Name: Questing (GB)
Year Born: 2009
Color: Bay
Sex: Filly
Sire: Hard Spun
Broodmare: Chercheuse
Broodmare Sire: Seeking the Gold
Profile: The three horses who where expected to go 1-2-3 in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies indeed did just that, with My Miss Aurelia (Smart Strike) finishing first, Grace Hall (Empire Maker) in the runner up spot and Weemissfrankie (Sunriver) finishing third. Finishing in fifth that day was 1 of the 2 European horses entered onto dirt for the first time, that would be Questing (GB) (Hard Spun). Trained by John Gosden, Questing had finished third and second in her previous two starts on turf in Group 3's before making her dirt debut at Churchill last November. Soon afterwards, it was announced that she would remain in the US with her owner Darley's one of 2 US trainers Kiaran McLaughlin. After two poor races back on the turf, McLaughlin decided to take one more shot at the dirt. Had she done poorly on there again, then it would be back home to Kentucky (her dam was sent to England to breed to European based stallions, however has foaled in the US before), to become a broodmare. However, the light had turned on. Since returning to the dirt she has been 3 for 3. This includes wins in the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes where she ran the fastest time since Go For Wand won in 1989.
Sire
Questing is by one of the most popular horses of recent memory in Hard Spun (Danzig). Undefeated at 2, he won the 2006 PA Nursery Stakes which is the same race that Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality) had won in 2003 before embarking on his wonderful career. Hard Spun won the 2007 Lacomte before losing for the first time in the Southwest. He would rebound in the Lane's End before finishing second in the Derby, 3rd in the Preakness, 2nd in the Haskell, winning the King's Bishop and Kentucky Cup before ending his career in the Breeders' Cup Classic with another runner up finish. Other then Questing, he is the sire of G1 winner Zo Impressive, G2 winner in England Red Duke, and G2 winner Hierro.
Hard Spun's sire Danzig (Northern Dancer) made only 3 starts in his career, winning all of them. He would go onto have a wonderful career at stud. Among his winners include Canadian Triple Crown winner and BC Distaff winner Dance Smartly, G1 winner in England and super sire himself Danehill, 2 time BC Mile winner Lure, and BC Mile winner War Chant among his many successful foals.
His dam Turkish Tryst (Turkoman) is G2 placed in her career. Other then Hard Spun, she is the dam to stakes placed Wild Current (Wild Again) and stakes winner Our Rite of Spring (Stravinsky). Her dam Darbyvail (Roberto) is a 1/2 sister to Belmont winner Little Currant (Sea-Bird (FR).
Dam
Chercheuse (Seeking the Gold) is a stakes winner in France. Her best finish in the US was 3rd in the CERF Stakes at Del Mar in 2003. Questing is her best foal to date.
Her sire Seeking the Gold (Mr. Prospector) won the Super Derby and Dwyer, as well as finishing second in the Haskell, Travers, Met Mile and Breeders' Cup Classic. Among his foals include the wonderful Dream Supreme, Dubai World Cup winner Dubai Millenium (GB), Belmont winner Jazil, G3 winner in Japan Seeking the Best (IRE), G1 placed Wanderin Boy and multiple G1 winner Heavenly Prize.
Her dam is Sassy Bird (Storm Bird) who didn't win in her two starts. Her other foals include stakes winner in England, Asawer (IRE) (Darshaan (GB)). Her dam Tash (Never Bend) is the dam of stakes winner Mariuka (Danzig), G1 placed in France and England Mukaddamah (Storm Bird). Tash is a 1/2 sister to Ivory Wand (Sir Ivor) who is the dam of Touch of Greatness (Hero Honor), the dam of Elusive Quality (Gone West) and his 3/4 brother Rossini (Miswaki).
From a different branch of this family hails none other then Mr. Prospector (Raise a Native) and Seattle Slew (Bold Reasoning). The matriarch of this family is stakes winner Fritzette (Hamburg).
Sire
Questing is by one of the most popular horses of recent memory in Hard Spun (Danzig). Undefeated at 2, he won the 2006 PA Nursery Stakes which is the same race that Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality) had won in 2003 before embarking on his wonderful career. Hard Spun won the 2007 Lacomte before losing for the first time in the Southwest. He would rebound in the Lane's End before finishing second in the Derby, 3rd in the Preakness, 2nd in the Haskell, winning the King's Bishop and Kentucky Cup before ending his career in the Breeders' Cup Classic with another runner up finish. Other then Questing, he is the sire of G1 winner Zo Impressive, G2 winner in England Red Duke, and G2 winner Hierro.
Hard Spun's sire Danzig (Northern Dancer) made only 3 starts in his career, winning all of them. He would go onto have a wonderful career at stud. Among his winners include Canadian Triple Crown winner and BC Distaff winner Dance Smartly, G1 winner in England and super sire himself Danehill, 2 time BC Mile winner Lure, and BC Mile winner War Chant among his many successful foals.
His dam Turkish Tryst (Turkoman) is G2 placed in her career. Other then Hard Spun, she is the dam to stakes placed Wild Current (Wild Again) and stakes winner Our Rite of Spring (Stravinsky). Her dam Darbyvail (Roberto) is a 1/2 sister to Belmont winner Little Currant (Sea-Bird (FR).
Dam
Chercheuse (Seeking the Gold) is a stakes winner in France. Her best finish in the US was 3rd in the CERF Stakes at Del Mar in 2003. Questing is her best foal to date.
Her sire Seeking the Gold (Mr. Prospector) won the Super Derby and Dwyer, as well as finishing second in the Haskell, Travers, Met Mile and Breeders' Cup Classic. Among his foals include the wonderful Dream Supreme, Dubai World Cup winner Dubai Millenium (GB), Belmont winner Jazil, G3 winner in Japan Seeking the Best (IRE), G1 placed Wanderin Boy and multiple G1 winner Heavenly Prize.
Her dam is Sassy Bird (Storm Bird) who didn't win in her two starts. Her other foals include stakes winner in England, Asawer (IRE) (Darshaan (GB)). Her dam Tash (Never Bend) is the dam of stakes winner Mariuka (Danzig), G1 placed in France and England Mukaddamah (Storm Bird). Tash is a 1/2 sister to Ivory Wand (Sir Ivor) who is the dam of Touch of Greatness (Hero Honor), the dam of Elusive Quality (Gone West) and his 3/4 brother Rossini (Miswaki).
From a different branch of this family hails none other then Mr. Prospector (Raise a Native) and Seattle Slew (Bold Reasoning). The matriarch of this family is stakes winner Fritzette (Hamburg).
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