High Quest (USA)
1931 – 1948
Sir Gallahad III (FR) x Etoile Filante (USA), by Fair Play (USA)
Family 1-c
1931 – 1948
Sir Gallahad III (FR) x Etoile Filante (USA), by Fair Play (USA)
Family 1-c
Although Cavalcade had much the better race record as a 3-year-old, trainer Robert A. Smith insisted that his stablemate High Quest was not far different in ability. Smith saw his point proved in the 1934 Preakness Stakes, which High Quest won by a nose over Cavalcade. After that, however, Cavalcade went on to other triumphs while High Quest managed only two more starts. Like Cavalcade, High Quest was not a success at stud.
Race record
13 wins, 6 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$52,190
1933:
1934:
Assessments
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1934 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay, High Quest was light-bodied, leggy and rather plain. He had a nasty temperament.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, High Quest sired 120 winners (54.3%) and five stakes winners (2.3%) from 221 named foals.
Notable progeny
War Knight (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, High Quest was bred by Marshall Fields III. He was owned by Isabel Dodge Sloane's Brookmeade Stable and was trained by Robert A. Smith, who purchased the colt for Mrs. Sloane at the 1932 Saratoga yearling sales for US$3,500. When he was 12 years old and his ability (or lack of it) as a stallion had been exposed, he was sold for US$150 to William Dowling, one of the Kentucky state racing commissioners, at the 1943 Keeneland November mixed sale.
Pedigree notes
High Quest is inbred 4x5 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 5x4 to St. Simon's sire Galopin, himself a three-time English champion sire and the winner of the 1875 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to Fair Star (by Wrack), generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1926, and to Evening Tide (by Bull Dog), winner of the 1937 Test Stakes. The former mare is the dam of 1941 Hollywood Derby winner Staretor (by Messenger); the second dam of two-time American champion filly Fairy Chant, 1937 Santa Anita Derby winner Fairy Hill and 1943 Lawrence Realization winner Fairy Manhurst; and the third dam of three-time American champion Parlo, 1949 Ladies Handicap and Santa Susana Stakes winner Gaffery, 1955 Saratoga Cup winner Chevation and 1965 California Derby winner Perfect Sky. As for Evening Tide, she is the dam of 1957 Roseben Handicap winner War Piper (by War Admiral) and multiple stakes winner Magpie (by Brevity), the second dam of 1960 American champion steeplechaser Benguala and the third dam of 1966 Knickerbocker Handicap winner Rego, 1971 Arkansas Derby and Ohio Derby winner Twist the Axe, 1972 Golden Rod Stakes winner Cam Axe and multiple Grade 3 winner Mr. Correlation.
Also the dam of stakes producers Sari (by Omar Khayyam), Bonnie Etoile (by Wrack), Astralobe (by Sir Gallahad III) and Evening Shadow (by Bull Dog), High Quest's dam Etoile Filante is a full sister to 1932 American champion sire and multiple stakes winner Chatterton. Etoile Filante's dam Chit Chat (by Rock Sand) is a full sister to Change, dam of juvenile stakes winner Yankee Princess (by Ballot), and is a half sister to Chinka (by Florizel II), dam of Canadian stakes winner Algonquin (by Galatine) and second dam of 1916 King's Plate winner Mandarin. Chit Chat is also a half sister to Cerina (by Meddler), dam of the high-class Boniface (by Transvaal) and to Chilpiquin (by Florizel II), dam of multiple stakes winner Chepontuc (by Ornament).
Books and media
High Quest is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: October 26, 2020
Race record
13 wins, 6 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, US$52,190
1933:
- Won Eastern Shore Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
1934:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA, 8f+70yD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Harford Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
Assessments
Ranked fourth among American 3-year-old males of 1934 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A bay, High Quest was light-bodied, leggy and rather plain. He had a nasty temperament.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, High Quest sired 120 winners (54.3%) and five stakes winners (2.3%) from 221 named foals.
Notable progeny
War Knight (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, High Quest was bred by Marshall Fields III. He was owned by Isabel Dodge Sloane's Brookmeade Stable and was trained by Robert A. Smith, who purchased the colt for Mrs. Sloane at the 1932 Saratoga yearling sales for US$3,500. When he was 12 years old and his ability (or lack of it) as a stallion had been exposed, he was sold for US$150 to William Dowling, one of the Kentucky state racing commissioners, at the 1943 Keeneland November mixed sale.
Pedigree notes
High Quest is inbred 4x5 to nine-time English champion sire St. Simon, 5x4 to 1880 Derby Stakes winner Bend Or and 5x4 to St. Simon's sire Galopin, himself a three-time English champion sire and the winner of the 1875 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to Fair Star (by Wrack), generally considered the American champion 2-year-old filly of 1926, and to Evening Tide (by Bull Dog), winner of the 1937 Test Stakes. The former mare is the dam of 1941 Hollywood Derby winner Staretor (by Messenger); the second dam of two-time American champion filly Fairy Chant, 1937 Santa Anita Derby winner Fairy Hill and 1943 Lawrence Realization winner Fairy Manhurst; and the third dam of three-time American champion Parlo, 1949 Ladies Handicap and Santa Susana Stakes winner Gaffery, 1955 Saratoga Cup winner Chevation and 1965 California Derby winner Perfect Sky. As for Evening Tide, she is the dam of 1957 Roseben Handicap winner War Piper (by War Admiral) and multiple stakes winner Magpie (by Brevity), the second dam of 1960 American champion steeplechaser Benguala and the third dam of 1966 Knickerbocker Handicap winner Rego, 1971 Arkansas Derby and Ohio Derby winner Twist the Axe, 1972 Golden Rod Stakes winner Cam Axe and multiple Grade 3 winner Mr. Correlation.
Also the dam of stakes producers Sari (by Omar Khayyam), Bonnie Etoile (by Wrack), Astralobe (by Sir Gallahad III) and Evening Shadow (by Bull Dog), High Quest's dam Etoile Filante is a full sister to 1932 American champion sire and multiple stakes winner Chatterton. Etoile Filante's dam Chit Chat (by Rock Sand) is a full sister to Change, dam of juvenile stakes winner Yankee Princess (by Ballot), and is a half sister to Chinka (by Florizel II), dam of Canadian stakes winner Algonquin (by Galatine) and second dam of 1916 King's Plate winner Mandarin. Chit Chat is also a half sister to Cerina (by Meddler), dam of the high-class Boniface (by Transvaal) and to Chilpiquin (by Florizel II), dam of multiple stakes winner Chepontuc (by Ornament).
Books and media
High Quest is profiled in Chapter 6 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Robert Smith's shopping trip on the newly formed Brookmeade Stable's behalf at the 1932 Saratoga yearling sales had to be one of the most successful in racing history. He paid a grand total of US$5,400 for High Quest (US$3,500), Cavalcade (US$1,200) and Time Clock (US$700). All three won races later classed as Grade 1 events, and their collective earnings amounted to US$196,095, a hefty sum indeed during the Depression era.
- High Quest sired Modern Youth, whose main claim to fame was that he severely injured jockey Red Pollard, Seabiscuit's regular rider, during a workout at Suffolk Downs after he spooked and careered over the outside rail. Pollard had to miss Seabiscuit's upcoming match race with War Admiral but was later reunited with his old partner in the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap, creating one of racing's great comeback stories for both horse and rider.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: October 26, 2020