Minding (horse)
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Minding (foaled 10 February 2013) is a champion Irish
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse who was the 2016 European Horse of the Year after winning the
Epsom Oaks The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 ya ...
,
1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ...
, and
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is ...
. She was among the leading two-year-old fillies of her generation in Europe in 2015 when she won three of her five races including the
Moyglare Stud Stakes The Moyglare Stud Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is schedu ...
in Ireland and the
Fillies' Mile The Fillies' Mile is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is sc ...
in England. On her first appearance of 2016 the filly posted a decisive victory in the
classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of Masterpiece, lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or Literary merit, highest quality, class, or rank – something that Exemplification, exemplifies its ...
1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ...
but was subsequently beaten when favourite for the
Irish 1,000 Guineas The Irish 1,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is sched ...
. She went on to win a second classic in The Oaks in June, the first filly to complete the Guineas-Oaks double since Kazzia in 2002. She went on to take her fifth and sixth Group One races with wins in the Pretty Polly Stakes and the
Nassau Stakes The Nassau Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to Filly, fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at ...
. She then defeated male opposition to take the
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is ...
. At the end of the year she was named
Cartier Horse of the Year The Cartier Horse of the Year is an award in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier SA as part of the Cartier Racing Awards. The award winner is decided by points earned in group races plus the votes cast by British racin ...
and the world's best three-year-old filly. She won on her reappearance in 2017 but subsequently suffered an injury which led to her retirement later that year without racing again.


Background

Minding is a bay mare with a white blaze and four white
socks A sock is a piece of clothing worn on the feet and often covering the ankle or some part of the Calf (leg), calf. Some types of shoes or boots are typically worn over socks. In ancient times, socks were made from leather or matted animal hair. ...
bred in Ireland by Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt, a breeding company associated with the
Coolmore Stud Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, County Tipperary, Ireland, is the headquarters of one of the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. Through its racing arm, Ballydoyle, Coolmore also has raced many classic winners and champio ...
. She was sired by
Galileo Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642), commonly referred to as Galileo Galilei ( , , ) or mononymously as Galileo, was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a poly ...
, who won the
Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...
,
Irish Derby The Irish Derby ( Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a dista ...
and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2001. Galileo is now one of the world's leading stallions and has been champion sire of Great Britain and Ireland five times. His other progeny include Cape Blanco,
Frankel Frankel is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Benjamin Frankel (1906–1973), British composer * Bethenny Frankel (born 1970), American chef and reality television personality * Charles Frankel (1917–1975), American philoso ...
, Golden Lilac,
Nathaniel Nathaniel is an English variant of the biblical Hebrew name A name is a term used for identification by an external observer. They can identify a class or category of things, or a single thing, either uniquely, or within a given context. ...
,
New Approach New Approach (foaled 18 February 2005) is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active stallion. In a racing career which lasted from July 2007 to October 2008 he ran eleven times and won eight races. He was undefeated in five races as a tw ...
,
Rip Van Winkle "Rip Van Winkle" () is a short story by the American author Washington Irving, first published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in Colonial history of the United States, colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who meets mysterious Du ...
and
Ruler of the World Ruler of the World (foaled 17 March 2010) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won The Derby in 2013. He was unraced as a two-year-old. In 2013, he won a maiden race at the Curragh and the Group Three Chester Vase before winning the De ...
. She was the second foal produced by
Lillie Langtry Emilie Charlotte, Lady de Bathe (née Le Breton, formerly Langtry; 13 October 1853 – 12 February 1929), known as Lillie (or Lily) Langtry and nicknamed "The Jersey Lily", was a British socialite, stage actress and producer. Born on the isla ...
, a top-class racemare who won the Coronation Stakes and the Matron Stakes in 2010. She was a fifth-generation descendant of Noble Lassie, the dam of
Vaguely Noble Vaguely Noble (1965–1989) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in the United Kingdom and France. The colt is best known as the winner of the 1968 Group One Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when he defeated the best horses from Engla ...
. The filly was sent into training with
Aidan O'Brien Aidan Patrick O'Brien (born 16 October 1969 in County Wexford, Ireland) Aidan O'Brien bio NTRA. ...
at
Ballydoyle Ballydoyle is a racehorse training facility located in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is a sister thoroughbred facility to Coolmore Stud, and both are owned by John Magnier, son in law to the racehorse trainer Vincent O'Brien. The current trai ...
. Like many Coolmore horses, the official details of her ownership have changed from race to race: she has sometimes been listed as being the property of Derrick Smith, whilst on other occasions she has been described as being owned by a partnership of Smith,
Michael Tabor Michael Barry Tabor (born 28 October 1941) is a British racehorse owner. As a partner in Coolmore Stud, he is one of only four racehorse owners to have won both the Epsom Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Tabor has extensive business interest ...
and Susan Magnier.


Racing career


2015: two-year-old season

Minding began her racing career in a seven
furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to any of 660 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...
maiden race In horse racing, a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the s ...
at
Leopardstown Racecourse Leopardstown Racecourse is a horse-racing course in Leopardstown, approximately south of Dublin city centre, in Ireland. Like the majority of Irish courses, it hosts both National Hunt and Flat racing. Built by Captain George Quin and modell ...
on 11 June 2015 in which she was ridden by
Seamie Heffernan James Anthony "Seamie" Heffernan (born 17 July 1972) is an Irish flat racing jockey associated for most of his career with the stable of horse racing trainer Aidan O'Brien. From a family with no racing connections, Heffernan was introduced to t ...
. Starting the 11/4 third choice in a seven-runner field, she led for most of the way before being overtaken inside the final furlong and finished second to the Dermot Weld-trained favourite Tanaza. Two weeks later at the same course, the filly was brought back in distance for a six furlong maiden and started 2/5 favourite against three opponents. Heffernan settled the filly in second place before taking the lead two furlong from the finish and Minding drew away to win "very easily" by five and a half lengths. Minding was stepped up in class for the Group Two Debutante Stakes over seven furlongs at the
Curragh The Curragh ( ; ) is a flat open plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This area is well known for horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is on the edge of Kildare town, beside the Japanese Gardens. Pollardstown Fen, the larges ...
on 22 August. Ridden by Colm O'Donoghue she started at odds of 8/1, behind her stable companions
Ballydoyle Ballydoyle is a racehorse training facility located in County Tipperary in Ireland. It is a sister thoroughbred facility to Coolmore Stud, and both are owned by John Magnier, son in law to the racehorse trainer Vincent O'Brien. The current trai ...
and Alice Springs, and the Grangecon Stud Stakes winner Most Beautiful. After settling behind the leaders, she made steady progress in the second half of the races to take second place, two lengths behind Ballydoyle. On 13 September, over the same course and distance, Minding and Ballydoyle met again in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. Ballydoyle started favourite ahead of Tanaza and the British challenger Blue Bayou (
Sweet Solera Stakes The Sweet Solera Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it ...
) with Minding fourth in the betting on 15/2. The other five runners included Now or Never (runner-up in the Futurity Stakes), Great Page ( Prix du Calvados) and Alice Springs. Ridden by Heffernan, Minding tracked the leaders as Ballydoyle made the running before moving into second place in the last quarter mile. She overtook Ballydoyle 100 yards from the finish and won by three quarters of a length with Alice Springs half a length away in third. Aidan O'Brien, having trained the first three home said "We knew Minding would handle he soft groundas her dam handled it well... we thought she had improved and she did. She got the trip well. I'm delighted with all three fillies. Seamie gave her a lovely, patient ride". On 9 October, Minding was sent to England and moved up in distance for the Group One Fillies' Mile at
Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket Racecourse is a British Thoroughbred horse racing venue in Newmarket, Suffolk, Newmarket, Suffolk, comprising two individual racecourses: the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Newmarket is often referred to as the headquarters of ...
in which she was ridden by Ryan Moore. She was made 5/4 favourite in a ten-runner field with her main opposition appearing to come from the
John Gosden John Harry Martin Gosden (born 30 March 1951) is a British Horse trainer, racehorse trainer. He has trained over 3,000 winners worldwide, including victories in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the Epsom Derby, Derby, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, A ...
-trained Nathra (unbeaten in two races) and the C. L. Weld Park Stakes winner Coolmore. The other fancied runners were Hawksmoor ( Prestige Stakes) and the Luca Cumani-trained maiden winner Beautiful Morning. Moore settled the filly just behind the leaders as Hawksmoor set the pace before moving forward in the last quarter mile. Minding overtook Hawksmoor approaching the final furlong and drew away to win easily by four and a half lengths from Nathra, with Hawksmoor two and a quarter lengths back in third. Moore commented "She's a truly exceptional filly. She travelled well all the way through. As soon as I pulled her out the race was over in seconds".


2016: three-year-old season


Spring

Minding made her three-year-old debut in the 203rd running of the
1000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile ...
on 1 May over Newmarket's Rowley Mile in which she was ridden by Moore and started the 11/10 favourite. Her fifteen opponents included Lumiere, Ballydoyle, Nathra, Alice Springs, Illuminate ( Albany Stakes, Duchess of Cambridge Stakes), Jet Setting ( Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial) and Midweek (runner-up in the
Prix Imprudence The Prix Imprudence is a Conditions races, Group 3 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred Filly, fillies. It is run over a distance of 1,400&n ...
). Minding started quickly and settled behind the leaders before going to the front approaching the last quarter mile. She quickly went clear of the field and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to win by three and a half lengths from Ballydoyle. Alice Springs took third place ahead of the 40/1 outsider Fireglow to complete a 1-2-3 for the O'Brien stable. After the race Moore said "She's out on her own, really. She's just faster than them and stays better than them. We were going very comfortably and had them all in trouble at halfway." O'Brien, who was winning his 250th Group One race did not rule out the possibility of running Minding against colts in The Derby but indicated that the
Irish 1,000 Guineas The Irish 1,000 Guineas is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is sched ...
and The Oaks were more likely targets. Three weeks later Minding started 4/11 favourite against nine opponents in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. She raced in third place before staying on in the closing stages but failed to overhaul the leader Jet Setting and finished second, beaten a head, with a gap of ten lengths back to Now or Never in third.


Summer

On 3 June Minding was stepped up in distance for the
Oaks Stakes The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 y ...
over one and a half miles at
Epsom Racecourse Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse in a hilly area near Epsom in Surrey, England which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. The "Downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course has a crowd capacity of 130,000 includin ...
and started the 11/10 favourite. Her eight opponents included Skiffle ( Height of Fashion Stakes), Turret Rocks, Somehow ( Cheshire Oaks) and Seventh Heaven ( Fillies' Trial Stakes). Ridden by Moore she began to make progress from the rear of the field as the field rounded Tattenham Corner but was hampered and dropped back entering the straight. Moore was forced to switch left, then right to obtain a run, but once Minding was free of obstructions she showed good acceleration and overtook the leader Architecture a furlong from the finish. She increased her lead in the closing stages to win by 1 3/4 lengths from Architecture, with eight lengths back to Harlequeen in third. Aidan O'Brien commented "She has speed, class, stamina, a great mind – everything. Ryan did brilliant to win on her after what she went through. Real heart, courage and guts had to come into it... She puts her heart into it so we’ll give her an easy time now, I’d have thought, and then pick a target". Only four fillies appeared to oppose Minding when she was matched against older horses for the first time in the Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs at the Curragh on 26 June. Ridden by Moore, she went off the 1/5 favourite ahead of Koora ( St Simon Stakes) and Lucida ( Rockfel Stakes), Speedy Boarding ( Prix Corrida) and Bocca Baciata ( Dance Design Stakes). Bocca Baciata set the pace and was more than six lengths clear of her rivals entering the straight, but Minding took the lead inside the final furlong and drew away to win by four and a half lengths with a gap of five lengths back to Lucida in third. Minding was then sent back to England for the Group One Nassau Stakes over ten furlongs at
Goodwood Racecourse Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House. It hosts the annual Glorious Goodwood meeting in l ...
on 30 July and started the 1/5 favourite against four opponents. She met some trouble in running and was not particularly impressive in prevailing by one and a quarter lengths from Queen's Trust, a filly whose best previous effort had been a fourth place in the Ribblesdale Stakes. Ryan Moore commented "It was always going to be a messy sort of race. I just tried to keep it as simple as I could. She was only doing what she had to do".


Autumn

On 10 September Minding was matched against male opposition for the first time in the
Irish Champion Stakes The Irish Champion Stakes ( Irish: Curadh-Dhuais na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2 ...
over ten furlongs at Leopardstown. She started 9/4 second favourite behind Harzand in a twelve-runner field which also included Found,
Almanzor Abu ʿĀmir Muḥammad ibn ʿAbdullāh ibn Abi ʿĀmir al-Maʿafiri (), nicknamed al-Manṣūr (, "the Victorious"), which is often Latinized as Almanzor in Spanish, Almansor in Catalan language, Catalan and Almançor in Portuguese ( 938 – 8 A ...
, New Bay, Highland Reel and Hawkbill. After racing in mid-division she stayed on in the straight without looking likely to win and finished third behind Almanzor and Found. Minding was brought back in distance on 15 October to contest the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over one mile at
Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Grade ...
. Ridden by Moore she started the 7/2 favourite in a thirteen-runner field which included Galileo Gold, Awtaad,
Ribchester Ribchester () is a village and civil parish within the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Ribble, northwest of Blackburn and east of Preston, Lancashire, Preston. The village has a long history w ...
( Prix Jacques Le Marois), Hit It A Bomb ( Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf), Lightning Spear (
Celebration Mile The Celebration Mile is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to ...
) and Jet Setting. Racing down the centre of the course, Minding tracked the leaders before taking the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish. She opened up a clear advantage over her opponents before holding off the late challenges of Ribchester and Lightning Spear to win by half a length and a length.


2017: four-year-old season

Minding began her third season in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes over ten furlongs at Naas Racecourse on 1 May. She started the 1/3 favourite against three male opponents and won "easily" by three and a half lengths from Moonlight Magic after taking the lead soon after the start. Shortly after the race she sustained a
pastern The pastern is a part of the leg of a horse between the fetlock and the top of the hoof. It incorporates the Equine_forelimb_anatomy#Metacarpal_bones, long pastern bone (proximal phalanx) and the Equine_forelimb_anatomy#Middle_phalanx, short past ...
injury and in July it was announced that she had been retired from racing. O'Brien commented "we felt it would be a bit of a struggle to get her back for the remainder of the season so the lads decided that the best option was to retire her as she was too important... She had the most brilliant physique and a wonderful pedigree. Above all, it was her mind that made her special because she was such a pleasure to deal with and had a brilliant attitude. She was incredibly well-named".


Assessment and honours

On 10 November 2015, Minding was named Cartier Champion Two-year-old Filly at the 25th edition of the
Cartier Racing Awards The Cartier Racing Awards are awards in European horse racing, founded in 1991, and sponsored by Cartier. The award winners are decided by points earned in group races (40%) plus the votes cast by British racing journalists (30%) and readers of th ...
. In January 2016 Minding was officially rated the best two-year-old filly in Europe and the third best juvenile behind the colts Air Force Blue and Shalaa. On 8 November 2016 Minding won her second and third Cartier Awards as she was named Champion three-year-old filly and Horse of the Year. In December she was named Irish Horse of the Year at the
Horse Racing Ireland Horse Racing Ireland (HRI; ) is the governing body of horse racing on the island of Ireland. It is based in the Curragh, County Kildare, next to the racecourse of that name. HRI was founded in 2001, succeeding the Irish Horseracing Authority, ...
Awards. In the 2016 edition of the
World's Best Racehorse Rankings The Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings (LWBRR), known as World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings (WTRR) before 2012, are horseracing's equivalent to World Rankings by other major sporting organizations such as ATP Tennis Rankings, World Golf R ...
Minding was given a rating of 122, making her the 18th best racehorse in the world and the top-rated three-year-old filly (level with
Songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5,00 ...
).


Pedigree


References


External links


Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart
– ''Minding'' {{Epsom Oaks Winners 2013 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Ireland Racehorses trained in Ireland Thoroughbred family 1-d Cartier Award winners 1000 Guineas winners Epsom Oaks winners European Thoroughbred Horse of the Year