Elusive Quality (USA)
January 27, 1993 – March 14, 2018
Gone West (USA) x Touch of Greatness (USA), by Hero's Honor (USA)
Family 13-c
January 27, 1993 – March 14, 2018
Gone West (USA) x Touch of Greatness (USA), by Hero's Honor (USA)
Family 13-c
Elusive Quality never quite made it to the top level as a racehorse, but there is no question that he had blazing speed. As a 4-year-old, he set a track record for 7 furlongs at Gulfstream Park, hanging up the year's highest Beyer figure in the sprint division, and at 5 he set a world record for a mile on turf and again posted the year's highest Beyer figure at sprint distances when going 7 furlongs in an allowance. He was an inconsistent stallion, but his best have been very good indeed.
Race record
20 starts, 9 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$413,284
1996:
1997:
1998:
As an individual
A handsome bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Elusive Quality combined good substance and bone with excellent conformation and a look of marked quality. He was a front runner by preference and was at his best if he could get an easy lead.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Elusive Quality sired 1371 winners (60.5%) and 136 stakes winners (6.0%) from 2266 named foals of racing age. Unfortunately, he did not always stamp his progeny with his own good looks and had a tendency to throw many coarse, awkward-looking individuals.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per the Associação Brasileira de Criadores e Proprietários do Cavalo do Corrida (https://abcpcc.com,br/#):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Per Thoroughbred Times:
Notable progeny
Ana Luisa (BRZ), Avenger of Light (BRZ), Birkin Bag (BRZ), Bonaparte (BRZ), Camarilla (AUS), Ce Ce (USA), Certify (USA), Colorado Girl (BRZ), Demonstrative (USA), El Capitan (USA), Elusive City (USA), Elusive Kate (USA), Last Kiss (BRZ), Maryfield (CAN), Quality Road (USA), Raven's Pass (USA), Sepoy (AUS), She's a Julie (USA), Shifty (AUS), Smarty Jones (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alampur (ARG), Essential Quality (USA), For Flying (BRZ), Menino Do Rio (ARG), Mischief Magic (IRE), Noholdingback Bear (USA), Randomized (USA), Roy H (USA), Underpants (BRZ), Ushuaia Ibiza (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Elusive Quality was bred by Silver Springs Stud Farm, Inc., and Maire Costelloe. He was owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley breeding and racing operation. He was trained by Bill Mott. Elusive Quality entered stud in 1999 in Kentucky at Gainsborough Farm and moved to nearby Darley at Jonabell in 2007. Elusive Quality also shuttled to Darley Australia and to Stud TNT in Brazil for Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons. He was officially pensioned on June 21, 2017, and was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age on March 14, 2018.
Pedigree notes
Elusive Quality is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer and 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Somethingroyal. He is also inbred 5x5x5 to Nasrullah and 5x5 to Princequillo. He is a half brother to French Group 2 winner Rossini (by Miswaki), who was highweighted in Ireland over 5 to 7 furlongs as a 3-year-old. Elusive Quality is also a half brother to Greathearted (by Giant's Causeway), dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Maybellene (by Lookin At Lucky).
Touch of Greatness, the dam of Elusive Quality, is an unraced half sister to 1984 German and Italian champion 3-year-old male Gold and Ivory (by Key to the Mint) and to Ivory Idol (by Alydar), dam of 1999 American champion 2-year-old male Anees (by Unbridled) and stakes winner Sorceror (by Summer Squall). Touch of Greatness is also a half sister to Radiant (by Foolish Pleasure), dam of Grade 3 winners Home of the Free and Poolesta (both by Hero's Honor) and of Group 1-placed Irish stakes winner Desert Fox (by Sadler's Wells), and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Couturier and French Group 3 winner Rosso Corsa. In addition, Touch of Greatness is a half sister to stakes-placed Land of Ivory (by The Minstrel), dam of 1990 G P A National Stakes (IRE-G1) Heart of Darkness (by Glint of Gold) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Ivory Land.
Touch of Greatness is out of 1976 Test Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ivory Wand (by Sir Ivor), one of five graded or Group stakes winners produced from the Dedicate mare Natashka, the 1981 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. The best on the race course was Gregorian (by Graustark), winner of the 1980 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-G1). Natashka is also the second dam of 1988 Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St. Leger Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Dark Lomond, Group 2 winners South Atlantic and Mukaddamah, and Grade/Group 3 winners Forlene, Real Courage, Tatami, Shell Ginger, and Duluth.
Fun facts
Photo credits
Top: Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Darley at Jonabell in 2007. Used by permission.
Bottom: Candid photo of Elusive Quality with his longtime groom, Steve, taken by Jessica Morgan at Darley at Jonabell in 2007. Used by permission.
Race record
20 starts, 9 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, US$413,284
1996:
- 2nd King's Bishop Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
1997:
- 3rd Tom Fool Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont)
- Also set a new track record of 1:20.17 for seven furlongs on dirt at Gulfstream Park
1998:
- Won Jaipur Handicap (USA-G3, 7FT, Belmont)
- Won Poker Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Belmont; new world record 1:31.63)
As an individual
A handsome bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Elusive Quality combined good substance and bone with excellent conformation and a look of marked quality. He was a front runner by preference and was at his best if he could get an easy lead.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Elusive Quality sired 1371 winners (60.5%) and 136 stakes winners (6.0%) from 2266 named foals of racing age. Unfortunately, he did not always stamp his progeny with his own good looks and had a tendency to throw many coarse, awkward-looking individuals.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- Led the Australian juvenile sire list in 2010/11.
- 9th on the English general sire list in 2012.
- 7th on the North American broodmare sire list in 2019; 10th in 2017.
Per the Associação Brasileira de Criadores e Proprietários do Cavalo do Corrida (https://abcpcc.com,br/#):
- Led the Brazilian general sire list in 2014/15; 4th in 2013/14; 8th in 2015/16.
- 3rd on the Brazilian broodmare sire list in 2022/23; 4th in 2020/21 and 2023/24; 7th in 2021/22; 8th in 2019/20.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 2004; 5th in 2008; 7th in 2010.
- 10th on the American broodmare sire list in 2017.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the American general sire list in 2004.
Per Thoroughbred Times:
- Led the American general sire list in 2004.
Notable progeny
Ana Luisa (BRZ), Avenger of Light (BRZ), Birkin Bag (BRZ), Bonaparte (BRZ), Camarilla (AUS), Ce Ce (USA), Certify (USA), Colorado Girl (BRZ), Demonstrative (USA), El Capitan (USA), Elusive City (USA), Elusive Kate (USA), Last Kiss (BRZ), Maryfield (CAN), Quality Road (USA), Raven's Pass (USA), Sepoy (AUS), She's a Julie (USA), Shifty (AUS), Smarty Jones (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Alampur (ARG), Essential Quality (USA), For Flying (BRZ), Menino Do Rio (ARG), Mischief Magic (IRE), Noholdingback Bear (USA), Randomized (USA), Roy H (USA), Underpants (BRZ), Ushuaia Ibiza (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Elusive Quality was bred by Silver Springs Stud Farm, Inc., and Maire Costelloe. He was owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley breeding and racing operation. He was trained by Bill Mott. Elusive Quality entered stud in 1999 in Kentucky at Gainsborough Farm and moved to nearby Darley at Jonabell in 2007. Elusive Quality also shuttled to Darley Australia and to Stud TNT in Brazil for Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons. He was officially pensioned on June 21, 2017, and was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age on March 14, 2018.
Pedigree notes
Elusive Quality is inbred 4x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer and 1973 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Somethingroyal. He is also inbred 5x5x5 to Nasrullah and 5x5 to Princequillo. He is a half brother to French Group 2 winner Rossini (by Miswaki), who was highweighted in Ireland over 5 to 7 furlongs as a 3-year-old. Elusive Quality is also a half brother to Greathearted (by Giant's Causeway), dam of Grade 1-placed listed stakes winner Maybellene (by Lookin At Lucky).
Touch of Greatness, the dam of Elusive Quality, is an unraced half sister to 1984 German and Italian champion 3-year-old male Gold and Ivory (by Key to the Mint) and to Ivory Idol (by Alydar), dam of 1999 American champion 2-year-old male Anees (by Unbridled) and stakes winner Sorceror (by Summer Squall). Touch of Greatness is also a half sister to Radiant (by Foolish Pleasure), dam of Grade 3 winners Home of the Free and Poolesta (both by Hero's Honor) and of Group 1-placed Irish stakes winner Desert Fox (by Sadler's Wells), and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Couturier and French Group 3 winner Rosso Corsa. In addition, Touch of Greatness is a half sister to stakes-placed Land of Ivory (by The Minstrel), dam of 1990 G P A National Stakes (IRE-G1) Heart of Darkness (by Glint of Gold) and second dam of French Group 2 winner Ivory Land.
Touch of Greatness is out of 1976 Test Stakes (USA-G3) winner Ivory Wand (by Sir Ivor), one of five graded or Group stakes winners produced from the Dedicate mare Natashka, the 1981 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. The best on the race course was Gregorian (by Graustark), winner of the 1980 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-G1). Natashka is also the second dam of 1988 Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St. Leger Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Dark Lomond, Group 2 winners South Atlantic and Mukaddamah, and Grade/Group 3 winners Forlene, Real Courage, Tatami, Shell Ginger, and Duluth.
Fun facts
- Elusive Quality sired at least one champion in every country in which he stood.
- The Elusive Quality Stakes is a listed race at Belmont for horses aged 4 and up. It last ran in 2019 at 7 furlongs on turf.
Photo credits
Top: Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Darley at Jonabell in 2007. Used by permission.
Bottom: Candid photo of Elusive Quality with his longtime groom, Steve, taken by Jessica Morgan at Darley at Jonabell in 2007. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 11, 2024