Elusive Quality gets G1 double in Brazil

Elusive Quality scored a G1 double in Brazil on November 8th, as three-year-old filly Birkin Bag won the G1 Grande Premio Diana (Brazilian Oaks), and three-year-old colt Bonaparte took the G1 Grande Premio Derby Paulista (Brazilian Derby).  Both races were run at Cidade Jardim in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

In the mile-and-a-quarter Grande Premio Diana, Birkin Bag was near the back of the pack down the backstretch, moved up the rail around the turn to be in contention, and ran down the leaders in the final strides to win by a neck.  Finishing second was another daughter of Elusive Quality in Last Kiss, the recent winner of the G1 Grande Premio Henrique at Cidade Jardim on October 5th.  Birkin Bag is out of the Woodman mare Princesa Rafaela, who was G2-placed in Brazil.  Her second dam, Sweet Eternity, was Horse of the Year and Champion three-year-old filly in Brazil, and was a Brazilian Oaks winner herself. 

In the mile-and-a-half Derby Paulista, Bonaparte was in mid-pack down the backstretch, moved up around the turn, took the lead in mid-stretch, and drew away to win impressively by about five lengths.  Bonaparte is out of the Know Heights mare Princesa Carina, who was a dual G2 winner in Argentina.  His dam is a half-sister to G2 Oak Tree Mile winner Out of Control, who was multiple G1-placed in the USA. 

Both horses were bred in Brazil by Stud TNT.  

Elusive Quality is now the sire of 13 worldwide G1 winners.  His best runners include Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, Australian Champion Sepoy, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass, and multiple G1 winner and leading freshman sire Quality Road. 

Elusive Quality will stand the 2015 breeding season for $40,000 live foal, stands and nurses.