RAINBOW QUEST JOINS ELITE BAND OF STALLIONS
RAINBOW
QUEST has been named as the latest chef-de-race by
Steven Roman, developer of the dosage index system of classifying
pedigrees.
Chef-de-races are stallions recognised for their long-term
influence on the breed, and are assigned types classified by the
amount of stamina they pass on to their progeny. The types range
from brilliant - the speediest - to professional, reflecting the
stoutest, with the categories in between known as intermediate,
classic and solid.
The dosage system is used to calculate the 'dosage index' of an
individual by giving a numerical value to each of the five
chef-de-race traits as they appear in a horse's four-generation
pedigree.
RAINBOW QUEST, who is
the 206th stallion to be named a chef-de-race by Roman and his
British-based colleague Steve Miller, has been categorised as
classic/solid as his progeny show their best at around 1m2f. His
own sire, Blushing Groom, was made a chef-de-race in the
brilliant/classic category.
Now 25 years old, RAINBOW
QUESThas spent his stud career at Banstead Manor
Stud in Newmarket, where, contrary to modern stallion trends, he
has never covered more than 75 mares in a season. His fee last
season was £25,000.
The sire of 93 stakes winners, his progeny include eight Classic
winners: Quest For Fame (1990 Derby), Knight's Baroness (1990 Irish
Oaks), Bright Generation (1993 Italian Oaks), Raintrap (1993 Prix
Royal Oak), Spectrum (1995 Irish 2,000 Guineas), Sunshack (1995
Prix Royal Oak), Nedawi (1998 St Leger), and Millenary (2000 St
Leger).
Other stand-out performers include the 1990 Prix de l'Arc de
Triomphe winner Saumarez, dual French Group 1 winner Croco Rouge,
the 1992 Racing Post Trophy winner Armiger, and the 1998 Moyglare
Stud Stakes winner Edabiya.
Also a broodmare sire of note, RAINBOW QUEST was the leading broodmare
sire in Britain and Ireland in 2003 and 2004, due to his
Derby-winning grandsons Kris Kin and North Light.
RAINBOW QUEST raced
for three seasons, winning on six occasions, including the
Coronation Cup and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he was the
beneficiary of the disqualification of Sagace.
He also finished second in the Irish Derby, Eclipse and Dewhurst
Stakes, and was third in the Prix du Jockey-Club behind Darshaan
and Sadler's Wells. Sadler's Wells is also a chef-de-race ranked as
a classic/solid.
Date:
19 September 2006