Minding (horse)

Minding began her racing career in a seven furlong maiden race at Leopardstown Racecourse on 11 June 2015 in which she was ridden by Seamie Heffernan. Starting the 11/4 third choice in a seven-runner field, she led for most of the way before being overtaken inside the final furlong and finished second to the Dermot Weld-trained favourite Tanaza. Two weeks later at the same course, the filly was brought back in distance for a six furlong maiden and started 2/5 favourite against three opponents. Heffernan settled the filly in second place before taking the lead two furlong from the finish and Minding drew away to win "very easily" by five and a half lengths.[4]

Minding was stepped up in class for the Group Two Debutante Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh on 22 August. Ridden by Colm O'Donoghue she started at odds of 8/1, behind her stable companions Ballydoyle and Alice Springs, and the Grangecon Stud Stakes winner Most Beautiful. After settling behind the leaders, she made steady progress in the second half of the races to take second place, two lengths behind Ballydoyle. On 13 September, over the same course and distance, Minding and Ballydoyle met again in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes. Ballydoyle started favourite ahead of Tanaza and the British challenger Blue Bayou (Sweet Solera Stakes) with Minding fourth in the betting on 15/2. The other five runners included Now or Never (runner-up in the Futurity Stakes), Great Page (Prix du Calvados) and Alice Springs. Ridden by Heffernan, Minding tracked the leaders as Ballydoyle made the running before moving into second place in the last quarter mile. She overtook Ballydoyle 100 yards from the finish and won by three quarters of a length with Alice Springs half a length away in third.[5] Aidan O'Brien, having trained the first three home said "We knew Minding would handle [the soft ground] as her dam handled it well... we thought she had improved and she did. She got the trip well. I'm delighted with all three fillies. Seamie gave her a lovely, patient ride".[6]

On 9 October, Minding was sent to England and moved up in distance for the Group One Fillies' Mile at Newmarket Racecourse in which she was ridden by Ryan Moore. She was made 5/4 favourite in a ten-runner field with her main opposition appearing to come from the John Gosden-trained Nathra (unbeaten in two races) and the C. L. Weld Park Stakes winner Coolmore. The other fancied runners were Hawksmoor (Prestige Stakes) and the Luca Cumani-trained maiden winner Beautiful Morning. Moore settled the filly just behind the leaders as Hawksmoor set the pace before moving forward in the last quarter mile. Minding overtook Hawksmoor approaching the final furlong and drew away to win easily by four and a half lengths from Nathra, with Hawksmoor two and a quarter lengths back in third.[7] Moore commented "She's a truly exceptional filly. She travelled well all the way through. As soon as I pulled her out the race was over in seconds".[8]

Minding made her three-year-old debut in the 203rd running of the 1000 Guineas on 1 May over Newmarket's Rowley Mile in which she was ridden by Moore and started the 11/10 favourite. Her fifteen opponents included Lumiere, Ballydoyle, Nathra, Alice Springs, Illuminate (Albany Stakes, Duchess of Cambridge Stakes), Jet Setting (Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial) and Midweek (runner-up in the Prix Imprudence). Minding started quickly and settled behind the leaders before going to the front approaching the last quarter mile. She quickly went clear of the field and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to win by three and a half lengths from Ballydoyle. Alice Springs took third place ahead of the 40/1 outsider Fireglow to complete a 1-2-3 for the O'Brien stable.[9] After the race Moore said "She's out on her own, really. She's just faster than them and stays better than them. We were going very comfortably and had them all in trouble at halfway." O'Brien, who was winning his 250th Group One race did not rule out the possibility of running Minding against colts in The Derby but indicated that the Irish 1,000 Guineas and The Oaks were more likely targets.[10]

Three weeks later Minding started 4/11 favourite against nine opponents in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. She raced in third place before staying on in the closing stages but failed to overhaul the leader Jet Setting and finished second, beaten a head, with a gap of ten lengths back to Now or Never in third.

On 3 June Minding was stepped up in distance for the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Racecourse and started the 11/10 favourite. Her eight opponents included Skiffle (Height of Fashion Stakes), Turret Rocks, Somehow (Cheshire Oaks) and Seventh Heaven (Fillies' Trial Stakes). Ridden by Moore she began to make progress from the rear of the field as the field rounded Tattenham Corner but was hampered and dropped back entering the straight. Moore was forced to switch left, then right to obtain a run, but once Minding was free of obstructions she showed good acceleration and overtook the leader Architecture a furlong from the finish. She increased her lead in the closing stages to win by 1 3/4 lengths from Architecture, with eight lengths back to Harlequeen in third.[11] Aidan O'Brien commented "She has speed, class, stamina, a great mind – everything. Ryan did brilliant to win on her after what she went through. Real heart, courage and guts had to come into it... She puts her heart into it so we’ll give her an easy time now, I’d have thought, and then pick a target".[12]

Only four fillies appeared to oppose Minding when she was matched against older horses for the first time in the Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs at the Curragh on 26 June. Ridden by Moore, she went off the 1/5 favourite ahead of Koora (St Simon Stakes) and Lucida (Rockfel Stakes), Speedy Boarding (Prix Corrida) and Bocca Baciata (Dance Design Stakes). Bocca Baciata set the pace and was more than six lengths clear of her rivals entering the straight, but Minding took the lead inside the final furlong and drew away to win by four and a half lengths with a gap of five lengths back to Lucida in third.[13] Minding was then sent back to England for the Group One Nassau Stakes over ten furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse on 30 July and started the 1/5 favourite against four opponents. She met some trouble in running and was not particularly impressive in prevailing by one and a quarter lengths from Queen's Trust, a filly whose best previous effort had been a fourth place in the Ribblesdale Stakes.[14] Ryan Moore commented "It was always going to be a messy sort of race. I just tried to keep it as simple as I could. She was only doing what she had to do".[15]

On 10 September Minding was matched against male opposition for the first time in the Irish Champion Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown. She started 9/4 second favourite behind Harzand in a twelve-runner field which also included Found, Almanzor, New Bay, Highland Reel and Hawkbill. After racing in mid-division she stayed on in the straight without looking likely to win and finished third behind Almanzor and Found.

Minding was brought back in distance on 15 October to contest the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over one mile at Ascot Racecourse. Ridden by Moore she started the 7/2 favourite in a thirteen-runner field which included Galileo Gold, Awtaad, Ribchester (Prix Jacques Le Marois), Hit It A Bomb (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf), Lightning Spear (Celebration Mile) and Jet Setting. Racing down the centre of the course, Minding tracked the leaders before taking the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish. She opened up a clear advantage over her opponents before holding off the late challenges of Ribchester and Lightning Spear to win by half a length and a length.[16]

Minding began her third season in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes over ten furlongs at Naas Racecourse on 1 May. She started the 1/3 favourite against three male opponents and won "easily" by three and a half lengths from Moonlight Magic after taking the lead soon after the start.[17] Shortly after the race she sustained a pastern injury and in July it was announced that she had been retired from racing. O'Brien commented "we felt it would be a bit of a struggle to get her back for the remainder of the season so the lads decided that the best option was to retire her as she was too important... She had the most brilliant physique and a wonderful pedigree. Above all, it was her mind that made her special because she was such a pleasure to deal with and had a brilliant attitude. She was incredibly well-named".[18]