how great was The Minstrel?
- #1All-time great
- #2Very good
- bravest and toughest of middle distance racehorses of the 1970's
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This year the racing world celebrated the 50 th birthday of the star colt ‘The Minstrel ’, by Northern Dancer, out of Fleur. He was born on March,14th ,in 1974.
In the 1977 flat season this powerful chestnut with white socks, was the cynosure of all racing fans, with his beautiful coat. Rare to see a colt posess such an exceptionally well balanced and compact physique. Although not as spectacular or convincing as past legends in victories, The Minstrel escalated sheer tenacity, courage and will to win, to intensity or heights rarely transcended. Rare to witness a colt with greater relentless or do or die spirit, who on his day, would battle like a soldier. In many ways the future Star ‘Giant’s Causeway ‘replicated him, or earlier ‘Grundy.’ Throughout his big races, he was partnered by Lester Piggott, who placed enormous confidence in his abilities. They simply synchronized together to perfection.
At the start of the 1977 season, The Minstrel was beaten in the 2000 Guinea s at New market, getting a convincing beating from Nebbiolo and Tachypous.
In the Irish 2000 Guineas the chestnut colt was robbed of a victory, with Nebbilo bumping into him, to impede his progress. Inspite of the mishap the colt gallantly and tenaciously fought back, to come within a short head of the winner, Pampapaul.
In the Epsom Derby the colt was installed 3d favourite, behind Blushing Groom, who was firm favourite.The favourite faded out in the straight, when Lord Leverhulmes’ Hot Grove bolted out into what appeared an invincible 3 length lead ,with The Minstrel looking vain in pursuit .However, ester Piggot spurred his mount to the last inch, squeezing every ounce of his energy ,to bring the Minstrel back into contention. The colt drew all his reserves to catch Hot Grove in the last 50 yards, and prevail by a neck. Hard to find adjectives to do justice to the manner The Minstrel stretched out his neck, stuck out his head, and galloped his heart out. Rare in the Derby has a colt ever displayed such relentless courage, to resurrect from the depths of despair. The Minstrel had manifested the fighting qualities of a thoroubred, as few ever did. Lester Piggot acknowledged that he never rode a horse showing greater courage in a finish. I would challenge any colt to make a successful chase in hot pursuit in the last 2 furlongs of an Epsom Derby, like this colt. Lester executed one of race riding’s most meritorious performances, judging pace to perfection and driving his mount hope tapping every possible reserves of energy, like no jockey ever could. In Lester’s view The Minstrel was physically, the best ever specimen he rode to win a Derby.
In the Irish Derby,a fortnight later , with remorseless east The Minstrel prevailed over his rivals, by a margin of a length and a half. The colt survived a no objection, for drifting across the course. The opposition here hardly pitted any challenge.
In the King George 6th Diamond Stakes 4 weeks later, the colt faced older horses for the first time in his career, like 1976 St Leger winner Crow, Coronation cup and Grand Prix De Saint Cloud winner Exceller 1975 Italian derby winner, Orange Bay .,and French Derby winner, Crystal Place. The Minstrel started 7-4 favourite.
After one of flat racing or sport’s most intense and memorable tussles,the Minstrel ,prevailed by a margin of a short head.Stepping the gas after being placed at 5th position, the Minstrel, surged half a length ahead of Orange Bay,inside the final furlong. However,his rival came back ferociously ,to give the Minstrel the run of his life. The Minstrel had again manifested courage in volumes rarely scaled, battling within the morass of adversity or in dire straits.
That was the last race The Minstrel ran, who missed out on the Prix de l[Arc De Triomphe,later .It would have been a spectacle witnessing The Minstrel taken on the great champion Alleged,who went on to win 2 Arcs.
The colt has deservingly been ranked at 70th place, in the selection of Robin Oakley’s 100 best ever English and Irish racehorses.
He was retired to the Windfields farm in Maryland, being syndicated for 9 million dollars.
77 was a great year with the minstrel and alleged. He was as tough as they come very similar to giants causeway. Just refused to be beaten. Obviously Lester’s Liberal use of the whip helped and wouldn’t be allowed today but his Derby win lives long in the memory. With the three white socks,which is meant to mean bad luck, you couldn’t miss him. Such a handsome chestnut.
The 77 Derby was a fantastic race and a brilliant ride from Lester. Leaving aside the inimitable Piggott finish which got him over the line, I always enjoy watching the way he made his move down Tattenham Hill to follow Hot Grove (on whom he’d won the Chester Vase) into the straight. I think this move made the difference between winning and losing because it took him virtually the whole of the straight to catch Hot Grove and he couldn’t have done so from any further back. A brilliant, brilliant ride on an very tough horse.
For me this was a relatively easy choice – his two marquee wins (where he scrambled home) in the Derby and the King George were against decent but not great horses in Hot Grove and Orange Bay, which means for me he doesn’t quite fit the very good option but he is without a shadow of a doubt the poster boy for the bravest and toughest racehorse of the 70’s.
He ran in four classics (both English/Irish 2000g and Derbies) and was subjected to the full Piggott treatment at Epsom and still came back for more by going on to win the Irish Derby and then the King George where he once again responded willingly to the Piggott kitchen sink being thrown at him.
Whilst not ideal that we didn’t see him race again after Ascot, for me he wouldn’t have been a match for his stable/owner mate Alleged in the Arc and with two out of his last three races being extremely tough hard fought wins, one might argue that going again with him after that might have been a case of going to the well one too many times.
He was/is one of my all-time favourites. From the era I was getting into the sport and I think most of us remember ‘our’ eras more fondly.
That Derby finish was one of the great races. And he showed how tough he was time and again.
When you walk into my hallway at home a print of him and Lester is the first thing you see.
I’m not sure I’d class I’m an all-time great of the sport but he’s definitely one of my own personal all-time greats.
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