16 Facts About Minster Son

Minster Son was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire.

Minster Son recorded his most important success when winning the Classic St Leger Stakes as a three-year-old in 1988, ridden by his breeder, Willie Carson.

Minster Son was retired to stud following his St Leger victory.

Minster Son was a strongly-built chestnut horse with a white blaze bred by the leading jockey Willie Carson who rode him in all of his races.

Minster Son was sired by the American-bred stallion Niniski, who won the Irish St Leger and the Prix Royal-Oak in 1979 before going on to sire many good staying horses including Petoski, Hernando and Lomitas.

Minster Son's dam, Honey Bridge, was a member of Thoroughbred family 14-a, which produced notable horses including Tetratema and Polynesian.

Minster Son made his first appearance in a maiden race at Newbury Racecourse in which he defeated his stable companion Unfuwain and twenty-five others.

Minster Son was beaten in his two remaining starts in 1987.

Minster Son took the lead in the straight and won by one and a half lengths from Sheriff's Star.

Minster Son was never in contention for the lead and finished eighth of the fourteen runners behind Kahyasi.

Minster Son "stayed on gamely" to beat the filly by a length, with Sheriff's Star finishing eight lengths further back in third.

Minster Son expressed the hope the colt would be better as a four-year-old.

Minster Son remained in training in 1989 but in March Lady Beaverbrook announced that he would be retired to stud without racing again.

Minster Son stood as a stallion at the Acrum Lodge Stud near Bishop Auckland in County Durham from his retirement until his death on 30 August 2006.

Minster Son had no success as a sire of flat racers, but had more success as a National Hunt stallion.

The best of his progeny was probably the steeplechaser Rambling Minster Son who started second favourite for the 2009 Grand National after winning the Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock.