Gonzales (27 January 1977 – after 1996) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Unraced as a two-year-old he established himself as a high-class stayer in the following year winning the Gallinule Stakes, Blandford Stakes, and Irish St Leger as well as starting favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club. He was then sent to the United States where he was campaigned for two years to little effect. He made little impact as a breeding stallion. Background Gonzales was a "big" bay horse with a white star bred in Kentucky by Nelson Bunker Hunt. As a yearling he was put up for auction and sold for $750,000 to representatives of the British businessman Robert Sangster. He was sent to Europe where he was trained by Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle His sire, Vaguely Noble, won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1968 before becoming a successful breeding stallion whose best progeny included Dahlia, Exceller and Empery. Gonzales' dam Gazala was an exceptional racehorse who won the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and the Prix de Diane in 1967. She was even better as a broodmare producing several good winners including Youth and Gonzales' full-brother Mississippian (Grand Critérium). Racing career 1980: three-year-old season Gonzales was not raced as a juvenile and began his track career in a minor race over ten furlongs at Leopardstown Racecourse in April 1980 and won by six lengths. He was then moved up in class and distance for the Gallinule Stakes over one and a half miles at the Curragh in May in which he was ridden by Lester Piggott and won by three lengths from Dermot Weld-trained Good Thyne. Piggott was again in the saddle on 8 June when Gonzales was sent to France and started 9/4 favourite for the Prix du Jockey Club over 2400 metres at Chantilly Racecourse. After being restrained towards the rear of the field he stayed on steadily in the straight but never looked likely to win and finished fifth behind Policeman. After a break of three months, Gonzales returned in the Blandford Stakes over one and a half miles at the Curragh in which he was ridden by Tommy Murphy. He started the odds-on favourite and won by a neck from the five-year-old mare My Hollow. Later that month he was stepped back up to Group 1 class for the Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes over ten furlongs at Leopardstown and