural speed, he tended to be headstrong in his races.
As a stallion
As of February 20, 2024, The Jockey Club credits Black Minnaloushe with 535 winners (42.8%) and 40 stakes winners (3.2%) from 1251 named foals of racing age. His last foals appear to have been registered in 2019.
Notable progeny
Black Mamba (NZ), Dancing in Silks (USA), Jokers Wild (NZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Black Minnaloushe was bred by John R. Gaines Thoroughbreds and William Condren. A $750,000 weanling purchase from the 1998 Keeneland November mixed sale, he was owned by Coolmore associates Susan Magner and Michael Tabor. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien and was ridden to his win in the 2001 Irish Two Thousand Guineas by Johnny Murtagh. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2002 at Ashford Stud; he also shuttled to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand. Maine Chance Farms purchased a majority interest in Black Minnaloushe from Coolmore in spring 2006, and Black Minnaloushe relocated permanently to South Africa in 2007.
Pedigree notes
Black Minnaloushe is inbred 3x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, 5x5 to 1951 Canadian Horse of the Year Bull Page, and 5x5 to the important speed influence Spy Song. He is a half brother to multiple Grade/Group 1 winners Nasr El Arab (by Al Nasr) and Pennekamp (by Bering) and to French listed stakes winner Shaal (by Lear Fan). He is also a half brother to Gift of Dance (by Trempolino), dam of 2006 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1) winner Round Pond (by Awesome Again) and, through her, second dam of 2017 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G1) winner Long River and third dam of 2022 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) winner Speaker’s Corner. In addition, Black Minnaloushe is a half brother to Lyrical Dance (by Lear Fan), dam of Italian listed stakes winner Sensa Rete (by Barathea).
Black Minnaloushe and his siblings are out of 1980 Criterium des Pouliches (FR-G1) runner-up Coral Dance, whose dam, French stakes winner Carvinia (by 1966 French champion older male Diatome), is a half sister to 1964 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Carvin II (by Marino) and to 1970 Prix de Dangu winner Carabin (by Marino). Carvinia, in turn, was produced from Coraline (by three-time French champion Fine Top), a half sister to 1963 Gran Criterium winner Crylor (by Silnet).
Copelina, the dam of Coraline and Crylor, is a stakes-placed full sister to French stakes winner Cobios. Sired by 1940 Prix Daru winner Loliondo, the siblings are out of Casserole, by 1934 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Brantôme.
Books and media
Footage of Black Minnaloushe’s win in the 2001 Irish Two Thousand Guineas can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jw3vq_gJsg.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 22, 2024
Race record
11 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$490,005 (includes converted English and Irish earnings)
2000:
- Won Blenheim S. (IRE-L, 6FT, The Curragh)
2001:
- Won Entenmann’s Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1, 8FT, The Curragh)
- Won St. James's Palace Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Loughbrown Stakes (IRE, The Curragh)
- 3rd Champagne Lanson Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Goodwood)
Assessments
Highweighted among 3-year-old males over 7.5-9 furlongs in Ireland in 2001.
As an individual
A muscular, masculine, well-balanced bay horse with a deep girth, Black Minnaloushe had the typically strong Storm Cat body and hip. His feet were small. Gifted with natural speed, he tended to be headstrong in his races.
As a stallion
As of February 20, 2024, The Jockey Club credits Black Minnaloushe with 535 winners (42.8%) and 40 stakes winners (3.2%) from 1251 named foals of racing age. His last foals appear to have been registered in 2019.
Notable progeny
Black Mamba (NZ), Dancing in Silks (USA), Jokers Wild (NZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Black Minnaloushe was bred by John R. Gaines Thoroughbreds and William Condren. A $750,000 weanling purchase from the 1998 Keeneland November mixed sale, he was owned by Coolmore associates Susan Magner and Michael Tabor. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien and was ridden to his win in the 2001 Irish Two Thousand Guineas by Johnny Murtagh. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2002 at Ashford Stud; he also shuttled to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand. Maine Chance Farms purchased a majority interest in Black Minnaloushe from Coolmore in spring 2006, and Black Minnaloushe relocated permanently to South Africa in 2007.
Pedigree notes
Black Minnaloushe is inbred 3x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, 5x5 to 1951 Canadian Horse of the Year Bull Page, and 5x5 to the important speed influence Spy Song. He is a half brother to multiple Grade/Group 1 winners Nasr El Arab (by Al Nasr) and Pennekamp (by Bering) and to French listed stakes winner Shaal (by Lear Fan). He is also a half brother to Gift of Dance (by Trempolino), dam of 2006 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1) winner Round Pond (by Awesome Again) and, through her, second dam of 2017 Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (UAE-G1) winner Long River and third dam of 2022 Carter Handicap (USA-G1) winner Speaker’s Corner. In addition, Black Minnaloushe is a half brother to Lyrical Dance (by Lear Fan), dam of Italian listed stakes winner Sensa Rete (by Barathea).
Black Minnaloushe and his siblings are out of 1980 Criterium des Pouliches (FR-G1) runner-up Coral Dance, whose dam, French stakes winner Carvinia (by 1966 French champion older male Diatome), is a half sister to 1964 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Carvin II (by Marino) and to 1970 Prix de Dangu winner Carabin (by Marino). Carvinia, in turn, was produced from Coraline (by three-time French champion Fine Top), a half sister to 1963 Gran Criterium winner Crylor (by Silnet).
Copelina, the dam of Coraline and Crylor, is a stakes-placed full sister to French stakes winner Cobios. Sired by 1940 Prix Daru winner Loliondo, the siblings are out of Casserole, by 1934 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Brantôme.
Books and media
Footage of Black Minnaloushe’s win in the 2001 Irish Two Thousand Guineas can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jw3vq_gJsg.
Fun facts
- Black Minnaloushe’s name is taken from W. B. Yeats’ poem “The Cat and the Moon.”
Last updated: February 22, 2024