Minuet (horse)

Minuet

Sire	Waxy
Grandsire	Potoooooooo
Dam	Woodbine
Damsire	Woodpecker
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1812
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton
Owner	4th Duke of Grafton
Trainer	Robert Robson
Record	21:9-7-3
Major wins
July Stakes (1814) Oaks Stakes (1815) Match against Fugitive (1816) King's Purse (Chelmsford) (1816) Trial Stakes (1816) Match against Duenna (1816) King's Plate (Newmarket) (1817)

Minuet (1812–1833) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1815. In a racing career which lasted from July 1814 until October 1817 she competed twenty-one times, winning nine races and being placed on a further ten occasions. On her only race in 1814, she won the July Stakes, one of the year's most important races for two-year-olds. In the following year she finished second in the 1000 Guineas on her debut and then won her next three races including the Oaks. Minuet stayed in training for two further seasons, winning five more races including a victory over a strong field in the all-aged Trial Stakes in September 1816. After her retirement from racing she had some success as a broodmare, breeding several winners.

Background

Minuet was a bay mare bred by her owner George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton at his stud at Euston Hall in Suffolk. Her dam, Woodbine was a half-sister to the good broodmare Hornby Lass and herself produced several other winners including the 1813 Oaks winner Music.^[1] Minuet was sired by the 1790 Epsom Derby winner Waxy, who became an influential and important stallion, siring two additional Oaks winners and four winners of the Derby. Grafton sent the filly to be trained at Newmarket by Robert Robson, the so-called "Emperor of Trainers".^[2]

Racing career

1814: two-year-old season

In 1814 most Thoroughbreds began their careers as three-year-olds and races for two-year-olds were few. The longest established and most important race for juveniles was the July Stakes, run over five furlongs on the opening day of the Newmarket July meeting. The race attracted 19 entries in 1814, 13 of whom appeared for the race on 13 July. Minuet was made second favourite at odds of 4/1 and won the race, beating General Gower's unnamed chestnut filly.^[3] Minuet did not race again in 1814.

1815: three-year-old season

Minuet's first race of 1815 came in the second running of the 1000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket on 27 April. Her three rivals for the race over the Ditch Mile course included her stable companion Discord and an unnamed filly by Selim owned by Lord Foley. Minuet started the 1/2 favourite and finished second to the Selim filly.^[4] Two days after her defeat in the classic Minuet ran a match race over the Abington Mile against a filly by Gamenut and won at odds of 1/10 to claim a prize of 200 guineas.^[5] On 26 May at Epsom Minuet stepped up in distance for the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles. She was again matched against the Selim filly and the two started 3/1 joint favourites in a field of twelve. Ridden by Tom Goodisson, Grafton's filly raced in third place as S. Barnett set a very strong pace on Mr Craven's Nadejda. Minuet took the lead in the closing stages and won "cleverly"^[6] from Lord George Cavendish's filly Mouse, with Nadejda in third place. The race was marred by the death of the Selim filly, who was euthanised after dislocating a shoulder in a heavy fall a furlong from the finish.^[7] Minuet's success was the second of twenty classics won by the Duke of Grafton as an owner, and his first of nineteen as a breeder.^[8] In the summer of 1815, Minuet was one of three of Grafton's "celebrated" horses, the others being Whisker and Partisan, to be painted by the artist Abraham Cooper.^[9]

After a break of more than four months, Minuet returned to racing at the Newmarket First October meeting. She started even money favourite against five opponents in a ten furlong Sweepstakes and won from a filly owned by Lord George Cavendish.^[10] On the opening day of the Second October meeting Minuet won a prize of 40 guineas without having to race when her opponent, a colt named Castanet, was withdrawn from a scheduled match race over five furlongs.^[11] Three days later Minuet sustained her first defeat since the 1000 Guineas when she finished last of the three runners in a handicap Sweepstakes in which she carried twelve pounds more than the winner, a colt named Fandango.^[12] On 1 November at the Houghton meeting Minuet finished second to a colt named Cashew, to whom she was conceding fourteen pounds, in the Newmarket Gold Cup. Three days later she ended her season by finishing second in a ten furlong handicap, again conceding weight to the winner.^[13]

1816: four-year-old season

The Duke of Grafton, who bred and owned Minuet

Minuet began her third season by finishing second to the 1815 2000 Guineas winner Tigris in a race at the Newmarket Craven meeting in April. She sustained her fifth consecutive defeat on the opening day of the Second Spring meeting when she finished last of the three runners behind the five-year-old Wanderer in a handicap over ten furlongs.^[14]

On the opening day of the Newmarket July meeting, Minuet returned to winning form by beating Lord Jersey's horse Fugitive in a match race over the Ditch Mile course, winning a prize of 100 guineas.^[15] Later that month, Minuet traveled away from Newmarket for the first time since her Oaks win when she was sent to contest a King's Purse for mares at Chelmsford Racecourse. No horses appeared to oppose her and she was allowed to walk over the two mile course to claim a prize of 100 guineas.^[16]

Minuet returned to Newmarket for the Trial Stakes on 30 September. Racing over the Ditch Mile course, she started the 3/1 second favourite in a field of nine runners. She won the race from Discord with Perchance in third place and Tigris, the odds on favourite, unplaced.^[17] Four days later, Minuet ended her season with a win as she successfully conceded eight pounds to Lord Foley's filly Duenna in a 200 guinea match over the Ditch Mile.^[18]

1817: five-year-old season

Minuet extended her winning run to five on her five-year-old debut. On 22 April at Newmarket she won a King's Plate over the last three miles of the Beacon Course, beating Discord and The Lovely Maid.^[19] Three days later Minuet raced against the 1816 1000 Guineas winner Rhoda in a Subscription Handicap and finished second to the younger filly, to whom she was attempting to concede eighteen pounds.^[20] Minuet ran twice without success at the next Newmarket meeting in May: she finished second in a five furlong handicap, carrying twenty pounds more than the winner and then finished out of the first three in a handicap over ten furlongs two days later.^[21] The latter race saw Minuet finish unplaced for the first time in an eighteen race career.

In Autumn, Minuet attempted to win the Trial Stakes for a second time, but finished unplaced behind George Cavendish's six-year-old Bourbon. Two days later, the mare ran in a two runner race over the Beacon Course in which she was beaten by Sir Richard, a four-year-old colt.^[22] Minuet's last race was an Oatlands Stakes on 16 October over the Rowley Mile course in which she finished third of the six runners behind a four-year-old colt named Sovereign.^[23]

Stud record

Minuet was retired from racing to become a broodmare at the Duke of Grafton's stud, where she was bred to leading stallions including Phantom, Emilius, Partisan and Comus.^[24] She produced several winners, all of whose names began with the letter "B" including Banquo, Bolivar, Burman, Blassis and Balance. The best of her progeny was probably Bolero, a colt who finished second in the 2000 Guineas and won the Grand Duke Michael Stakes at Newmarket in 1825. Minuet was euthanised in 1833.^[1]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Minuet (GB), bay mare, 1812^[25]
Sire Waxy (GB) 1790	Pot-8-Os 1773	Eclipse	Marske
		Eclipse	Spilletta
		Sportsmistress	Sportsman
		Sportsmistress	Golden Locks
	Maria 1777	Herod	Tartar
		Herod	Cypron
		Lisette	Snap
		Lisette	Miss Windsor
Dam Woodbine (GB) 1791	Woodpecker 1791	Herod	Tartar
		Herod	Cypron
		Miss Ramsden	Cade
		Miss Ramsden	Lonsdale mare
	Puzzle 1796	Matchem	Cade
		Matchem	sister 2 to Miss Partner
		Princess	Herod
		Princess	Julia (Family 1-a)^[26]

Minuet was inbred 3 x 3 x 4 to Herod, meaning that this stallion appears in twice in the third and once in the fourth generation of her pedigree. She was also inbred 4 x 4 to Cade.

References

1 2 Patricia Erigero, Thoroughbred Heritage. "Minuet". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
↑ "The Dukes of Grafton: The Racing". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1815). Racing calendar. 1814. C H Reynell. p. 72. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 21. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 22. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Sporting magazine (Apr. -Sept. 1815). Rogerson and Tuxford. 1816. p. 56. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 36. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
↑ Sporting magazine (Apr. -Sept. 1815). Rogerson and Tuxford. 1816. p. 56. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 141. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 156. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 159. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 169. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1816. C H Reynell. p. 27. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1816. C H Reynell. p. 66. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1816. C H Reynell. p. 73. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1816. C H Reynell. p. 140. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1816. C H Reynell. p. 143. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1817. C H Reynell. p. 20. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1817. C H Reynell. p. 23. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1817. C H Reynell. p. 26. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1817. C H Reynell. p. 137. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1817. C H Reynell. p. 154. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ Charles Weatherby (1832). The General stud book. C & W Reynell. p. 245. Retrieved 2012-10-30.
↑ "Minuet pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
↑ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Bonny Lass - Family 1-a". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-10-29.

Epsom Oaks winners

1779 Bridget 1780 Tetotum 1781 Faith 1782 Ceres 1783 Maid of the Oaks 1784 Stella 1785 Trifle 1786 Yellow Filly 1787 Annette 1788 Nightshade 1789 Tag 1790 Hippolyta 1791 Portia 1792 Volante 1793 Caelia 1794 Hermione 1795 Platina 1796 Parisot 1797 Nike 1798 Bellissima 1799 Bellina 1800 Ephemera 1801 Eleanor † 1802 Scotia 1803 Theophania 1804 Pelisse 1805 Meteora 1806 Bronze 1807 Briseis 1808 Morel 1809 Maid of Orleans 1810 Oriana 1811 Sorcery 1812 Manuella 1813 Music 1814 Medora 1815 Minuet 1816 Landscape 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Shoveler 1820 Caroline 1821 Augusta 1822 Pastille ‡ 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Wings 1826 Lilias 1827 Gulnare 1828 Turquoise 1829 Green Mantle 1830 Variation 1831 Oxygen 1832 Galata 1833 Vespa 1834 Pussy 1835 Queen of Trumps 1836 Cyprian 1837 Miss Letty 1838 Industry 1839 Deception 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Ghuznee 1842 Our Nell 1843 Poison 1844 The Princess 1845 Refraction 1846 Mendicant 1847 Miami 1848 Cymba 1849 Lady Evelyn 1850 Rhedycina 1851 Iris 1852 Songstress 1853 Catherine Hayes 1854 Mincemeat 1855 Marchioness 1856 Mincepie 1857 Blink Bonny † 1858 Governess 1859 Summerside 1860 Butterfly 1861 Brown Duchess 1862 Feu de Joie 1863 Queen Bertha 1864 Fille de l'Air 1865 Regalia 1866 Tormentor 1867 Hippia 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Brigantine 1870 Gamos 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Marie Stuart 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia (dh) 1876 Enguerrande (dh) 1877 Placida 1878 Jannette 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Jenny Howlet 1881 Thebais 1882 Geheimniss 1883 Bonny Jean 1884 Busybody 1885 Lonely 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Seabreeze 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre 1890 Memoir 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Mrs Butterwick 1894 Amiable 1895 La Sagesse 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim 1897 Limasol 1898 Airs and Graces 1899 Musa 1900 La Roche 1901 Cap and Bells II 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Our Lassie 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Keystone II 1907 Glass Doll 1908 Signorinetta † 1909 Perola 1910 Rosedrop 1911 Cherimoya 1912 Mirska 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Snow Marten 1916 Fifinella † 1917 Sunny Jane 1918 My Dear 1919 Bayunda 1920 Charlebelle 1921 Love in Idleness 1922 Pogrom 1923 Brownhylda 1924 Straitlace 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Short Story 1927 Beam 1928 Toboggan 1929 Pennycomequick 1930 Rose of England 1931 Brulette 1932 Udaipur 1933 Chatelaine 1934 Light Brocade 1935 Quashed 1936 Lovely Rosa 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Commotion 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Why Hurry 1944 Hycilla 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Steady Aim 1947 Imprudence 1948 Masaka 1949 Musidora 1950 Asmena 1951 Neasham Belle 1952 Frieze 1953 Ambiguity 1954 Sun Cap 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Sicarelle 1957 Carrozza 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Monade 1963 Noblesse 1964 Homeward Bound 1965 Long Look 1966 Valoris 1967 Pia 1968 La Lagune 1969 Sleeping Partner 1970 Lupe 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Ginevra 1973 Mysterious 1974 Polygamy 1975 Juliette Marny 1976 Pawneese 1977 Dunfermline 1978 Fair Salinia 1979 Scintillate 1980 Bireme 1981 Blue Wind 1982 Time Charter 1983 Sun Princess 1984 Circus Plume 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Unite 1988 Diminuendo 1989 Snow Bride 1990 Salsabil 1991 Jet Ski Lady 1992 User Friendly 1993 Intrepidity 1994 Balanchine 1995 Moonshell 1996 Lady Carla 1997 Reams of Verse 1998 Shahtoush 1999 Ramruma 2000 Love Divine 2001 Imagine 2002 Kazzia 2003 Casual Look 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Eswarah 2006 Alexandrova 2007 Light Shift 2008 Look Here 2009 Sariska 2010 Snow Fairy 2011 Dancing Rain 2012 Was 2013 Talent 2014 Taghrooda 2015 Qualify 2016 Minding

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners

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