Mill Reef
Mill Reef (23 February 1968 – 2 February 1986) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a three-year career from 1970 to 1972, he won twelve of fourteen races and finished second in the other two. The horse was an outstanding two-year-old in 1970 but proved even better at three, winning the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He won both his starts as a four-year-old before his racing career was ended by injury. Mill Reef is considered one of the greatest horses to run in Europe since WWII.
| Mill Reef | |
|---|---|
This statue of Mill Reef stands in the centre of Rokeby Stables in Upperville, Virginia | |
| Sire | Never Bend |
| Grandsire | Nasrullah |
| Dam | Milan Mill |
| Damsire | Princequillo |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1968 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Paul Mellon |
| Owner | Paul Mellon Colours: Black, gold cross and stripe on cap. |
| Trainer | Ian Balding |
| Record | 14:12-2-0 |
| Earnings | £309,225 |
| Major wins | |
| Coventry Stakes (1970) Gimcrack Stakes (1970) Dewhurst Stakes (1970) Greenham Stakes (1971) Epsom Derby (1971) Eclipse Stakes (1971) K. George VI & Q. Elizabeth Stakes (1971) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1971) Prix Ganay (1972) Coronation Cup (1972) | |
| Awards | |
| English 3-Yr-Old Champion Colt (1971) European Horse of the Year (1971) English Champion Older Horse (1972) Timeform rating: 141 Leading sire in GB & Ireland (1978, 1987) | |
| Honours | |
| #4 - 20th Century's Top 100 European Racehorses Life-size statue at The National Stud, Newmarket Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury Racecourse | |
| Last updated on 16 November 2022 | |
He was a contemporary of another British-trained champion, the English-bred Brigadier Gerard who defeated him in their only racecourse meeting in the 2000 Guineas. As the race was over Brigadier Gerard's optimum distance of one mile, the relative merits of the two colts continue to be the subject of debate.