Golden Fleece (USA)
April 1, 1979 – March 18, 1984
Nijinsky II (CAN) x Exotic Treat (USA), by Vaguely Noble (IRE)
Family 8-c
April 1, 1979 – March 18, 1984
Nijinsky II (CAN) x Exotic Treat (USA), by Vaguely Noble (IRE)
Family 8-c
Brilliantly talented but not very sound, Golden Fleece lasted just four starts on the race course. That was enough to rank him as the best English and Irish 3-year-old colt of 1982, but the brevity of his career was disappointing given his enormous potential. Like many strongly stamina-bred horses, he did not meet expectations as a sire, and his early death greatly limited any impact he might have made.
Race record
4 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
1982:
Honors
Assessments
Golden Fleece earned a Timeform rating of 99 pounds as a 2-year-old and a rating of 133 pounds as a 3-year-old. The latter was fourth-best among European-based runners of 1982.
On the International Classification, Golden Fleece was ranked Europe's top racehorse for 1982, one pound higher than French champion 3-year-old male Assert and English champion older male Kalaglow.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Golden Fleece an “average” Derby winner, ranking him 17th among Irish-based racehorses of the 20th century.
As an individual
A heavily built bay horse standing slightly more than 16.1 hands, Golden Fleece was “overgrown and unsound” in the words of British bloodstock expert Tony Morris but was viewed more favorably by Richard Ulbrich, who described him as a “powerful, eye-catchingly handsome colt.” He was temperamental and particularly difficult at the start of a race but had excellent acceleration.
As a stallion
Golden Fleece sired nothing approaching his own ability during his brief stud career, though he got six stakes winners (10.2%) and 29 winners (49.2%) from his 59 foals. His best runner was Irish Group 3 winner Pixie Erin.
Connections
Foaled at Wimbledon Farm in Kentucky, Golden Fleece was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hexter. He was a US$775,000 purchase as a yearling from the 1980 Keeneland July sale for Robert Sangster. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Following his racing career, he stood at Coolmore Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, but died of stomach cancer in March 1984.
Pedigree notes
Golden Fleece is inbred 4x4 to the unbeaten Italian champion and two-time English champion sire Nearco and 5x5 to six-time English champion sire Hyperion. He is a half brother to stakes winner Office Wife (by Secretariat), dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Dance Treat (by Nureyev), in turn the dam of English Group 3 winner South Easter (by Galileo). Golden Fleece is also a half brother to Zawaahy (by El Gran Senor), dam of French Group 3 winner Summertime Legacy (by Darshaan), second dam of 2011 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Wavering, and 2011 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1) winner Mandaean, and third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Earthlight.
Exotic Treat, the dam of Golden Fleece, is a half sister to 1965 American champion 3-year-old filly What a Treat (by Tudor Minstrel). The dam of Group 2 winner Be My Guest (by Northern Dancer), who led the English/Irish general sire list in 1982, What a Treat is also the second dam of 1978 Ladies Handicap (USA-G1) winner Ida Delia and Grade/Group 2 winners Vers La Caisse, High Competence, and Nikishka and is the third dam of 1997 Strub Stakes (USA-G1) winner Victory Speech and Irish Group 2 winner Make No Mistake. Returning to Exotic Treat, she is also a half sister to 1967 Widener Handicap winner Ring Twice (by Gallant Man); to Another Treat (by Cornish Prince), second dam of 2001 Czech Horse of the Year Tribal Instinct, German Group 2 winner Robin des Pins, multiple French Group 3 winner Mystery Rays, and Irish Group 3 winner Ahkaam and third dam of Grade/Group 3 winner King of Happiness; and to Rouslana (by Forli), second dam of Grade 3 winner Freezees.
Exotic Treat and her siblings were produced from 1957 Ladies Handicap winner Rare Treat (by Stymie), a half sister to 1962 American champion 3-year-old male Jaipur (by Nasrullah). Rare Treat is also a half sister to stakes-placed Rare Exchange (by Swaps), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Love's Exchange and French Group 3 winner Golden Era and third dam of Italian Group 3 winner Funny Baby and Grade 3 winner Foreverness. In addition, Rare Treat is a half sister to stakes-placed Battle of Roses (by Yorktown), dam of Grade 3 winner Thirty Years (by Bold Hour) and third dam of 1993 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Personal Hope, Grade 2 winners Crowned and Dixie Flag, and multiple Grade 3 winner Betty Lobelia.
Books and media
Derek Jenkins chronicled the accomplishments of the descendants of Golden Fleece in Golden Fleece: The Forgotten Legacy of a Great Racehorse. He published his work privately through CreateSpace in 2013.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 14, 2021
Race record
4 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds
1982:
- Won Derby Stakes (ENG-G1,12FT, Epsom)
- Won Sean Graham Ballymoss Stakes (IRE-G2, 10.5FT, The Curragh)
- Won Nijinsky Stakes (IRE-G2, 10FT, The Curragh)
Honors
- English champion 3-year-old male (1982)
- Irish champion 3-year-old male (1982)
Assessments
Golden Fleece earned a Timeform rating of 99 pounds as a 2-year-old and a rating of 133 pounds as a 3-year-old. The latter was fourth-best among European-based runners of 1982.
On the International Classification, Golden Fleece was ranked Europe's top racehorse for 1982, one pound higher than French champion 3-year-old male Assert and English champion older male Kalaglow.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press Ltd.), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Golden Fleece an “average” Derby winner, ranking him 17th among Irish-based racehorses of the 20th century.
As an individual
A heavily built bay horse standing slightly more than 16.1 hands, Golden Fleece was “overgrown and unsound” in the words of British bloodstock expert Tony Morris but was viewed more favorably by Richard Ulbrich, who described him as a “powerful, eye-catchingly handsome colt.” He was temperamental and particularly difficult at the start of a race but had excellent acceleration.
As a stallion
Golden Fleece sired nothing approaching his own ability during his brief stud career, though he got six stakes winners (10.2%) and 29 winners (49.2%) from his 59 foals. His best runner was Irish Group 3 winner Pixie Erin.
Connections
Foaled at Wimbledon Farm in Kentucky, Golden Fleece was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hexter. He was a US$775,000 purchase as a yearling from the 1980 Keeneland July sale for Robert Sangster. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. Following his racing career, he stood at Coolmore Stud in County Kildare, Ireland, but died of stomach cancer in March 1984.
Pedigree notes
Golden Fleece is inbred 4x4 to the unbeaten Italian champion and two-time English champion sire Nearco and 5x5 to six-time English champion sire Hyperion. He is a half brother to stakes winner Office Wife (by Secretariat), dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Dance Treat (by Nureyev), in turn the dam of English Group 3 winner South Easter (by Galileo). Golden Fleece is also a half brother to Zawaahy (by El Gran Senor), dam of French Group 3 winner Summertime Legacy (by Darshaan), second dam of 2011 Prix Saint-Alary (FR-G1) winner Wavering, and 2011 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (FR-G1) winner Mandaean, and third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Earthlight.
Exotic Treat, the dam of Golden Fleece, is a half sister to 1965 American champion 3-year-old filly What a Treat (by Tudor Minstrel). The dam of Group 2 winner Be My Guest (by Northern Dancer), who led the English/Irish general sire list in 1982, What a Treat is also the second dam of 1978 Ladies Handicap (USA-G1) winner Ida Delia and Grade/Group 2 winners Vers La Caisse, High Competence, and Nikishka and is the third dam of 1997 Strub Stakes (USA-G1) winner Victory Speech and Irish Group 2 winner Make No Mistake. Returning to Exotic Treat, she is also a half sister to 1967 Widener Handicap winner Ring Twice (by Gallant Man); to Another Treat (by Cornish Prince), second dam of 2001 Czech Horse of the Year Tribal Instinct, German Group 2 winner Robin des Pins, multiple French Group 3 winner Mystery Rays, and Irish Group 3 winner Ahkaam and third dam of Grade/Group 3 winner King of Happiness; and to Rouslana (by Forli), second dam of Grade 3 winner Freezees.
Exotic Treat and her siblings were produced from 1957 Ladies Handicap winner Rare Treat (by Stymie), a half sister to 1962 American champion 3-year-old male Jaipur (by Nasrullah). Rare Treat is also a half sister to stakes-placed Rare Exchange (by Swaps), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Love's Exchange and French Group 3 winner Golden Era and third dam of Italian Group 3 winner Funny Baby and Grade 3 winner Foreverness. In addition, Rare Treat is a half sister to stakes-placed Battle of Roses (by Yorktown), dam of Grade 3 winner Thirty Years (by Bold Hour) and third dam of 1993 Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1) winner Personal Hope, Grade 2 winners Crowned and Dixie Flag, and multiple Grade 3 winner Betty Lobelia.
Books and media
Derek Jenkins chronicled the accomplishments of the descendants of Golden Fleece in Golden Fleece: The Forgotten Legacy of a Great Racehorse. He published his work privately through CreateSpace in 2013.
Fun facts
- Golden Fleece was originally named “Magnificent Dancer.”
- Golden Fleece's name is an allusion to the Greek legend of Jason and the Argonauts, in which the hero Jason sought to recover the golden-woolled hide of the ram Chrysomallos from the king of Colchis.
Last updated: July 14, 2021