Elusive Quality (Gone West–Touch of Greatness, by Hero's Honor) has been pensioned from stud duties at Sheikh Mohammed's Jonabell Farm, the farm announced Wednesday. The 24-year-old stallion is the sire of 2004 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner Smarty Jones, as well as Australian champion Sepoy (Aus) and English champion Elusive Kate.
“Elusive Quality has had two great careers but it's the right time for him just to relax and take it easy here at Jonabell,” said Dan Pride, COO of Godolphin in America. “But given the success of his current sons at stud, along with the production from his daughters, his will certainly be a legacy that will last for quite some time.”
Racing in Sheikh Mohammed's colors, Elusive Quality won the 1998 GIII Jaipur H. and set a world record for a mile in 1:31.63 while winning that year's GIII Poker H. for trainer Bill Mott. He also set the seven-furlong track record of 1:20.17 at Gulfstream Park in 1997. On the board in 14 of 20 starts, the bay won nine times and earned $413,284 before retiring to Gainsborough Farm, then owned by the sheikh's eldest brother Sheikh Maktoum, in 1999.
Following Quiet American, Elusive Quality became the second stallion to stand in America for Sheikh Mohammed. After Sheikh Maktoum's passing, Elusive Quality and Quiet American were relocated to Jonabell in 2007.
Elusive Quality, who began his stud career for $10,000, produced 11 black-type winners from his first crop, including French Group 1 winner Elusive City. His second crop included Eclipse champions Smarty Jones and Maryfield, winner of the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint. By 2005, his stud fee had risen to $100,000.
Elusive Quality is also the sire of 2008 GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass, multiple Grade I winner Quality Road and 2012 G1 Shadwell Fillies' Mile winner Certify.
“Smarty Jones, Raven's Pass, Sepoy, Quality Road–he was the type of sire that could get you any kind of horse–dirt, turf, synthetic, and they could go short, middle or long,” Pride said. “He truly was a very special and versatile sire.”
Elusive Quality has sired a total of 241 worldwide stakes winners to date, 127 black-type winners and 51 graded or group winners–14 of those at Grade I level.
As a broodmare sire, he is represented by 61 black-type winners, with five winning at the highest level, including GI Alcibiades winner Gomo (Uncle Mo) and G1 Darley Prix Morny winner No Nay Never (Scat Daddy). His 61st came Tuesday when Godolphin's Sound And Silence (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) captured the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot.
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