Even after a poor break, Elusive Quality’s champion son Sepoy was not to be denied in his first G1 race at three, eventually catching up with the field and pulling away for an impressive win in the six-furlong Manikato Stakes in Australia.
To put this win in perspective, no horse in the modern era has won the G1 Golden Slipper at two and then returned as a three-year-old to win a G1 sprint race against older horses. The last Golden Slipper winner to achieve the feat was Manikato when he defeated his more seasoned rivals in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (then Marlboro Cup) over seven furlongs at Caulfield in 1978. The only other Golden Slipper winner to beat the older horses in a Group 1 race as a spring three-year-old was Inspired in the 1984 George Main Stakes, but that race was over one mile..
Bred by Darley Australia, Sepoy is out of the Danehill mare Watchful, who is a full-sister to G1 winner Camarena. Following in the family tradition, Camarena is the dam of G1 winner Camarilla, also by Elusive Quality.
Elusive Quality has sired some of the world's top runners. among them are G1 Breeders' Cup Classic hero Raven's Pass, G1 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, and other G1 winner Quality Road. Recently, his juvenile daughter Elusive Kate took the G3 Prix Du Calvados as will be racing in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on “Arc” day.
