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{{Short description|American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse (1981–2006)}}
⚫
{{Infobox thoroughbred racehorse
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
⚫
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = El Gran Senor
| horsename = El Gran Senor
| image =
| image =
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| damsire = [[Buckpasser]]
| damsire = [[Buckpasser]]
| sex = [[Stallion (horse)|Stallion]]
| sex = [[Stallion (horse)|Stallion]]
| foaled = 21 April 1981<ref name="equineline1">{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=841749&registry=T&horse_name=El%20Gran%20Senor&dam_name=Sex%20Appeal&foaling_year=1981&nicking_stats_indicator=Y |title=El Gran Senor pedigree |publisher=equineline.com |accessdate=2015-01-30}}</ref>
| foaled = 21 April 1981<ref name="equineline1">{{cite web|url=http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=841749&registry=T&horse_name=El%20Gran%20Senor&dam_name=Sex%20Appeal&foaling_year=1981&nicking_stats_indicator=Y |title=El Gran Senor pedigree |publisher=equineline.com |access-date=2015-01-30}}</ref>
| country = [[United States]]
| country = [[United States]]
| colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]]
| colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]]
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| record = 8: 7-1-0
| record = 8: 7-1-0
| earnings = $502,969
| earnings = $502,969
| race = [[Railway Stakes (Ireland)|Railway Stakes]] (1983)<br>[[National Stakes]] (1983)<br>[[Dewhurst Stakes]] (1983)<br>[[Gladness Stakes]] (1984)<br>[[2,000 Guineas Stakes|2,000 Guineas]] (1984)<br>[[Irish Derby Stakes]] (1984)
| race = [[Railway Stakes (Ireland)|Railway Stakes]] (1983)<br>[[National Stakes]] (1983)<br>[[Dewhurst Stakes]] (1983)<br>[[Gladness Stakes]] (1984)<br>[[2,000 Guineas Stakes|2,000 Guineas]] (1984)<br>[[Irish Derby]] (1984)
|awards= Timeform top-rated two-year-old colt (1983)<br>Top-rated European two-year-old colt (1983)<br>Timeform top-rated three-year-old colt (1984)<br>Top-rated European three-year-old colt (1984)<br>[[Timeform]] rating 136 (1984)
|awards= Timeform top-rated two-year-old colt (1983)<br>Top-rated European two-year-old colt (1983)<br>Timeform top-rated three-year-old colt (1984)<br>Top-rated European three-year-old colt (1984)<br>[[Timeform]] rating: 136 (1984)
|honours =
|honours =
|updated= December 31, 2009
|updated= 3 November 2023
}}
}}
'''El Gran Senor''' (21 April 1981 &ndash; October 2006) was an [[United States|American-bred]] [[Thoroughbred]] [[horse racing|race horse]], foaled at [[Windfields Farm (Maryland)]]. He was the best horse of his generation in Europe at both two and three years of age, ahead of an outstanding group of contemporaries which included [[Chief Singer]], [[Darshaan]], [[Rainbow Quest (horse)|Rainbow Quest]], [[Sadler's Wells (horse)|Sadler's Wells]], [[Lashkari (racehorse)|Lashkari]], [[Pebbles (horse)|Pebbles]], [[Commanche Run]] and [[Northern Trick]]. His only defeat in eight races came when he was beaten a short head by [[Secreto]] in the 1984 [[Epsom Derby]]. El Gran Senor received a ''[[Timeform]]'' rated 136. He also enjoyed notable success at stud, had been pensioned at [[Ashford Stud]] in [[Kentucky]] since 2000, and was 25 years old when he died on October 18, 2006.
'''El Gran Senor''' (21 April 1981 – 18 October 2006) was an [[United States|American-bred]], Irish-trained [[Thoroughbred]] [[horse racing|race horse]]. Foaled at [[Windfields Farm (Maryland)]], he was the best horse of his generation in Europe at both two and three years of age. His only defeat in eight races came when he was beaten a short head by [[Secreto]] in the 1984 [[Epsom Derby]]. El Gran Senor received an outstanding [[Timeform]] rating of 136. He also enjoyed notable success at stud before being pensioned at [[Ashford Stud]] in [[Kentucky]] in 2000.


==Background==
==Background==
He was born in 1981 and was bred at [[Windfields Farm (Maryland)]] by Windfields' owner [[E. P. Taylor]] in partnership with [[Vincent O'Brien]], [[John Magnier]], and [[Robert Sangster]].<ref>http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/358/el-gran-senor-pensioned</ref> He had a pronounced parrot mouth, which he often passed on to his progeny.<ref>{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Tony |title=Thoroughbred Stallions |location=Swindon |publisher=Crowood Press |year=1990 |isbn=1-85223-331-1 }}</ref> His name comes from the nickname of [[Horatio Luro]], trainer of his sire [[Northern Dancer]]. He went to Ireland to be trained by [[Vincent O'Brien]], who had trained numerous major winners for Sangster including El Gran Senor's full brother, [[Try My Best]], who was champion 2 year old in Great Britain and Ireland in 1977.
He was born in 1981 and was bred at [[Windfields Farm (Maryland)]] by Windfields' owner [[E. P. Taylor]] in partnership with [[Vincent O'Brien]], [[John Magnier]], and [[Robert Sangster]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/358/el-gran-senor-pensioned|title=El Gran Senor Pensioned|work=BloodHorse.com|access-date=2019-06-28|language=en}}</ref> He had a pronounced [[brachygnathism|parrot mouth]], which he often passed on to his progeny.<ref>{{cite book |last=Morris |first=Tony |title=Thoroughbred Stallions |location=Swindon |publisher=Crowood Press |year=1990 |isbn=1-85223-331-1 }}</ref> His name comes from the nickname of [[Horatio Luro]], trainer of his sire [[Northern Dancer]]. He went to Ireland to be trained by [[Vincent O'Brien]], who had trained numerous major winners for Sangster including El Gran Senor's full brother, [[Try My Best]], who was champion two-year-old in Great Britain and Ireland in 1977.


==Racing career==
==Racing career==
The colt was unbeaten as a two-year-old. He won the [[Railway Stakes (Ireland)|Railway Stakes]] (Gr3) and [[National Stakes]] (Gr2) at [[The Curragh]] in Ireland. For his final race that year, he was sent to [[Newmarket, Suffolk|Newmarket]] in England for the [[Dewhurst Stakes]] (Gr1), the most prestigious two-year-old race in that country. His defeat of [[Rainbow Quest (horse)|Rainbow Quest]] earned him an unusually high two-year-old rating of 131 from ''Timeform''.
The colt was unbeaten as a two-year-old. He won the [[Railway Stakes (Ireland)|Railway Stakes]] and [[National Stakes]] at the [[Curragh Racecourse|Curragh]] in Ireland. For his final race that year, he was sent to [[Newmarket, Suffolk|Newmarket]] in England for the [[Dewhurst Stakes]], the most prestigious two-year-old race in that country. His defeat of [[Rainbow Quest (horse)|Rainbow Quest]] earned him an unusually high two-year-old rating of 131 from Timeform.


As a three-year-old, El Gran Senor again raced four times. Injury ended his season mid-summer. He easily won the Gladness Stakes (L) at The Curragh and then returned to Newmarket in England, where he competed in the [[2,000 Guineas Stakes]] (Gr1), the first Classic of the year. In one of the highest quality ever [[2,000 Guineas]], El Gran Senor easily beat [[Chief Singer]], [[Lear Fan]] and [[Rainbow Quest]] in that race. In the months that followed El Gran Senor's win at Newmarket, Chief Singer took the [[St. James's Palace Stakes]] (Gr2) and [[Sussex Stakes]] (Gr1) over a mile and the [[July Cup]] (Gr1) over six furlongs. Lear Fan, who later became a very successful stallion, won the [[Prix Jacques le Marois]] (Gr1) over a mile at Deauville in France. [[Rainbow Quest]], who became one of the best stallions in England, won the [[Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe]] (Gr1) at Longchamp in France and the [[Coronation Cup]] (Gr1) at Epsom in England.
As a three-year-old, El Gran Senor again raced four times before injury ended his season in mid-summer. He easily won the Gladness Stakes beating stablemate [[Sadler's Wells (horse)|Sadler's Wells]] at the Curragh and then returned to Newmarket in England, where he competed in the [[2,000 Guineas Stakes]], the first Classic of the year. In one of the highest-quality runnings of the race El Gran Senor easily beat [[Chief Singer]], [[Lear Fan]] and Rainbow Quest. Chief Singer franked the form by winning the [[St. James's Palace Stakes]] and [[Sussex Stakes]] over a mile and the [[July Cup]] over six furlongs. Lear Fan won the [[Prix Jacques le Marois]] over a mile at Deauville in France.


Despite doubts over his stamina, stemming from the amount of speed in the distaff side of his pedigree and the speed he had shown at Newmarket, El Gran Senor was an odds-on favourite for the Derby (Gr1) over 12 furlongs at Epsom. In the stretch, he engaged in a battle with another Irish-trained colt in Secreto and lost narrowly. Many felt that Pat Eddery had ridden an ill-judged race, hitting the front too soon, and not being able to use El Gran Senor's superior acceleration. Eddery later acknowledged that El Gran Senor should have won the race but that when the pacemakers dropped away early in the straight he found himself in the lead much earlier than intended.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11987019/Pat-Eddery-jockey-obituary.html</ref> Secreto had finished third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Gr1) over a mile at The Curragh in his previous race. Both colts, trained by father and son (Vincent and David O'Brien), were sired by the same stallion, were bred at the same stud farm and, it has been reported, had shared a paddock as yearlings.
Despite some doubts over his stamina, stemming from the amount of speed in the distaff side of his pedigree and the speed he had shown at Newmarket, El Gran Senor was an odds-on favourite for the Derby (Gr1) over 12 furlongs at Epsom. In the stretch, he engaged in a battle with another Irish-trained colt Secreto, who had finished third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas to Sadler's Wells in his previous race, but lost narrowly. Many felt that Pat Eddery had ridden an ill-judged race, hitting the front too soon and not being able to use El Gran Senor's acceleration. Eddery later acknowledged that El Gran Senor should have won the race but that when the pacemakers dropped away early in the straight he found himself in the lead much earlier than intended.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11987019/Pat-Eddery-jockey-obituary.html|title=Pat Eddery, jockey - obituary|date=2015-11-10|access-date=2019-06-28|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dib.ie/biography/eddery-patrick-pat-james-john-a10232 | title=Eddery, Patrick (Pat) James John &#124; Dictionary of Irish Biography }}</ref> Both colts, trained by father and son (Vincent and David O'Brien), were sired by the same stallion, were bred at the same stud farm and, it has been reported, had shared a paddock as yearlings.


Secreto was subsequently injured and never raced again. He became a reasonably successful stallion. El Gran Senor went on to beat [[Rainbow Quest]] impressively in the [[Irish Derby]] (Gr1) over 12 furlongs at The Curragh.<ref>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301342731_Vincent_O'Brien_Biography</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0bUTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6o8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4665,225335&dq=el+gran+senor&hl=en|title=Irish Derby to El Gran Senor|publisher=New Straits Times}}</ref> He then sustained an injury (lameness due to a keratoma in his hoof) and was retired to stud in America.
El Gran Senor went on to beat Rainbow Quest in the [[Irish Derby]] over 12 furlongs at the Curragh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301342731|title=Vincent O'Brien Biography|last=McKenna|first=P. Gerry|date=2015|website=researchgate.ne|access-date=2019-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0bUTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6o8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4665,225335&dq=el+gran+senor&hl=en|title=Irish Derby to El Gran Senor|publisher=New Straits Times}}</ref> He then sustained an injury (lameness due to a keratoma in his hoof) and was retired to stud in America.


==Stud career==
==Stud career==
Throughout his stud career, El Gran Senor had low fertility and typically sired no more than 40 foals in any year - these days, most top sires and champions sire between 60 and 180 foals in a year. Over the course of his career, he fathered fewer than 400 foals. There were only 14 in his first foal-crop, but they included [[Al Hareb]], who won the Racing Post Trophy (Gr1) over a mile in England. Al Hareb is at stud in Australia, and while his overall record is unremarkable, he did sire the top class sprinter Hareeba, a multiple Group 1 winning sprinter. El Gran Senor sired a total of 12 horses who won at the highest level - Group/Grade 1. These included South African classic winner [[Kundalini (horse)|Kundalini]], top American fillies Corrazona, Spanish Fern and [[Toussaud]], [[Breeders' Cup Sprint]] hero [[Lit de Justice]], [[King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes]] winner, Belmez, and multiple European Group 1 winner [[Rodrigo de Triano]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/358/el-gran-senor-pensioned|title=El Gran Senor Pensioned|author=Blood-Horse Staff|date=7 July 2000|work=BloodHorse.com}}</ref>
Throughout his stud career, El Gran Senor had low fertility and typically sired no more than 40 foals in any year - these days, most top sires and champions sire between 60 and 180 foals in a year. Over the course of his career, he fathered fewer than 400 foals. There were only 14 in his first foal-crop, but they included [[Al Hareb]], who won the Racing Post Trophy (Gr1) over a mile in England. Al Hareb is at stud in Australia, and while his overall record is unremarkable, he did sire the top class sprinter Hareeba, a multiple Group 1 winning sprinter. El Gran Senor sired a total of 12 horses who won at the highest level - Group/Grade 1. These included South African classic winner [[Kundalini (horse)|Kundalini]], top American fillies Corrazona, Spanish Fern and [[Toussaud]], [[Breeders' Cup Sprint]] hero [[Lit de Justice]], [[King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes]] winner Belmez, and multiple European Group 1 winner [[Rodrigo de Triano]].


He was pensioned from stallion duty at the age of 19, but his tally of 55 stakes winners represented a rate of more than 14% stakes winners to named foals - 10%+ is the usually accepted sign of a very good stallion. His record as a sire of successful stallions has been disappointing. As a broodmare sire, however, he has done very well. His top-class daughter [[Toussaud]] ranks among a tiny handful of mares who have produced as many as four Group/Grade 1 winners. Her son Chester House (by Mr Prospector) won the Arlington Million (Gr1). Her daughter Honest Lady (by Seattle Slew) won the Santa Monica Handicap (Gr1). Another son, Chiselling (by Woodman), won the Secretariat Stakes (Gr1) before taking up stallion duties in South Africa. Her fourth Grade 1 winner is Belmont Stakes (Gr1) winner [[Empire Maker]] (by Unbridled). Empire Maker stood at his owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farm in Kentucky until November, 2010, when he was sold to Japanese breeders, leaving seven crops including foals of 2011. Eleven days earlier, his two-year-old daughter [[Royal Delta]] won her first start by 12 lengths. Champion Royal Delta sold for $8.5 million in 2011 in mid-career, leading an upsurge in Empire Maker's ranking as a sire.
He was pensioned from stallion duty in 2000 at the age of 19.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/358/el-gran-senor-pensioned|title=El Gran Senor Pensioned|author=Blood-Horse Staff|date=7 July 2000|work=BloodHorse.com}}</ref> His final tally of 55 stakes winners represented a rate of more than 14% stakes winners to named foals - 10%+ is the usually accepted sign of a very good stallion. His record as a sire of successful stallions has been disappointing, however as a broodmare sire he has done very well. His daughters have produced over 60 stakes winners, including Grade/Group 1 winners Chester House, Chiselling, Emin Baja (CHI), Empire Maker, Grand Arch, Grand Vitesse (ARG), Honest Lady, Ice Horse (ARG), Ramonti (FR), Redoute's Dancer (AUS), and Square Eddie.


El Gran Senor will have a lasting impact on the breed through his best daughter, [[Graded stakes race|Grade One]] winner [[Toussaud]]. She ranks among a tiny handful of mares who have produced multiple Group/Grade 1 winners, with four. [[Chester House]] (born in 1995 by [[Mr. Prospector]]) was first, winning the Arlington Million (Gr.1) in 2000. Advertised as a "genetic masterpiece", Chester House also showed promise as a stallion before cancer cut his stud career short in 2003, after only three years at stud.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/181169/millionaire-chester-house-succumbs-to-cancer|title=Millionaire Chester House Succumbs to Cancer|author=Blood-Horse Staff|date=30 June 2003|work=BloodHorse.com}}</ref> Next was daughter Honest Lady (born in 1996 by [[Seattle Slew]]), who won the Santa Monica Handicap (Gr.1) and finished 2nd against the boys in the [[Metropolitan Handicap]] (Gr.1). Honest Lady became an excellent broodmare herself, producing Gr.1 winner First Defence along with stakes winners Phantom Rose and Honest Quality. After Honest Lady came Chiselling (born in 1999 by Woodman), who won the [[Secretariat Stakes]] (Gr.1). Chiselling was initially going be sent to South Africa for stud,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/175237/empire-makers-half-brother-chiselling-to-south-africa|title=Empire Maker's Half Brother Chiselling to South Africa|author=Blood-Horse Staff|date=18 June 2004|work=Bloodhorse.com}}</ref> however he was diagnosed with [[Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis]] and it is unclear what happened to him after he missed the 2004 breeding season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sahracing.com/index/contents/news/5505|title=New Stallion Chiselling Not Standing This Season}}</ref> Her fourth and final Grade 1 winner is arguably her best, [[Belmont Stakes]] (Gr.1) winner [[Empire Maker]] (born in 2000 by Unbridled). In addition to the Belmont, Empire Maker won two other Gr.1s, the [[Wood Memorial Stakes|Wood Memorial]] and [[Florida Derby]]. Empire Maker stood at his owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farm in Kentucky until 2010, when he was sold to the [[Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association]] to stand at [[Shizunai Stallion Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/139423/empire-maker-sold-to-japanese-interests|title=Empire Maker Sold to Japanese Interests|author=Blood-Horse Staff|date=12 November 2010|work=BloodHorse.com}}</ref> Eleven days earlier, his two-year-old daughter, future champion [[Royal Delta]], won her first start by 12 lengths. In September 2015, two months after his grandson [[American Pharoah]] won the [[Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States)|American Triple Crown]], it was announced that Empire Maker had been bought back from Japan and as of 2019 he stands at [[Gainesway Farm]] in Lexington, Kentucky.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/197173/empire-maker-coming-home-to-kentucky|title=Empire Maker Coming Home to Kentucky|author=Blood-Horse Staff|date=30 September 2015|work=BloodHorse.com}}</ref>
⚫
El Gran Senor was [[Animal euthanasia|euthanized]] in October 2006 at [[Ashford Stud]] in Kentucky. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2006/1019/elgransenor.html|title=Death of leading sire Senor|date=19 October 2006|work=RTÉ Sport}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

⚫
El Gran Senor was [[Animal euthanasia|euthanized]] on 18 October 2006 at [[Ashford Stud]] in Kentucky due to the infirmities of old age.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/162984/el-gran-senor-euthanized|title=El Gran Senor Euthanized|author=Blood-Horse Staff|date=16 October 2006|work=BloodHorse.com}}</ref>


===Major winners===
===Major winners===
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| c
| c
| [[Middle Park Stakes]], [[2000 Guineas]], [[Irish 2000 Guineas]], [[International Stakes]], [[Champion Stakes]]
| [[Middle Park Stakes]], [[2000 Guineas]], [[Irish 2000 Guineas]], [[International Stakes]], [[Champion Stakes]]
|-
|1989
|[[Toussaud]]
|f
|[[Gamely Stakes]]
|-
|-
| 1990
| 1990
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| c
| c
| [[Prix Jean Prat]]
| [[Prix Jean Prat]]

|-
|-
| 1995
| 1995
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|name = El Gran Senor (USA), bay stallion, 1981<ref name="equineline1"/>
|name = El Gran Senor (USA), bay stallion, 1981<ref name="equineline1"/>
|f = [[Northern Dancer]] (CAN)<br> 1961
|f = [[Northern Dancer]] (CAN)<br> 1961
|m = Sex Appeal (USA) <br> 1970
|m = [[Sex Appeal (horse)|Sex Appeal]] (USA) <br> 1970
|ff = [[Nearctic (horse)|Nearctic]] (CAN)<br> 1954
|ff = [[Nearctic (horse)|Nearctic]] (CAN)<br> 1954
|fm = [[Natalma]] (USA) <br> 1957
|fm = [[Natalma]] (USA) <br> 1957
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|mm = Best In Show (USA) <br> 1965
|mm = Best In Show (USA) <br> 1965
|fff = [[Nearco]]
|fff = [[Nearco]]
|ffm = Lady Angela
|ffm = [[Lady Angela]]
|fmf = [[Native Dancer]]
|fmf = [[Native Dancer]]
|fmm = [[Almahmoud]]
|fmm = [[Almahmoud]]
|mff = [[Tom Fool]]
|mff = [[Tom Fool]]
|mfm = Busanda
|mfm = [[Busanda]]
|mmf = Traffic Judge
|mmf = Traffic Judge
|mmm = Stolen Hour
|mmm = Stolen Hour
|ffff = [[Pharos (horse)|Pharos]]
|ffff = [[Pharos (horse)|Pharos]]
|fffm = Nogara
|fffm = [[Nogara (horse)|Nogara]]
|ffmf = [[Hyperion (horse)|Hyperion]]
|ffmf = [[Hyperion (horse)|Hyperion]]
|ffmm = Sister Sarah
|ffmm = Sister Sarah
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[[Category:1981 racehorse births]]
[[Category:1981 racehorse births]]
[[Category:2006 racehorse deaths]]
[[Category:2006 racehorse deaths]]
[[Category:Thoroughbred racehorses]]
[[Category:Racehorses bred in Maryland]]
[[Category:Racehorses bred in Maryland]]
[[Category:Northern Dancer bloodline]]
[[Category:Racehorses trained in Ireland]]
[[Category:Racehorses trained in Ireland]]
[[Category:British Classic Race winners]]
[[Category:Irish Classic Race winners]]
[[Category:Irish Classic Race winners]]
[[Category:Thoroughbred family 8-f]]
[[Category:Thoroughbred family 8-f]]

Latest revision as of 22:46, 4 May 2024

El Gran Senor
SireNorthern Dancer
GrandsireNearctic
DamSex Appeal
DamsireBuckpasser
SexStallion
Foaled21 April 1981[1]
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederE. P. Taylor, Vincent O'Brien, John Magnier, Robert Sangster
OwnerRobert Sangster
TrainerVincent O'Brien
Record8: 7-1-0
Earnings$502,969
Major wins
Railway Stakes (1983)
National Stakes (1983)
Dewhurst Stakes (1983)
Gladness Stakes (1984)
2,000 Guineas (1984)
Irish Derby (1984)
Awards
Timeform top-rated two-year-old colt (1983)
Top-rated European two-year-old colt (1983)
Timeform top-rated three-year-old colt (1984)
Top-rated European three-year-old colt (1984)
Timeform rating: 136 (1984)
Last updated on 3 November 2023

El Gran Senor (21 April 1981 – 18 October 2006) was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred race horse. Foaled at Windfields Farm (Maryland), he was the best horse of his generation in Europe at both two and three years of age. His only defeat in eight races came when he was beaten a short head by Secreto in the 1984 Epsom Derby. El Gran Senor received an outstanding Timeform rating of 136. He also enjoyed notable success at stud before being pensioned at Ashford Stud in Kentucky in 2000.

Background

[edit]

He was born in 1981 and was bred at Windfields Farm (Maryland) by Windfields' owner E. P. Taylor in partnership with Vincent O'Brien, John Magnier, and Robert Sangster.[2] He had a pronounced parrot mouth, which he often passed on to his progeny.[3] His name comes from the nickname of Horatio Luro, trainer of his sire Northern Dancer. He went to Ireland to be trained by Vincent O'Brien, who had trained numerous major winners for Sangster including El Gran Senor's full brother, Try My Best, who was champion two-year-old in Great Britain and Ireland in 1977.

Racing career

[edit]

The colt was unbeaten as a two-year-old. He won the Railway Stakes and National Stakes at the Curragh in Ireland. For his final race that year, he was sent to Newmarket in England for the Dewhurst Stakes, the most prestigious two-year-old race in that country. His defeat of Rainbow Quest earned him an unusually high two-year-old rating of 131 from Timeform.

As a three-year-old, El Gran Senor again raced four times before injury ended his season in mid-summer. He easily won the Gladness Stakes beating stablemate Sadler's Wells at the Curragh and then returned to Newmarket in England, where he competed in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the first Classic of the year. In one of the highest-quality runnings of the race El Gran Senor easily beat Chief Singer, Lear Fan and Rainbow Quest. Chief Singer franked the form by winning the St. James's Palace Stakes and Sussex Stakes over a mile and the July Cup over six furlongs. Lear Fan won the Prix Jacques le Marois over a mile at Deauville in France.

Despite some doubts over his stamina, stemming from the amount of speed in the distaff side of his pedigree and the speed he had shown at Newmarket, El Gran Senor was an odds-on favourite for the Derby (Gr1) over 12 furlongs at Epsom. In the stretch, he engaged in a battle with another Irish-trained colt Secreto, who had finished third in the Irish 2,000 Guineas to Sadler's Wells in his previous race, but lost narrowly. Many felt that Pat Eddery had ridden an ill-judged race, hitting the front too soon and not being able to use El Gran Senor's acceleration. Eddery later acknowledged that El Gran Senor should have won the race but that when the pacemakers dropped away early in the straight he found himself in the lead much earlier than intended.[4][5] Both colts, trained by father and son (Vincent and David O'Brien), were sired by the same stallion, were bred at the same stud farm and, it has been reported, had shared a paddock as yearlings.

El Gran Senor went on to beat Rainbow Quest in the Irish Derby over 12 furlongs at the Curragh.[6][7] He then sustained an injury (lameness due to a keratoma in his hoof) and was retired to stud in America.

Stud career

[edit]

Throughout his stud career, El Gran Senor had low fertility and typically sired no more than 40 foals in any year - these days, most top sires and champions sire between 60 and 180 foals in a year. Over the course of his career, he fathered fewer than 400 foals. There were only 14 in his first foal-crop, but they included Al Hareb, who won the Racing Post Trophy (Gr1) over a mile in England. Al Hareb is at stud in Australia, and while his overall record is unremarkable, he did sire the top class sprinter Hareeba, a multiple Group 1 winning sprinter. El Gran Senor sired a total of 12 horses who won at the highest level - Group/Grade 1. These included South African classic winner Kundalini, top American fillies Corrazona, Spanish Fern and Toussaud, Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Lit de Justice, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Belmez, and multiple European Group 1 winner Rodrigo de Triano.

He was pensioned from stallion duty in 2000 at the age of 19.[8] His final tally of 55 stakes winners represented a rate of more than 14% stakes winners to named foals - 10%+ is the usually accepted sign of a very good stallion. His record as a sire of successful stallions has been disappointing, however as a broodmare sire he has done very well. His daughters have produced over 60 stakes winners, including Grade/Group 1 winners Chester House, Chiselling, Emin Baja (CHI), Empire Maker, Grand Arch, Grand Vitesse (ARG), Honest Lady, Ice Horse (ARG), Ramonti (FR), Redoute's Dancer (AUS), and Square Eddie.

El Gran Senor will have a lasting impact on the breed through his best daughter, Grade One winner Toussaud. She ranks among a tiny handful of mares who have produced multiple Group/Grade 1 winners, with four. Chester House (born in 1995 by Mr. Prospector) was first, winning the Arlington Million (Gr.1) in 2000. Advertised as a "genetic masterpiece", Chester House also showed promise as a stallion before cancer cut his stud career short in 2003, after only three years at stud.[9] Next was daughter Honest Lady (born in 1996 by Seattle Slew), who won the Santa Monica Handicap (Gr.1) and finished 2nd against the boys in the Metropolitan Handicap (Gr.1). Honest Lady became an excellent broodmare herself, producing Gr.1 winner First Defence along with stakes winners Phantom Rose and Honest Quality. After Honest Lady came Chiselling (born in 1999 by Woodman), who won the Secretariat Stakes (Gr.1). Chiselling was initially going be sent to South Africa for stud,[10] however he was diagnosed with Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis and it is unclear what happened to him after he missed the 2004 breeding season.[11] Her fourth and final Grade 1 winner is arguably her best, Belmont Stakes (Gr.1) winner Empire Maker (born in 2000 by Unbridled). In addition to the Belmont, Empire Maker won two other Gr.1s, the Wood Memorial and Florida Derby. Empire Maker stood at his owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farm in Kentucky until 2010, when he was sold to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association to stand at Shizunai Stallion Station.[12] Eleven days earlier, his two-year-old daughter, future champion Royal Delta, won her first start by 12 lengths. In September 2015, two months after his grandson American Pharoah won the American Triple Crown, it was announced that Empire Maker had been bought back from Japan and as of 2019 he stands at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.[13]

El Gran Senor was euthanized on 18 October 2006 at Ashford Stud in Kentucky due to the infirmities of old age.[14]

Major winners

[edit]

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins
1986 Al Hareb c William Hill Futurity
1986 Gran Alba c Christmas Hurdle
1987 Belmez c King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes
1989 Rodrigo de Triano c Middle Park Stakes, 2000 Guineas, Irish 2000 Guineas, International Stakes, Champion Stakes
1989 Toussaud f Gamely Stakes
1990 Corrazona f Beverly Hills Handicap
1990 Lit de Justice c Breeders' Cup Sprint
1993 Le Triton c Prix Jean Prat
1995 Saratoga Springs c Racing Post Trophy
1995 Spanish Fern f Yellow Ribbon Stakes

Pedigree

[edit]
Pedigree of El Gran Senor (USA), bay stallion, 1981[1]
Sire
Northern Dancer (CAN)
1961 		Nearctic (CAN)
1954 		Nearco Pharos
Nogara
Lady Angela Hyperion
Sister Sarah
Natalma (USA)
1957 		Native Dancer Polynesian
Geisha
Almahmoud Mahmoud
Arbitrator
Dam
Sex Appeal (USA)
1970 		Buckpasser (USA)
1963 		Tom Fool Menow
Gaga
Busanda War Admiral
Businesslike
Best In Show (USA)
1965 		Traffic Judge Alibhai
Traffic Court
Stolen Hour Mr Busher
Late Date (Family: 8f)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "El Gran Senor pedigree". equineline.com. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. ^ "El Gran Senor Pensioned". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  3. ^ Morris, Tony (1990). Thoroughbred Stallions. Swindon: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-85223-331-1.
  4. ^ "Pat Eddery, jockey - obituary". 10 November 2015. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Eddery, Patrick (Pat) James John | Dictionary of Irish Biography".
  6. ^ McKenna, P. Gerry (2015). "Vincent O'Brien Biography". researchgate.ne. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Irish Derby to El Gran Senor". New Straits Times.
  8. ^ Blood-Horse Staff (7 July 2000). "El Gran Senor Pensioned". BloodHorse.com.
  9. ^ Blood-Horse Staff (30 June 2003). "Millionaire Chester House Succumbs to Cancer". BloodHorse.com.
  10. ^ Blood-Horse Staff (18 June 2004). "Empire Maker's Half Brother Chiselling to South Africa". Bloodhorse.com.
  11. ^ "New Stallion Chiselling Not Standing This Season".
  12. ^ Blood-Horse Staff (12 November 2010). "Empire Maker Sold to Japanese Interests". BloodHorse.com.
  13. ^ Blood-Horse Staff (30 September 2015). "Empire Maker Coming Home to Kentucky". BloodHorse.com.
  14. ^ Blood-Horse Staff (16 October 2006). "El Gran Senor Euthanized". BloodHorse.com.
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