Rainbow Quest (horse)

Rainbow Quest (1981–2007) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion broodmare sire.

Background

Rainbow Quest was a bay horse with two white socks and a small white star bred in Kentucky by British businessman, Alan Clore. He was sired by Blushing Groom out of the mare I Will Follow.

Racing career

1983: two-year-old season

Rainbow Quest began his racing career at Newmarket Racecourse in August 1983 when he defeated twenty-nine opponents in the El Capistrano Stakes. In the following month he beat nineteen rivals in the Haynes, Hanson and Clark Conditions Stakes over one mile at Newbury Racecourse. In October, Rainbow Quest was matched against El Gran Senor, Siberian Express (winner of the Prix Morny) and Superlative (July Stakes) in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. El Gran Senor took a decisive lead in the closing stages but Rainbow Quest cut his advantage back to half a length at the line. In the 1983 International Classification, Rainbow Quest was rated the second best two-year-old in Europe, one pound behind El Gran Senor.^[1]

1984: three-year-old season

On his three-year-old debut Rainbow Quest was beaten a short-head by Lear Fan in the Craven Stakes and then finished fourth behind El Gran Senor, Chief Singer and Lear Fan in the 2000 Guineas. Rainbow Quest was then diverted from the Epsom Derby to the Prix du Jockey Club in which he finished third behind Darshaan and Sadler's Wells. He was then sent to Ireland where he finished second in the Irish Derby, beaten a length by El Gran Senor. In August Rainbow Quest returned to England and recorded an easy and impressive victory in the Great Voltigeur Stakes. On his final appearance of the season he contested the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longcamp in October. He was made favourite for the race by British bookmakers but ran very poorly finishing eighteenth of the twenty-two runners behind Sagace.^[2]

1985: four-year-old season

Rainbow Quest began his third season with an easy win in the Clive Graham Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in May. He then ran in the Coronation Cup at Epsom Downs Racecourse and recorded an impressive win from Old Country. In July Rainbow Quest finished second to Pebbles in the Eclipse Stakes and third behind Petoski and Oh So Sharp in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. On his final appearance, Rainbow Quest ran for the second time in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He finished a neck behind Sagace but was awarded the race when French horse was disqualified for causing interference.^[3]

As a sire

Retired to stud duty for owner Juddmonte Farms, Rainbow Quest was the sire of more than 100^[4] group/stakes winners including:

• Quest for Fame (b. 1987) - won G1s Epsom Derby, Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap
• Saumarez (b. 1987) - won G1s Grand Prix de Paris, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
• Raintrap (b. 1990) - won G1s Prix Royal-Oak, Rothmans International, G2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap
• Urgent Request (b. 1990) - won G1 Santa Anita Handicap
• Rainbow Dancer (b. 1991) - won G1s Hollywood Invitational Turf Handicap, Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes
• Sunshack (b. 1991) - won G1s Critérium de Saint-Cloud, Prix Royal-Oak, Coronation Cup
• Spectrum (b. 1992) - won G1s Irish 2,000 Guineas, Champion Stakes
• Fiji (b. 1994) - 1998 American Champion Female Turf Horse, won G1s Yellow Ribbon Stakes, Gamely Stakes
• Croco Rouge (b. 1995) - won G1s Prix Lupin, Prix d'Ispahan
• High and Low (b. 1995) - won G1 Yorkshire Oaks
• Nedawi (b. 1995) - won British Classic St. Leger Stakes
• Edabiya (b.1996) - won Moyglare Stud Stakes
• Millenary (b. 1997) - won British Classic St. Leger Stakes
• Colour Vision (2008, from Rainbow Quest's final crop of foals) - won Ascot Gold Cup

Riviera Red, from Rainbow Quest's 2000 crop, was a moderate racehorse, but attracted some attention when he was the equine model for the proposed White Horse at Ebbsfleet statue.^[5]

Rainbow Quest was the Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 2003 and 2004. Among his daughters' top runners were:

• Rebelline (b. 1998) - won G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup
• Marotta (b. 1999) - won G1 Prix Saint-Alary
• Rakti (b. 1999) - won G1s: Derby Italiano, Premio Presidente della Repubblica, Champion Stakes, Prince of Wales's Stakes, Lockinge Stakes
• Kris Kin (b. 2000) - won Epsom Derby
• Powerscourt (b. 2000) - won G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, Arlington Million
• North Light (b. 2001) - won Epsom Derby
• Footstepsinthesand (b. 2002) - won 2,000 Guineas Stakes
• Look Here (b. 2005) - won Epsom Oaks
• Elusive Wave (b. 2006) - won G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
• Auroras Encore (b. 2002)- won Grand National

As a result of irreparable complications following surgery for colic, Rainbow Quest was euthanized on July 7, 2007 at Juddmonte's Banstead Manor Stud near the village of Cheveley in East Cambridgeshire.^[6]

Pedigree

References

• Rainbow Quest's pedigree and partial racing stats
• Rainbow Quest in Designing Speed in the Racehorse (p. 176, 177) by Ken McLean at Google Books