Minding (foaled 10 February 2013) is a champion Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2016 European Horse of the Year after winning the Epsom Oaks, 1000 Guineas, and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle and Ruler of the World.

Starting the 11/4 third choice in a seven-runner field, she led for most of the way before being overtaken inside the final furlong and finished second to the Dermot Weld-trained favourite Tanaza.

Heffernan settled the filly in second place before taking the lead two furlong from the finish and Minding drew away to win "very easily" by five and a half lengths.

Ridden by Colm O'Donoghue she started at odds of 8/1, behind her stable companions Ballydoyle and Alice Springs, and the Grangecon Stud Stakes winner Most Beautiful.

Ballydoyle started favourite ahead of Tanaza and the British challenger Blue Bayou (Sweet Solera Stakes) with Minding fourth in the betting on 15/2.

She was made 5/4 favourite in a ten-runner field with her main opposition appearing to come from the John Gosden-trained Nathra (unbeaten in two races) and the C. L. Weld Park Stakes winner Coolmore.

[8] Minding made her three-year-old debut in the 203rd running of the 1000 Guineas on 1 May over Newmarket's Rowley Mile in which she was ridden by Moore and started the 11/10 favourite.

O'Brien, who was winning his 250th Group One race did not rule out the possibility of running Minding against colts in The Derby but indicated that the Irish 1,000 Guineas and The Oaks were more likely targets.

She raced in third place before staying on in the closing stages but failed to overhaul the leader Jet Setting and finished second, beaten a head, with a gap of ten lengths back to Now or Never in third.

Moore was forced to switch left, then right to obtain a run, but once Minding was free of obstructions she showed good acceleration and overtook the leader Architecture a furlong from the finish.

[12] Only four fillies appeared to oppose Minding when she was matched against older horses for the first time in the Pretty Polly Stakes over ten furlongs at the Curragh on 26 June.

[13] Minding was then sent back to England for the Group One Nassau Stakes over ten furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse on 30 July and started the 1/5 favourite against four opponents.

She met some trouble in running and was not particularly impressive in prevailing by one and a quarter lengths from Queen's Trust, a filly whose best previous effort had been a fourth place in the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Minding was brought back in distance on 15 October to contest the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over one mile at Ascot Racecourse.

Ridden by Moore she started the 7/2 favourite in a thirteen-runner field which included Galileo Gold, Awtaad, Ribchester (Prix Jacques Le Marois), Hit It A Bomb (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf), Lightning Spear (Celebration Mile) and Jet Setting.

O'Brien commented "we felt it would be a bit of a struggle to get her back for the remainder of the season so the lads decided that the best option was to retire her as she was too important... She had the most brilliant physique and a wonderful pedigree.