McGinty, known in Australia as Mr McGinty, was a Group 1 winning New Zealand bred and trained race-horse and sire.
Racing career
The son of One Pound Sterling was the winner of six Group One races and a total of 14 races. He was trained by Colin Jillings at Takanini for race commentator Keith Haub and co-owner Barney McCahill. He was usually ridden by Robert Vance.
McGinty was outstanding as a young horse and had six wins and a second from seven starts as a 2-year old horse and four wins and two places from eight starts as a 3-year old. He was the top-weighted horse on the NZ 1981-82 Two-Year-Old Free Handicap and was top colt on the 1982-83 NZ Three Year Old Free Handicap. His Group One wins came in the Air New Zealand Stakes (twice), Rawson Stakes, Canterbury Guineas, Caulfield Stakes and George Adams Handicap.
His standout moment was when he beat the champion Australian 2YO Marscay in the Todman Slipper Trial who went on to win the Golden Slipper and was subsequently crowned Australia's Champion 2YO. McGinty won this race running on 3 legs, having cracked his cannon bone at the top of the straight, and two missing front shoes.
When McGinty won the 1983 WRC George Adams Handicap in a winning time 1:32.99, this was the first time the 1:33 mile mark was broken in New Zealand.
Notable race results
Placing DateRace 1st2nd3rdJockey 1st October 1981 Sapling Stakes (880m) McGinty Village Kid Tigertron Robert Vance1st December 1981 Avondale Stakes (1200m) McGinty Calere Long Range Robert Vance 1st January 1982 Great Northern Foal Stakes (1200m) McGinty Andretti Long Range Robert Vance 2nd March 1982 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) Andretti McGinty Beautiful Smidgen Robert Vance 1st March 1982 Todman Slipper Trial (1200m) McGinty Marscay Duke Diamond Robert Vance 6th January 1983 Railway Stakes (1200m) So Dandy Our ShahPia Roona Lance O'Sullivan 1st January 1983 Wellington Stakes (1600m) for 3YOs, Trentham McGinty Bight Plume Glamour Star Robert Vance 1st January 1983 WRC George Adams Handicap (1600m) McGinty Ringtrue Jon Jim Cassidy 1st February 1983 Air New Zealand Stakes (2000m)McGinty Bellerephon Maurita Robert Vance 1st March 1983 Canterbury Guineas (1900m) McGinty Veloso Baron Cayne & Chiamare (dead-heat) Robert Vance 2nd March 1983 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) Strawberry RoadMcGinty Veloso Robert Vance 3rd March 1983 Tancred Stakes (2400m), Rosehill Trissaro Veloso McGinty Robert Vance 7th April 1983 AJC Derby (2400m) Strawberry Road Veloso Robert Vance 2nd September 1983 George Main Stakes (1600m) Emancipation 54.5kg McGinty 57kg Rare Form 58.5kg Robert Vance 1st October 1983 Caulfield Stakes (2000m)McGinty Cossack Prince Cool River Robert Vance 3rd October 1983 Cox Plate Strawberry Road Kiwi SlaveMcGinty Robert Vance 2nd November 1983 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) (2500m) Fountaincourt McGinty Mr Jazz Robert Vance 5th November 1983 Japan Cup (2400m) Stanerra Kyoei Promise Robert Vance 4th February 1984 Waikato Sprint (1400m) Abit LeicaFinal Affair Ebony Belle Robert Vance 1st February 1984 Air New Zealand Stakes (2000m) McGinty Silver Row Isle of ManRobert Vance 3rd March 1984 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) Emancipation 55.5kg Trissaro 57.5kg McGinty 57kg Robert Vance 1st March 1984 Rawson Stakes (2000m) McGinty Trissaro Admiral Lincoln Robert Vance
His final race was a 12th out of 14 runners in the 1984 Tancred Stakes behind Hayai at Rosehill on 14 April 1984.
Stud career
McGinty began stud duties in 1984 and sired six Group One winners.
Notable offspring included: Jolly Old Mac, winner of the 1992 Australian Guineas. Marconee, winner of the 1995 Enerco Stakes Miltak, winner of the 1994 Auckland Cup and BMW Stakes. The Gentry, winner of the 1988 New Zealand Derby and 1989 New Zealand Stakes. The Hind, winner of the 1998 Adelaide Cup.
On 6 June 2001 McGinty died from a heart attack at Progressive Farms in Karaka at the age of 21.
See also Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
References