Maine Chance Farms’ resident Querari made headlines at Turffontein on Saturday with sons Quantum Theory and Sheldon finishing first and second in the Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes.
One of South Africa’s consistently successful sires, Querari is out of the mare Quetena, who continues to make her presence felt through her growing list of high-class descendants.
The majestic Querari at home. Pic- Freemanstallions
In recent events, Quetena’s six-year old grandson, Spirit Dancer (Frankel) won the Gr3 Sky Bet and Symphony Group Strensall Stakes at York, making this a hatrick of wins. Part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, the gelding could be focusing on the Bahrain Trophy later in the year.
Queen’s Dream (Oasis Dream) is a full-sister to Listed Doncaster Mile winner, Sharja Bridge and the prominent Cape stallion Querari.
The twice Leading Sire of 2Yos in South Africa, had another memorable season in 2022-2023. Querari’s five stakes winners last season including Gr1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes winner Bavarian Beauty, Champion Juvenile Cup hero Questor, and Somerset 1200 victor Underworld.
A winner of the Gr1 Premio Presidente della Repubblica and Germany’s Champion Older Horse of 2010, Querari has been responsible for 35 stakes winners thus far, including the Gr1 winning Equus Champion Rio Querari, among others.
Despite suffering from well documented fertility problems, Querari’s half-brother Quasillo (Sea the Stars) has also made his mark on the South African turf.
Quasillo daughter Ameena (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
From just 30 registered foals, this chestnut, was responsible for Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer, Golden Slipper/Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Ameena, and Quasiforsure. The latter finished second to subsequent Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion in last season’s Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial, and grabbed a controversial second in the 2023 Listed Gordon’s Gin Jet Master Stakes.
Quetena ranks as the granddam of the very useful Quinault, an Oasis Dream three-parts brother to the aforementioned Querari. The 3yo bay gelding reeled off six wins in a row before finishing third most recently in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Sprint.
Quinault was produced by Quetena’s Dansili sired non-racing daughter Queimada. Another daughter of Quetena, Quidura, enjoyed success in July of this year when her three-year-old son Jeff Koons (Frankel) won a novice stakes at Newmarket. Sired by Dubawi, Quidura was a top-class racemare who won all of the Gr2 Ballston Spa Stakes, Gr2 Canadian Stakes and Gr3 Valley View Stakes, during a career campaigned in Canada, Germany and the US.
Quidura was unlucky not to win a Gr1 race, and finished second, beaten just a head by the outstanding Lady Eli (Divine Park), in the 2017 Gr1 Diana Stakes.
Quetena, daughter of dual German champion Quebrada, won three times and finished second in the Listed Premio Archidamia. Safe to say, however, she has really made a name for herself at stud.
