Minoru (horse)
Encyclopedia
Minoru was a Thoroughbred
racehorse
who won two British Classic Races. He was bred by Lord Wavertree
at his stud farm
in Tully, Kildare town
in County Kildare
which today is the Irish National Stud
.
Minoru was a son of Cyllene
, winner of the 1899 Ascot Gold Cup
who sired three other Epsom Derby
winners. His dam was Mother Siegel, a daughter of the highly regarded multiple stakes winner, Friars Balsam.
Leased by King Edward VII
, Minoru was conditioned for racing by Richard Marsh. He won important races at age two and although still lightly regarded, at three he won two Classics in which he beat the great Bayardo
. His first Classic win came in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and was followed by a victory in England's
most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby
. Minoru missed the chance to win the British Triple Crown when he finished off the board in the St. Leger Stakes
.
For jockey Herbert Jones
, it was his second Derby win and fourth in the 2,000 Guineas, and for trainer Marsh, it was his fourth Derby victory and his third 2,000 Guineas.
Minoru's performances in 1909 was the key factor in his sire Cyllene being the 1909 Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
.
. Her foals included:
Minoru disappeared during the turmoil of the 1917 Russian Revolution and although there is speculation that he survived, no trace of him was ever actually found.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who won two British Classic Races. He was bred by Lord Wavertree
William Walker, 1st Baron Wavertree
William Hall Walker, 1st Baron Wavertree was a British businessman, politician, art collector, and an important figure in Thoroughbred racehorse breeding.-Background:...
at his stud farm
Stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
in Tully, Kildare town
Kildare
-External links:*******...
in County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
which today is the Irish National Stud
Irish National Stud
The Irish National Stud is a Thoroughbred horse breeding facility based at Tully, Kildare, County Kildare, Ireland...
.
Minoru was a son of Cyllene
Cyllene (horse)
Cyllene was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career that lasted from 1897 until 1899, Cyllene won nine of his eleven starts, winning major races and being regarded as the best horse of his generation at two, three and four years of age...
, winner of the 1899 Ascot Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
who sired three other Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winners. His dam was Mother Siegel, a daughter of the highly regarded multiple stakes winner, Friars Balsam.
Leased by King Edward VII
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, Minoru was conditioned for racing by Richard Marsh. He won important races at age two and although still lightly regarded, at three he won two Classics in which he beat the great Bayardo
Bayardo (horse)
Bayardo was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse with an impressive record, both on the racecourse and at stud, where he was a leading sire.-Pedigree:...
. His first Classic win came in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes and was followed by a victory in England's
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
. Minoru missed the chance to win the British Triple Crown when he finished off the board in the St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
.
For jockey Herbert Jones
Herbert Jones (jockey)
Herbert Ebsworth Jones was a leading British Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.He often rode horses for King Edward VII. In 1900, he won the British Triple Crown when he rode Diamond Jubilee to victory in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes. He remains only one of only...
, it was his second Derby win and fourth in the 2,000 Guineas, and for trainer Marsh, it was his fourth Derby victory and his third 2,000 Guineas.
Minoru's performances in 1909 was the key factor in his sire Cyllene being the 1909 Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
.
As a sire
Sent to stud at his owner's Tully Stud in Ireland, Minoru prouduced the excellent broodmare Serenissima before being sold in 1913 to a breeding operation in RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Her foals included:
- Selene (b. 1919) - outstanding broodmare, dam of Britain's HyperionHyperion (horse)Hyperion was a British bred Thoroughbred, a dual classic winner and an outstanding sire. Owned by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, Hyperion won £29,509 during his career - a considerable sum at the time. His victories included the Epsom Derby and St...
, and stallions SickleSickle (horse)Sickle was an English Thoroughbred racehorse who was later exported to the US where he was twice the Leading sire in North America...
and Pharamond IIPharamond IIPharamond was an English Thoroughbred racehorse who became a successful sire of Champions in the United States where he was registered as Pharamond II. He was a full brother to Sickle, who also stood at stud successfully in the United States. Pharamond was bred and raced by Edward Stanley, 17th...
who were successful sires in the United States - Tranquil (b. 1920) - won the 1,000 Guineas Stakes and St. Leger StakesSt. Leger StakesThe St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
- Bosworth (b.1926) - winner of the Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold CupThe Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
Minoru disappeared during the turmoil of the 1917 Russian Revolution and although there is speculation that he survived, no trace of him was ever actually found.