One of Australia’s most underrated stallions JR MINT produced another winner at Launceston on Sunday when Blacks A Beauty scored for trainer Shelly Barnes and driver Gareth Rattray.
Blacks A Beauty has now started five times for Barnes for three wins and is out of a Ticket To Heaven mare Higher Calling.
JR Mint was originally purchased by John Jetson to stand at the late Leigh Plunkett’s Westbury Stud,unfortunately Plunkett got sick and could not stand JR MINT he ended up standing at Alabar for his first season before relocating to back to Tassie.
An outstanding two and tree-year-olds, and winning 17 of his first 20 starts, JR Mint competed with fine success on the tough USA Grand Circuit. Among his most important victories were the $500,000 Hoosier Cup, a $64,000 division of the Burlington Pace in a race record, the $55,000 Mohawk Pacing Series and an elimination of the Adios Stake. He took his record of 1:49.6 winning at Mohawk at the age of five years.
JR Mint’s progeny soon became prominent on the Tasmanian racing scene. His stock raced with great distinction from two-year-old classics right through to Cup class. From his first crop he sired a top pacer in Hugo Play1:56.5 ($108,874). Hugo Play was the winner of 12 races including the Tasmanian 3YO Sires Stakes and two at Melton. He also left the brilliant, but ill-fated, Royal Sniper, and the smart mare, Left At The Mint 1:58.4 (7 NSW wins).
JR Mint’s second crop produced El Jay’s Magic 1:55.4 ($95,283) – Tasmania’s leading female pacer and winner of the Jane Ellen at Melton recently. Other second crop performers include Black Centurian, the winner of the Tasmanian Yearling Sale 3YO Classic, Really Fayfay (Tas. Blue Bonnet and 3YO Filly Ch’ship) and the multiple Group placegetter, Island Disco.
Other Tasmanian winners by JR Mint from his first crops include: Little Jethro, the winner of the Tasmanian 2YO Crystal Stakes; Prisoner was the winner of the Tasmanian Yearling Sale Classic at 2 and 3 years; andClamorous (1:59.4) was a placegetter in Listed company at Melton.
Blacks ABeuty has now won eight races.
JR Mint is now standing at the Skyline Stud at Quorn, 40 kilometres north-east of Port Augusta, for a fee of $1,100 including GST .
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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