Minstrella (USA)
March 22, 1984 – 2012
The Minstrel (CAN) x Flight Dancer (USA), by Misty Flight (USA)
Family 17-b
March 22, 1984 – 2012
The Minstrel (CAN) x Flight Dancer (USA), by Misty Flight (USA)
Family 17-b
Quicker to mature than either her sire or her dam, Minstrella threw back to her great-granddam Grey Flight as far as her proclivities for speed and early maturity went but was more her sire's daughter in talent. The Irish champion 2-year-old filly of 1986, she was a Group 1 winner in England and Ireland at 2 but failed to train on. She did very well as a broodmare.
Race record
11 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$358,429 (converted from English and Irish earnings)
1986:
Honors
Irish champion 2-year-old filly (1986)
Assessments
Minstrella earned a Timeform rating of 121 pounds as 2-year-old, highest among Irish-based juvenile fillies. She was rated at 6 pounds below the top European juvenile filly, English-based Forest Flower, and was fifth among European juvenile fillies. Minstrella was rated at 120 pounds at 3, 12 pounds below European champion 3-year-old filly Indian Skimmer.
As an individual
A robust, good-bodied gray mare (but officially registered as roan), Minstrella physically resembled her small, muscular sire. She had a good turn of foot. She had a pleasant disposition around the barn but was fiery on the track and sometimes showed a less than ideal temperament there; according to Timeform, she “had her foibles.”
As a producer
Minstrella produced 16 named foals, of which 14 started and 11 won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Minstrella was bred and owned by Edward P. Evans. She was trained by Charlie Nelson while in England and by Philip Johnson for her sole U.S. start. She was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in early 2012 and was buried at Evans' Spring Hill Farm, then owned by his estate.
Pedigree notes
Minstrella is inbred 4x3 to Native Dancer and 5x4 to Mahmoud. She is a half sister to Misty Dancer (by Lyphard), whose stakes-winning daugher Quiet Dance (by Quiet American) is the dam of 2005 American Horse of the Year Saint Liam (by Saint Ballado), 2018 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Funtastic (by More Than Ready), 2011 Hill 'n' Dale Molly Pitcher Stakes (USA-G2) winner Quiet Giant (by Giant's Causeway; dam of 2017 American Horse of the Year Gun Runner, by Candy Ride), 2004 Bay Meadows Derby (USA-G3) winner Congressionalhonor (by Forestry), and stakes winner Dance Quietly (by A.P. Indy; dam of listed stakes winner Dance d'Oro, by Medaglia d'Oro). Quiet Dance is also the dam of Beatem Buster (by Honour and Glory), dam of 2011 Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1) winner Buster's Ready (by More Than Ready), and of Quiet Now (by Tiznow), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Lull (by War Front). Misty Dancer's other foals include Fog Dance (by Unbridled's Song), dam of 2012 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Rolling Fog (by Posse), and Quiet Flight (by Quiet American), dam of Grade 2 winner Fly So High (by Malibu Moon).
Minstrella and Misty Dancer are out of stakes-placed Flight Dancer (by Misty Flight), also the dam of Grade 2 winner Misty Gallore (by Halo; dam of the good sire Silver Ghost, by Mr. Prospector) and a half sister to 1973 Argentine champion sire Dancing Moss (by Ballymoss). The next dam in Minstrella's tail-female line is stakes winner Courbette (by Native Dancer), a half sister to stakes winner Mlle. Lorette (by Lovely Night) and a daughter of the great Gallorette.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 13, 2023
Race record
11 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$358,429 (converted from English and Irish earnings)
1986:
- Won Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes (IRE-G1, 6FT, Phoenix Park)
- Won Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1, 6FT, The Curragh)
- Won Tattersalls Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1, 6FT, Newmarket; by disqualification of Forest Flower)
- Won Chesham Stakes (ENG-L, 6FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Cherry Hinton Stakes (ENG-G3, 6FT, Newmarket)
Honors
Irish champion 2-year-old filly (1986)
Assessments
Minstrella earned a Timeform rating of 121 pounds as 2-year-old, highest among Irish-based juvenile fillies. She was rated at 6 pounds below the top European juvenile filly, English-based Forest Flower, and was fifth among European juvenile fillies. Minstrella was rated at 120 pounds at 3, 12 pounds below European champion 3-year-old filly Indian Skimmer.
As an individual
A robust, good-bodied gray mare (but officially registered as roan), Minstrella physically resembled her small, muscular sire. She had a good turn of foot. She had a pleasant disposition around the barn but was fiery on the track and sometimes showed a less than ideal temperament there; according to Timeform, she “had her foibles.”
As a producer
Minstrella produced 16 named foals, of which 14 started and 11 won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Minidar (1990, by Alydar) won the 1994 Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G3). She is the dam of 2010 Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2) winner A Little Warm (by Stormin Fever) and the second dam of Grade 2 winner Mini Sermon. She is also the third dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Tit Ruler.
- Colonial Minstrel (1994, by Pleasant Colony) won the 1998 Humana Distaff Handicap (USA-G3) and was Grade 1-placed. She is the dam of multiple stakes winner Storm Minstrel (by Storm Cat), who in turn is the dam of Grade 2 winner Blofeld (by Quality Road). Colonial Minstrel is also the dam of listed stakes winner Grand Minstrel (by Grand Slam).
- Minicolony (1995, by Pleasant Colony) produced 2015 Commonwealth Turf Stakes (USA-G3) winner Almasty (by Scat Daddy)
- Unrestrained (1998, by Unbridled) was a listed stakes winner at 3 and 4.
- Colonella (1999, by Pleasant Colony) is the dam of 2007 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G3) winner Pleasant Strike (by Smart Strike).
Connections
Foaled in Virginia, Minstrella was bred and owned by Edward P. Evans. She was trained by Charlie Nelson while in England and by Philip Johnson for her sole U.S. start. She was humanely destroyed due to the infirmities of old age in early 2012 and was buried at Evans' Spring Hill Farm, then owned by his estate.
Pedigree notes
Minstrella is inbred 4x3 to Native Dancer and 5x4 to Mahmoud. She is a half sister to Misty Dancer (by Lyphard), whose stakes-winning daugher Quiet Dance (by Quiet American) is the dam of 2005 American Horse of the Year Saint Liam (by Saint Ballado), 2018 United Nations Handicap (USA-G1) winner Funtastic (by More Than Ready), 2011 Hill 'n' Dale Molly Pitcher Stakes (USA-G2) winner Quiet Giant (by Giant's Causeway; dam of 2017 American Horse of the Year Gun Runner, by Candy Ride), 2004 Bay Meadows Derby (USA-G3) winner Congressionalhonor (by Forestry), and stakes winner Dance Quietly (by A.P. Indy; dam of listed stakes winner Dance d'Oro, by Medaglia d'Oro). Quiet Dance is also the dam of Beatem Buster (by Honour and Glory), dam of 2011 Mother Goose Stakes (USA-G1) winner Buster's Ready (by More Than Ready), and of Quiet Now (by Tiznow), dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Lull (by War Front). Misty Dancer's other foals include Fog Dance (by Unbridled's Song), dam of 2012 Del Mar Futurity (USA-G1) winner Rolling Fog (by Posse), and Quiet Flight (by Quiet American), dam of Grade 2 winner Fly So High (by Malibu Moon).
Minstrella and Misty Dancer are out of stakes-placed Flight Dancer (by Misty Flight), also the dam of Grade 2 winner Misty Gallore (by Halo; dam of the good sire Silver Ghost, by Mr. Prospector) and a half sister to 1973 Argentine champion sire Dancing Moss (by Ballymoss). The next dam in Minstrella's tail-female line is stakes winner Courbette (by Native Dancer), a half sister to stakes winner Mlle. Lorette (by Lovely Night) and a daughter of the great Gallorette.
Fun facts
- In the Tattersalls Cheveley Park Stakes (ENG-G1), Minstrella was badly bothered by the favorite, Forest Flower, as the latter bulled her way out of a box with two furlongs to go and went on to finish first with Minstrella second. Minstrella's jockey John Reid lodged an objection with the Newmarket stewards, who allowed the results to stand, but the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club overruled the stewards and elevated Minstrella to the win. The 1986 Cheveley Park Stakes is still remembered as one of the most controversial European races of the late 20th century.
- Minstrella's 1986 earnings of £223,813 (US$355,820) set a new European record for single-season earnings by a juvenile.
Last updated: September 13, 2023