The Minstrel (CAN)
March 11, 1974 – September 3, 1990
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Fleur (CAN), by Victoria Park (CAN)
Family 8-f
March 11, 1974 – September 3, 1990
Northern Dancer (CAN) x Fleur (CAN), by Victoria Park (CAN)
Family 8-f
Although The Minstrel was a three-quarters brother to Nijinsky II, he could hardly have resembled that champion less physically. Nijinsky II was tall, scopy and bay; The Minstrel was a chestnut version of his diminutive sire and liberally splashed with flashy white markings. English horsemen have long had a prejudice against gaudily marked chestnuts as being “soft,” but nothing could have been further from the truth in The Minstrel's case. While he did not have the phenomenal acceleration that Nijinsky II had at his best, he was as lion-hearted a competitor as anyone could wish. His only possible rival as the best 12-furlong horse of his crop in Europe was the great Alleged, and the two did not meet before The Minstrel was retired and sent back to North America just ahead of a ban on European horses due to an outbreak of contagious equine metritis. The Minstrel proved a good but not spectacular sire and died at the relatively young age of 16. Hopes that his male line would endure were effectively ended when his champion grandson Cigar proved sterile and another champion grandson, Naturalism, disappointed at stud.
Race record
9 starts, 7 wins, 1 second, 1 third, £333,197
1976:
1977:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Free Handicap for English 2-year-old males of 1976, 8 pounds below champion J. O. Tobin.
As a 2-year-old, The Minstrel was awarded a Timeform rating of 130 pounds, one pound below the publication's top-rated juvenile, Blushing Groom, and tied with English champion 2-year-old male J. O. Tobin.
As a 3-year-old, The Minstrel was awarded a Timeform rating of 135 pounds, two pounds below that year's highweight, Alleged.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated The Minstrel as a “superior” Derby winner and the 16th best Irish-based racehorse of the 20th century.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, The Minstrel stood 15.2½ hands. In spite of his small size and chunky build, he was athletic and well put together. He tended to sweat up before his races but had an excellent racing temperament nonetheless. He was second to none in his determination on the race course.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, The Minstrel sired 308 winners (58.8%) and 58 stakes winners (11.1%) from 524 named foals. His progeny were generally much better on turf than dirt and tended to be a little on the small side, particularly his fillies.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Bakharoff (USA), Crusader Castle (USA), L'Emigrant (USA), Melodist (USA), Minstrel Glory (USA), Minstrella (USA), Minstrel's Lassie (USA), Musical Bliss (USA), Opening Verse (USA), Palace Music (USA), Silver Fling (USA), Silver Voice (USA), Treizieme (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bequest (USA), Grey Swallow (IRE), Heart of Darkness (GB), Houmayoun (FR), Key Change (IRE), Shirocco (GER), Tinners Way (USA), Unaccounted For (USA), Zafonic (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, The Minstrel was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was purchased from the 1975 Keeneland July yearling sale for US$200,000 by a partnership headed by Robert Sangster. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. E. P. Taylor bought a half interest in The Minstrel for US$4.5 million following the colt's victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and The Minstrel entered stud at Windfield Farm's Maryland division in 1978. He transferred to Overbrook Farm in Kentucky in 1989 but was humanely destroyed due to complications of laminitis in 1990.
Pedigree notes
The Minstrel is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Grade 3 winner Far North and stakes winner Pilgrim and is a half brother to Canadian stakes winner Flower Princess (by Majestic Prince), dam of stakes winner Flower Dancer (by Northern Dancer). Fleur, the dam of The Minstrel, as stakes-placed on the track and is a half sister to 1970 English Horse of the Year Nijinsky II and 1970 Irish champion 2-year-old male Minsky, both by Northern Dancer.
Flaming Page, the dam of Fleur, won the 1962 Canadian Oaks and Queen's Plate and was second in the Kentucky Oaks, earning the 3-year-old filly championship in Canada that year. A daughter of 1951 Canadian Horse of the Year Bull Page and Windfields Farm foundation mare Flaring Top (by Menow), she is a half sister to Canadian stakes winners Top Tourn (by Tournoi), Quintain (by Tournoi) and Flashing Top (by Ménétrier) and to Friendly Relations (by Nearctic), dam of stakes winner Viendra (by Raise a Native) and second dam of Australian Group 1 winner Bellzevir and Grade 3 winners Morning Frolic, Endow, and Irish Forever. Flaming Page is also a half sister to Gleam (by Tournoi), dam of stakes winner Evening Bag (by Bagdad) and second dam of 1976 Laurel Futurity (USA-G1) winner Royal Ski; to Flaming Wind (by Windfields), dam of stakes winner French Wind (by Ménétrier) and second dam of multiple Venezuelan champion Blondy; to Merry and Bright (by Ménétrier), dam of stakes winner Fanfaron (by Victoria Park); and to Flaming Victress (by Victoria Park), dam of stakes winner All for Victory (by One for All) and second dam of 1987 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Phoenix Factor, Grade 3 winner Wasatch, and the good Canadian sire Cool Victor.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: March 27, 2024
Race record
9 starts, 7 wins, 1 second, 1 third, £333,197
1976:
- Won Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1, 7FT, Newmarket)
- Won Larkspur Stakes (IRE-G3, 7FT, The Curragh)
- Won Moy Stakes (IRE, 6FT, The Curragh; new course record)
1977:
- Won Derby Stakes (ENG-G1, 12FT, Epsom)
- Won Irish Sweeps Derby (IRE-G1, 12FT, The Curragh)
- Won King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (ENG-G1, 12FT, Ascot)
- Won Ascot Two Thousand Guineas Trial Stakes (ENG-G3, 8FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1, 8FT, The Curragh)
- 3rd Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
Honors
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1979)
- English Horse of the Year (1977)
- English champion 3-year-old male (1977)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds on the Free Handicap for English 2-year-old males of 1976, 8 pounds below champion J. O. Tobin.
As a 2-year-old, The Minstrel was awarded a Timeform rating of 130 pounds, one pound below the publication's top-rated juvenile, Blushing Groom, and tied with English champion 2-year-old male J. O. Tobin.
As a 3-year-old, The Minstrel was awarded a Timeform rating of 135 pounds, two pounds below that year's highweight, Alleged.
In their book A Century of Champions (1999, Portway Press), British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated The Minstrel as a “superior” Derby winner and the 16th best Irish-based racehorse of the 20th century.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, The Minstrel stood 15.2½ hands. In spite of his small size and chunky build, he was athletic and well put together. He tended to sweat up before his races but had an excellent racing temperament nonetheless. He was second to none in his determination on the race course.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, The Minstrel sired 308 winners (58.8%) and 58 stakes winners (11.1%) from 524 named foals. His progeny were generally much better on turf than dirt and tended to be a little on the small side, particularly his fillies.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1986; 9th in 1984.
- 10th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 1996.
Notable progeny
Bakharoff (USA), Crusader Castle (USA), L'Emigrant (USA), Melodist (USA), Minstrel Glory (USA), Minstrella (USA), Minstrel's Lassie (USA), Musical Bliss (USA), Opening Verse (USA), Palace Music (USA), Silver Fling (USA), Silver Voice (USA), Treizieme (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Bequest (USA), Grey Swallow (IRE), Heart of Darkness (GB), Houmayoun (FR), Key Change (IRE), Shirocco (GER), Tinners Way (USA), Unaccounted For (USA), Zafonic (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Ontario, The Minstrel was bred by E. P. Taylor. He was purchased from the 1975 Keeneland July yearling sale for US$200,000 by a partnership headed by Robert Sangster. He was trained by Vincent O'Brien. E. P. Taylor bought a half interest in The Minstrel for US$4.5 million following the colt's victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and The Minstrel entered stud at Windfield Farm's Maryland division in 1978. He transferred to Overbrook Farm in Kentucky in 1989 but was humanely destroyed due to complications of laminitis in 1990.
Pedigree notes
The Minstrel is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Grade 3 winner Far North and stakes winner Pilgrim and is a half brother to Canadian stakes winner Flower Princess (by Majestic Prince), dam of stakes winner Flower Dancer (by Northern Dancer). Fleur, the dam of The Minstrel, as stakes-placed on the track and is a half sister to 1970 English Horse of the Year Nijinsky II and 1970 Irish champion 2-year-old male Minsky, both by Northern Dancer.
Flaming Page, the dam of Fleur, won the 1962 Canadian Oaks and Queen's Plate and was second in the Kentucky Oaks, earning the 3-year-old filly championship in Canada that year. A daughter of 1951 Canadian Horse of the Year Bull Page and Windfields Farm foundation mare Flaring Top (by Menow), she is a half sister to Canadian stakes winners Top Tourn (by Tournoi), Quintain (by Tournoi) and Flashing Top (by Ménétrier) and to Friendly Relations (by Nearctic), dam of stakes winner Viendra (by Raise a Native) and second dam of Australian Group 1 winner Bellzevir and Grade 3 winners Morning Frolic, Endow, and Irish Forever. Flaming Page is also a half sister to Gleam (by Tournoi), dam of stakes winner Evening Bag (by Bagdad) and second dam of 1976 Laurel Futurity (USA-G1) winner Royal Ski; to Flaming Wind (by Windfields), dam of stakes winner French Wind (by Ménétrier) and second dam of multiple Venezuelan champion Blondy; to Merry and Bright (by Ménétrier), dam of stakes winner Fanfaron (by Victoria Park); and to Flaming Victress (by Victoria Park), dam of stakes winner All for Victory (by One for All) and second dam of 1987 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Phoenix Factor, Grade 3 winner Wasatch, and the good Canadian sire Cool Victor.
Books and media
- The Minstrel is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
- Footage of The Minstrel's winning charge in the 1977 Derby Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avN5cLSQJNE.
Fun facts
- The Minstrel Stakes is a Group 3 race in Ireland. It was inaugurated as a mile race for 3-year-olds at Phoenix Park but is now contested as a 7-furlong race for horses aged 3 and up at The Curragh.
Last updated: March 27, 2024