Northern Taste (CAN)
March 15, 1971 – December 11, 2004
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Lady Victoria (CAN), by Victoria Park (CAN)
Family 14-c
March 15, 1971 – December 11, 2004
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Lady Victoria (CAN), by Victoria Park (CAN)
Family 14-c
Like many sons of Northern Dancer, Northern Taste was small. He was also gaudily marked and had a highly inbred pedigree, traits which caused him to be looked on with suspicion by many horsemen when he was sold as a yearling. Sent to his owner’s farm in Japan after his racing days were done, he was a great success as a sire, leading the Japanese general sire list 10 times and laying the foundation that an even greater Japanese-based stallion, Sunday Silence, built on.
Race record
20 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds
1973:
1974:
1975:
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 126 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
Except for color, Northern Taste was a typical Northern Dancer: on the small side (15.3 hands), well-balanced, and well-muscled, though flawed by sickle hocks. Resolute when racing, he did not stay beyond 1600 meters. He handled soft going well. A kindly-natured horse, he had an excellent constitution.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club, Northern Taste sired 393 winners (41.5%) and 44 stakes winners (4.7%) from 946 named foals. These statistics appear to be incomplete, it should also be noted that during much of Northern Taste’s stud career, many Japanese graded races were accorded only listed status by the International Catalogue, while many other Japanese stakes races were not considered black-type events outside the country. According to Japan Bloodstock Information Systems, Northern Taste sired 626 winners from 1008 foals.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Adorable (JPN), Amber Shadai (JPN), Big Taste (JPN), Dyna Actress (JPN), Dyna Carle (JPN), Dyna Gulliver (JPN), Gallop Dyna (JPN), Northern Driver (JPN), Shadai Ivor (JPN), Shadai Sophia (JPN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Admire Cozzene (JPN), Agnes Gold (JPN), Air Groove (JPN), Daiwa Major (JPN), Daiwa Scarlet (USA), Durandal (JPN), Flower Park (JPN), Sakura Bakushin O (JPN), Sakura Chitose O (JPN), Soccer Boy (JPN)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Northern Taste was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was purchased by Zenya Yoshida through the agency of Thoroughbred Productions, Inc., for US$100,000 at the 1972 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Sent to France for racing, he was trained by John Cunnington Jr. Following his racing career, he went to Japan to stand at Yoshida's Shadai Stallion Station. He was pensioned in 1999 and died December 11, 2004.
Pedigree notes
Northern Taste is inbred 2x3 to the notable broodmare Lady Angela. He is a half brother to Canadian juvenile stakes winner Canadian Victory (by Canadian Champ) and to English juvenile stakes winner Tanzor (by Nijinsky II).
Lady Victoria, the dam of Northern Taste, won three Canadian stakes races at ages 2 and 3. She is a half sister to 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year and important sire Nearctic (by Nearco) and to 1962 Prince of Wales Stakes winner Choperion (by Chop Chop). She is also a half sister to Countess Angela (by Bull Page), dam of two-time Canadian champion Titled Hero (by Canadian Champ), second dam of 1981 Mexican champion imported 3-year-old filly Hungria, and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Fit for a Queen.
Lady Victoria's dam Lady Angela (by Hyperion) is a winning half sister to Jockey Club Stakes winner Black Peter (by Blue Peter); to Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lady Sybil (by Nearco), dam of English stakes winner Count Rendered (by Precipitation); and to stakes winners Barkersgate (by Abernant) and Welsh Abbot (by Abernant). Lady Angela is also a half sister to Caerlissa (by Caerleon), dam of 1960 Derby Stakes winner St. Paddy (by Aureole), and to Sybil's Sister (by Nearco), dam of stakes winner and South African champion sire Sybil's Nephew (by Midas) and 1953 Queen Mary Stakes winner Sybil's Niece (by Admiral's Walk), dam of the good stakes winner and two-time English leading sire Great Nephew (by Honeyway). Sybil's Niece also produced 1961 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Crepello's Daughter (by Crepello), third dam of 1992 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas, ITY-G2) winner Treasure Hope, and Great Niece (by Honeyway), third dam of 1973 Canadian champion 3-year old filly and notable producer Square Angel.
Fun facts
Last updated: January 25, 2024
Race record
20 starts, 5 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds
1973:
- Won P. Eclipse (FR-G3, 1300mT, Saint-Cloud)
- Won P. Thomas Bryon (FR-G3, 1600mT, Saint-Cloud)
1974:
- Won P. de la Foret (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- Won P. Djebel (FR-L, 1600mT, Maisons-Laffitte)
- 2nd P. du Moulin de Longchamp (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd P. Eugene Adam (FR-G2, 2000mT, Saint-Cloud)
1975:
- Won P. du Pin (FR-G3, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- 3rd P. du Ris-Orangis (FR-G3, 1600mT, Évry)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 126 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
Except for color, Northern Taste was a typical Northern Dancer: on the small side (15.3 hands), well-balanced, and well-muscled, though flawed by sickle hocks. Resolute when racing, he did not stay beyond 1600 meters. He handled soft going well. A kindly-natured horse, he had an excellent constitution.
As a stallion
According to The Jockey Club, Northern Taste sired 393 winners (41.5%) and 44 stakes winners (4.7%) from 946 named foals. These statistics appear to be incomplete, it should also be noted that during much of Northern Taste’s stud career, many Japanese graded races were accorded only listed status by the International Catalogue, while many other Japanese stakes races were not considered black-type events outside the country. According to Japan Bloodstock Information Systems, Northern Taste sired 626 winners from 1008 foals.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 4th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2010-2012.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Japanese general sire list in 1982-1988 and 1990-1992; 2nd in 1989 and 1993; 4th in 1994-1996; 5th in 1998; 6th in 1981 and 1997; 9th in 2000; 10th in 1999.
- Led the Japanese broodmare sire list in 1991-1997, 1999, and 2001-2005; 2nd in 2000; 3rd in 1998; 4th in 1989; 5th in 1990; 8th in 1988.
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
- Led the Japanese general sire list in 1982-1988 and 1990-1992; 2nd in 1989 and 1993; 3rd in 1995; 4th in 1994 and 1996; 5th in 1997 and 1998; 6th in 1981; 9th in 2000; 10th in 1999.
- Led the Japanese broodmare sire list in 1992-2006; 2nd in 1991 and 2007; 3rd in 2008 and 2009; 4th in 2010-2012; 6th in 1990; 7th in 1989; 10th in 1988.
- Led the Japanese juvenile sire list in 1984-1986, 1988, 1990, and 1991.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Japanese general sire list in 1982, 1983, and 1985-1992.
Notable progeny
Adorable (JPN), Amber Shadai (JPN), Big Taste (JPN), Dyna Actress (JPN), Dyna Carle (JPN), Dyna Gulliver (JPN), Gallop Dyna (JPN), Northern Driver (JPN), Shadai Ivor (JPN), Shadai Sophia (JPN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Admire Cozzene (JPN), Agnes Gold (JPN), Air Groove (JPN), Daiwa Major (JPN), Daiwa Scarlet (USA), Durandal (JPN), Flower Park (JPN), Sakura Bakushin O (JPN), Sakura Chitose O (JPN), Soccer Boy (JPN)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, Northern Taste was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was purchased by Zenya Yoshida through the agency of Thoroughbred Productions, Inc., for US$100,000 at the 1972 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Sent to France for racing, he was trained by John Cunnington Jr. Following his racing career, he went to Japan to stand at Yoshida's Shadai Stallion Station. He was pensioned in 1999 and died December 11, 2004.
Pedigree notes
Northern Taste is inbred 2x3 to the notable broodmare Lady Angela. He is a half brother to Canadian juvenile stakes winner Canadian Victory (by Canadian Champ) and to English juvenile stakes winner Tanzor (by Nijinsky II).
Lady Victoria, the dam of Northern Taste, won three Canadian stakes races at ages 2 and 3. She is a half sister to 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year and important sire Nearctic (by Nearco) and to 1962 Prince of Wales Stakes winner Choperion (by Chop Chop). She is also a half sister to Countess Angela (by Bull Page), dam of two-time Canadian champion Titled Hero (by Canadian Champ), second dam of 1981 Mexican champion imported 3-year-old filly Hungria, and third dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Fit for a Queen.
Lady Victoria's dam Lady Angela (by Hyperion) is a winning half sister to Jockey Club Stakes winner Black Peter (by Blue Peter); to Cheveley Park Stakes winner Lady Sybil (by Nearco), dam of English stakes winner Count Rendered (by Precipitation); and to stakes winners Barkersgate (by Abernant) and Welsh Abbot (by Abernant). Lady Angela is also a half sister to Caerlissa (by Caerleon), dam of 1960 Derby Stakes winner St. Paddy (by Aureole), and to Sybil's Sister (by Nearco), dam of stakes winner and South African champion sire Sybil's Nephew (by Midas) and 1953 Queen Mary Stakes winner Sybil's Niece (by Admiral's Walk), dam of the good stakes winner and two-time English leading sire Great Nephew (by Honeyway). Sybil's Niece also produced 1961 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner Crepello's Daughter (by Crepello), third dam of 1992 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas, ITY-G2) winner Treasure Hope, and Great Niece (by Honeyway), third dam of 1973 Canadian champion 3-year old filly and notable producer Square Angel.
Fun facts
- Northern Taste’s success as a sire was such that Teruya Yoshida, son of Zenya Yoshida, said of him, “Northern Taste bought all the stallions and mares we have.”
- By Japanese standards, Northern Taste sired 92 Group winners, a Japanese record. (During part of Northern Taste’s stud career, Japanese races [excepting those that were open to horses bred outside Japan] were not accorded Group status according to the International Catalogue, so some of his progeny won races that held Group status in Japan but only listed status elsewhere in the world.)
Last updated: January 25, 2024