Quevega (foaled 11 April 2004) is a retired French-bred Irish-trained

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

mare, best known for winning the

David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to mares aged four years or older. ...

at the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Race ...

a record six times in a row, beating the previous record set by Golden Miller's five consecutive Gold Cups in the 1930s. She also won the

World Series Hurdle The Champion Stayers Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during i ...

at Punchestown over three miles four times, but was beaten in her attempt at a fifth successive win at the 2014 Festival.

Background

Pedigree

Quevega was bred by Pierre Rives in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and is owned by the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate. Her sire, Robin des Champs, is a successful National Hunt stallion and a grandson of

Mill Reef Mill Reef (23 February 1968 – 2 February 1986) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a three-year career from 1970 to 1972, he won twelve of fourteen races and finished second in the other two. The horse w ...

. He has also sired top chaser

Sir Des Champs Sir Des Champs (28 May 2006 – 18 May 2018) was a French-bred, Irish-trained AQPS racehorse who competed in National Hunt races. After winning only one of his five races in his native country, Sir Des Champs was transferred to Ireland and w ...

. Her dam, Vega, is a granddaughter of

Prix Ganay The Prix Ganay is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,100 metres (about 1 mile and 2½ furlongs) at L ...

winner Carmarthen. She is a 16hh bay mare, not big but “as strong as an ox”.

Early career

Quevega began her career in France in 2007, where she was trained by B. Watrigant. She won her first race in September at Vichy over twelve furlongs, and added a further two victories before being transferred to Ireland and put into training with Champion Trainer

Willie Mullins William Peter Mullins (born 15 September 1956) is an Irish racehorse horse trainer, trainer and former jockey. He is a nineteen-time List of Irish National Hunt races, Irish National Hunt Champion trainer. Mullins is the most successful traine ...

Career in Ireland

2008 season

On her Irish debut in February, Quevega won a maiden hurdle race at

Punchestown Punchestown Racecourse is located in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland. It is known as the home of Irish Jumps Racing and plays host to the annual Punchestown Irish Nationa ...

by six lengths under

Davy Condon Davy Condon (born ~1984/1985) is an Irish people, Irish National hunt racing jockey in Great Britain and Ireland. Condon’s father, Michael Condon, was an amateur jockey. His father rode for Jimmy Murphy (trainer), Jimmy Murphy and Charles Byr ...

. She reappeared in April to win the Duggan Profiles Novice Hurdle at

Gowran Park Gowran Park is a horse race course in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the Annely Estate near the village of Gowran. The first meeting was held in 1914. and the first ever racecourse commentary in Ireland took place here in 1952. Gowra ...

, this time ridden by

Ruby Walsh Rupert "Ruby" Walsh (born 14 May 1979) is an Irish former jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen. Widely regarded as one of the greatest National Hunt racing, National Hunt ...

. She was then stepped up in company and ran in the Grade 1 Punchestown Champion 4YO Hurdle, where she finished ninth to Won In The Dark. She returned to France to run in the Prix Alain du Breil at Auteuil, where she finished third (just behind stablemate and future Champion Hurdler

Hurricane Fly Hurricane Fly (foaled 5 April 2004) is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in hurdle races when under the care of trainer Willie Mullins at Closutton in County Carlow in Ireland. He is a dual winner of the C ...

) before being put away for the season.

2009 season

Quevega did not reappear for eight months before making her belated debut in a two-mile four furlong hurdle race at

. Sent off the 4/5 favourite, she won easily by four lengths under Ruby Walsh. The following month, she headed to the

to run in the newly established David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. Also in the field was the 2008 winner United and Ascot Hurdle winner Chomba Womba. Racing in midfield, Quevega made rapid progress from the third last hurdle and stormed up the hill to win impressively by fourteen lengths, giving Walsh his first winner of the week. Quevega then took on the top two mile hurdlers in the

Punchestown Champion Hurdle The Punchestown Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and duri ...

over two miles, but could only finish third to Grade 1 winner Solwhit and

Champion Hurdle The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt racing, National Hunt Hurdling (horse race), hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to Horse racing, horses aged four years ...

victor

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...

. She was again sent to Auteuil and ran in the Prix la Barka, but could only finish ninth to Portal's Toy and suffered an injury afterwards.

2010 season

Quevega did not race again until the Cheltenham Festival the next year, where she again ran in the Mares’ Race. This time she faced Carole's Legacy, a classy mare who regularly faced geldings and Voler La Vedette, who had previously beaten Supreme Novices Hurdle winner

Go Native Go native or variants may refer to: * Go Native, an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse Going Native *''Going Native'', travel book by Eric Muspratt 1936 *''Going Native'', by Oliver St John Gogarty 1940 *''Going Native'', novel by Stephen Wright 1 ...

in a Grade 3 race. Although the winning distance was not as far as the previous year, Quevega still won with complete authority by over four lengths, after making her move approaching the last flight. Jockey

described as "a great mare". She next ran in the Grade 1

over three miles at the

Punchestown Festival Punchestown Racecourse is located in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland. It is known as the home of Irish Jumps Racing and plays host to the annual Punchestown Irish Nationa ...

. Under Paul Townend (deputising for the injured Ruby Walsh), she comfortably beat Bensalem and stablemate Mourad by three lengths.

2011 season

Quevega once again made her seasonal debut at the Cheltenham Festival when attempting to win a third consecutive Mares Hurdle despite being “a gallop short” according to her trainer. Her sternest opponent was probably

Warfield Mares' Hurdle The Warfield Mares' Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to fillies and mares aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of about 2 miles 7½ furlongs (2 miles 7 ...

winner Sparky May, but Quevega showed she was different class in winning by ten lengths virtually unextended. A return to

saw her win a second World Series Hurdle despite a bad mistake at the last, beating Mourad one and a quarter lengths with

Coral Cup The Coral Cup is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 m ...

winner Carlito Brigante third and Voler La Vedette in fourth.

2012 season

Quevega made a bid for a four-timer in the Mares Hurdle off a similar prolonged break as the previous two years, and again was rated a short priced favourite to do so. In the race she quickened to lead approaching the last to beat Kentford Grey Lady by four lengths. This year, the

saw a clash between Quevega and her old rival Voler La Vedette, who had won the

Hatton's Grace Hurdle The Hatton's Grace Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (4,02 ...

that season and was fresh off an excellent second place to

Big Buck's Big Buck's (foaled 16 April 2003) is a retired National Hunt racing, National Hunt horse racing, racehorse trained in Britain by Paul Nicholls (horse racing), Paul Nicholls. He is owned by businessman Andy Stewart and specialised in racing ove ...

in the

World Hurdle The Stayers' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain. It is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 mi ...

Cheltenham Cheltenham () is a historic spa town and borough adjacent to the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716, and claims to be the mo ...

. The race boiled down to a duel between the two mares approaching the straight, but Quevega stayed on the best to defeat her opponent by over five lengths, with Mourad once again being placed. Trainer

described her as “a real good mare”.

2013 season

After reigning World Hurdler

suffered a season-ending injury, there was speculation that Quevega might attempt to win that race rather than go for a five-timer in the Mares Hurdle and she was made favourite accordingly. However, Mullins confirmed that the mares’ race was her target and Quevega once again lined up on the back of a long absence and as an odds on favourite. Also in the field was the

Nicky Henderson Nicholas John Henderson (born 10 December 1950) is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer six times. Background His father was Johnny Henderson who was one of the founders of the Racecourse Holdings Tr ...

trained Une Artiste, who had won the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle the previous year. The race did not go smoothly for Quevega, as she was crowded in and stumbled at the top of the hill, losing her position as the field quickened. She progressed to fifth place approaching the last, before coming with a late burst to beat the French mare Sirene D’Ainay in the final half furlong. In winning the race for a fifth consecutive year, she equalled the feat of

Golden Miller Golden Miller (1927–1957) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who is the most successful Cheltenham Gold Cup horse ever, winning the race in five consecutive years between 1932 and 1936. He also is the only horse to win both of the United Kingdom's p ...

, who won five

Cheltenham Gold Cup The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlon ...

s in the 1930s.

2014 season

At the Cheltenham festival, Quevega starting as the 8-11 favourite won her sixth straight Mares' Hurdle ridden by

. With this win, Quevega became the first horse in the history to win at six consecutive Cheltenham Festivals. On May 1 Quevega attempted to win the World Series Hurdle at Punchestown for the fifth straight year but despite rallying over the last, she went down by a length and a quarter to 20/1 shot Jetson, ridden by Davy Russell. Trainer Willie Mullins confirmed after the race that the mare had run for the last time and had been retired.

Retirement

On 15 May 2015 Quevega gave birth to her first foal, a filly by Beat Hollow. Princess Vega won one race before being retired to stud. On 6 March 2017 Quevega gave birth to a second foal, a colt by Walk In The Park, who was named Facile Vega. In 2022 Facile Vega won in the

Champion Bumper The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Great Britain which is open to racing horses aged four to six years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 m ...

at the Cheltenham Festival. By the end of the 2022/23 season, he had won another three Grade 1 races. Facile Vega was followed in 2018 by a full-sister Aurora Vega, who won the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle in 2025. Quevega then foaled a

Camelot Camelot is a legendary castle and Royal court, court associated with King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and, since the Lancelot-Grail cycle, eventually came to be described ...

filly in 2019, an

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

filly in 2020 and another Walk In The Park colt in 2022.

References

{{reflist

External links

Racing Post Profile
2004 racehorse births Racehorses bred in France Racehorses trained in Ireland Cheltenham Festival winners Non-Thoroughbred racehorses