Minardi (horse)

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Minardi
Sire
Sue Magnier
TrainerAidan O'Brien
Record8: 2-1-1
Earnings£201,940
Major wins
Phoenix Stakes (2000)
Middle Park Stakes (2000)
Awards
Top-rated European two-year-old (2000)

Minardi (3 May 1998 – 30 October 2012) was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and

2000 Guineas and third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas
. He was retired to stud but had limited success as a breeding stallion.

Background

Minardi was a brown horse with a white

King's Bishop Stakes) and Myth, the dam of Johannesburg. As a descendant of the broodmare Feola, she came from the same branch of Thoroughbred family 2-f which has produced numerous major winners including Round Table, Pebbles Nashwan and Deep Impact.[3]

As a

Mick Kinane
.

Racing career

2000: two-year-old season

Minardi was sent to England for his racecourse debut and started

Cherry Hinton Stakes) started 5/2 favourite with Minardi joint second choice in the betting on 7/2 alongside Superstar Leo. Kinane settled the colt in fourth as the outsider Longueville Legend set the pace before moving up to take the lead a furlong and a half from the finish. He accelerated clear of his rivals in the closing stages to win by five lengths from Superstar Leo despite being eased down by Kinane in the final strides.[5] The runner-up was later voted Cartier Champion Two-year-old Filly for 2000. His victory was described as "a stunning display" by the Racing Post.[6] After the race Aidan O'Brien commented "Ascot was a blip on Minardi's record. He'd always worked very well and we thought he would burn up the course. Minardi will now have a break before coming back for the Dewhurst and similar races.[7]

On 28 September Minardi was sent back to England for the Middle Park Stakes at

2000 Guineas[10]
Endless Summer was later disqualified in unusual circumstances when it was revealed that he had been foaled prematurely on 27 December 1997: he was therefore technically a three-year-old and ineligible to contest the race.

It was expected that Minardi would end his season in the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket but was ruled out of the race after showing signs of respiratory infection.[11]

In the official International Classification for 2000, Minardi was rated the best two-year-old colt in Europe.[12]

2001: three-year-old season

On his first appearance of the 2001 season, Minardi was sent to England again to contest the

2000 Guineas over Newmarket's Rowley Mile course on 5 May and started the 5/1 second favourite behind Tobougg in an eighteen-runner field. After being held up in the early stages he struggled to obtain a clear run in the final furlong before staying on to finish fourth behind Golan, Tamburlaine and Frenchmans Bay. Three weeks later he started 2/1 favourite for the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh but after taking second place in the straight he was unable to make further progress and finished third behind his stablemates Black Minnaloushe and Mozart.[13]

Minardi made little impact in three subsequent races starting with the St James's Palace Stakes in which he finished eighth behind Black Minnaloushe. He was then moved back to sprint distances and finished sixth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and ninth in the Haydock Sprint Cup.

Stud record

At the end of his racing career Minardi was retired to become a breeding stallion. He stood in Europe and North America before being exported to New Zealand in 2006. He died on 30 October 2012.[14] The best of his progeny were My Sweet Baby (Premio Regina Elena) and Ballet Pacifica (Prix Madame Jean Coturie).[15]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Minardi (USA), bay stallion, 1998[1]
Sire
Boundary (USA)
1990 		Danzig (USA)
1977 		Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Pas de Nom Admiral's Voyage
Petitioner
Edge (USA)
1978　 		Damascus Sword Dancer
Kerala
Ponte Vecchio Round Table
Terentia
Dam
Yarn (USA)
1987 		Mr. Prospector (USA)
1970　 		Raise a Native Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger Nashua
Sequence
Narrate (USA)
1980 		Honest Pleasure
What A Pleasure
Tularia
State Nijinsky
Monarchy (Family: 2-f)[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Minardi pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  2. ^ "Boundary – Statistics". Equibase.
  3. ^ a b "Hyacinthus Mare – Family 2-f". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  4. ^ "Keeneland September sale 1999". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 2016-06-05.
  5. ^ "Phoenix Stakes result". Racing Post. 13 August 2000.
  6. ^ Tony Morris (27 August 2000). "Minardi may go right to the top; $1.65m Boundary colt looks a sound investment". Racing Post.
  7. ^ Michael Clower (14 August 2000). "Leopardstown: Minardi takes up mantle with style". Racing Post.
  8. ^ "Middle Park Stakes result". Racing Post. 28 September 2000.
  9. ^ Ian Heaney (3 October 2000). "Minardi stands out in notable week". Racing Post.
  10. ^ "Veritas" (29 September 2000). "Minardi has win formula". Birmingham Post.
  11. ^ "Minardi roughed off for season after coughing". Racing Post. 14 October 2000.
  12. ^ Bruce Jackson (18 January 2001). "International Classifications: Minardi in pole position for `hell of a Classic year". Racing Post.
  13. ^ "Irish 2000 Guineas result". Racing Post. 26 May 2001.
  14. ^ Staff. "Minardi (USA) 1998". Australian Stud Book. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Minardi – Stud Record". Racing Post.
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