Tokino Minoru (Japanese : トキノミノル, May 2, 1948 - June 20, 1951) was a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse, who was an undefeated winner of his 10 race starts, which included the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
Breeding
He was sired by Theft (GB), a son of Tetratema (IRE), out of Daini Tyrant's Queen, a daughter of Soldennis. He was a brother to Daring and a half-brother to Izutada, by Tokino Chikara. Theft was the sire of Bostonian who also won the Tokyo Yushun (Derby). Tokino Minoru was inbred in the third and fourth generations (3m x 4f) to The Tetrarch.
Racing career
Major racing wins
1950 Asahi Hai Sansai Stakes, Nakayama Turf 1100m
1951 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), Nakayama Turf 2000m
1951 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Tokyo Turf 2400m
He died in 1951 from tetanus, just 17 days after winning the Derby.
Honours
An important three-year-old stakes race called Tokino Minoru Kinen (Memorial) is named in his honour and held at the Tokyo Racecourse. Tokino Minoru was inducted into the Japan Racing Association Hall of Fame in 1984.
The owner of Tokino Minoru, Masaichi Nagata, who was the President of Daiei Film, commissioned a movie based on his life, titled The Phantom Horse, which was released in 1955.