Questing (GB)
April 13, 2009 – 2019
Hard Spun (USA) x Chercheuse (USA), by Seeking the Gold (USA)
Family 13-c
April 13, 2009 – 2019
Hard Spun (USA) x Chercheuse (USA), by Seeking the Gold (USA)
Family 13-c
While she showed fair form on turf in England as a 2-year-old, Questing was a much better filly on dirt at 3. In a mediocre year for American sophomore fillies, back-to-back impressive Grade 1 scores in the Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1) and Alabama Stakes (USA-G1) were enough to secure a championship. She produced one stakes winner in a brief broodmare career.
Race record
11 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 1 thirds US$876,876 (including converted English earnings)
2011:
2012:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2012)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the 2012 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Alabama Stakes and Cotillion Stakes, 11 pounds below top-rated female Black Caviar (an undefeated champion in Australia) but tops among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
As an individual
A hard-pulling bay filly, Questing had a high cruising speed. In both her Grade 1 wins, she was unable to maintain a straight course in the stretch, bearing out in the Coaching Club American Oaks and weaving erratically in the Alabama, possibly because of shying from the whip or losing mental focus. She pulled up with an eye injury following her final start, the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (USA-G1), and, after having had an ankle chip removed, was progressing toward a return at 4 when she suffered an attack of pneumonia that led to her retirement.
As a producer
Questing produced four named foals of racing age; all have started and three have won. Her last foal, the 2018 filly Adventuring (by Pioneerof the Nile), became her dam's only stakes winner by taking the listed Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park on March 27, 2021.
Connections
Questing was bred by Darley Stud and raced in the colors of Godolphin Racing. She was trained by John Gosden at 2 and by Kiaran McLaughlin at 3. She was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Irad Ortiz Jr.. Questing died in 2019.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2007 King’s Bishop Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hard Spun (by Danzig), Questing is inbred 3x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, 5x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native, and 5x6x5x6 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer, the sire of Raise a Native and the broodmare sire of Northern Dancer. She is out of multiple French listed stakes winner Chercheuse, a half sister to English listed stakes winner Asawer (by Darshaan).
Chercheuse and Asawer are out of the Storm Bird mare Sassy Bird, a full sister to Irish Group 2 winner Mukaddamah (a champion sire in Italy) and to restricted stakes winner Contempt. Sassy Bird is also a half sister to English Group 3 winner Tatami (by Lyphard) and to multiple listed stakes winner Mariuka (by Danzig), dam of Grade 3 winner Lydgate (by Pulpit). In addition, Sassy Bird is a half sister to Queen of Women (by Sharpen Up), dam of Grade 3 winner Antoniette (by Nicholas) and multiple listed stakes winner French Charmer (by French Deputy) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Switch.
Sassy Bird and her siblings are out of the Never Bend mare Tash, a half sister to 1980 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Gregorian (by Graustark), multiple Grade 2 winner Truly Bound (by In Reality), and Grade/Group 3 winners Arkadina (by Ribot), Blood Royal (by Ribot), and Ivory Wand (by Sir Ivor). The next dam in Questing’s tail-female line is 1966 Alabama Stakes winner Natashka (by Dedicate), the 1981 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: March 9, 2021
Race record
11 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 1 thirds US$876,876 (including converted English earnings)
2011:
- 2nd Oh So Sharp Stakes (ENG-G3, 7FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Prestige Stakes (ENG-G3, 7FT, Goodwood)
2012:
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Cotillion Stakes (USA-G2, 8,5FD, Parx Racing)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2012)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the 2012 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Alabama Stakes and Cotillion Stakes, 11 pounds below top-rated female Black Caviar (an undefeated champion in Australia) but tops among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
As an individual
A hard-pulling bay filly, Questing had a high cruising speed. In both her Grade 1 wins, she was unable to maintain a straight course in the stretch, bearing out in the Coaching Club American Oaks and weaving erratically in the Alabama, possibly because of shying from the whip or losing mental focus. She pulled up with an eye injury following her final start, the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (USA-G1), and, after having had an ankle chip removed, was progressing toward a return at 4 when she suffered an attack of pneumonia that led to her retirement.
As a producer
Questing produced four named foals of racing age; all have started and three have won. Her last foal, the 2018 filly Adventuring (by Pioneerof the Nile), became her dam's only stakes winner by taking the listed Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park on March 27, 2021.
Connections
Questing was bred by Darley Stud and raced in the colors of Godolphin Racing. She was trained by John Gosden at 2 and by Kiaran McLaughlin at 3. She was ridden to her Coaching Club American Oaks score by Irad Ortiz Jr.. Questing died in 2019.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2007 King’s Bishop Stakes (USA-G1) winner Hard Spun (by Danzig), Questing is inbred 3x4 to the great international sire Northern Dancer, 5x4 to 1963 American co-champion 2-year-old male Raise a Native, and 5x6x5x6 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer, the sire of Raise a Native and the broodmare sire of Northern Dancer. She is out of multiple French listed stakes winner Chercheuse, a half sister to English listed stakes winner Asawer (by Darshaan).
Chercheuse and Asawer are out of the Storm Bird mare Sassy Bird, a full sister to Irish Group 2 winner Mukaddamah (a champion sire in Italy) and to restricted stakes winner Contempt. Sassy Bird is also a half sister to English Group 3 winner Tatami (by Lyphard) and to multiple listed stakes winner Mariuka (by Danzig), dam of Grade 3 winner Lydgate (by Pulpit). In addition, Sassy Bird is a half sister to Queen of Women (by Sharpen Up), dam of Grade 3 winner Antoniette (by Nicholas) and multiple listed stakes winner French Charmer (by French Deputy) and second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Switch.
Sassy Bird and her siblings are out of the Never Bend mare Tash, a half sister to 1980 Joe McGrath Memorial Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Gregorian (by Graustark), multiple Grade 2 winner Truly Bound (by In Reality), and Grade/Group 3 winners Arkadina (by Ribot), Blood Royal (by Ribot), and Ivory Wand (by Sir Ivor). The next dam in Questing’s tail-female line is 1966 Alabama Stakes winner Natashka (by Dedicate), the 1981 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Books and media
- The New York Racing Association’s footage of Questing’s win in the 2012 Coaching Club American Oaks can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEca3wlDByg.
- The New York Racing Association’s footage of Questing’s win in the 2012 Alabama Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuwQ4qSZmQE.
Fun facts
- Although Questing defeated 2012 American champion 2-year-old filly My Miss Aurelia in the polls for the 2012 Eclipse Award for American champion 3-year-old filly (106 votes to 102), she was outfinished twice by that rival in 2012 (including My Miss Aurelia’s win by a head in the Cotillion Stakes, albeit while in receipt of 7 pounds) and never defeated her during the season (which, in My Miss Aurelia’s case, only lasted three starts).
- Questing was the first Grade 1 winner to be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., the Eclipse Award winner as outstanding American jockey in 2018.
Last updated: March 9, 2021