ARTIC QUEST. 16 April 2012. Trans Island-Back The Queen. Owner-Ian Barran & Oakwood.
Artic Quest has raced on 13 occasions to date for another yard, and is yet to place in the first three, but he does have two pieces of form which suggest he has enough ability to win a race.
He is by the high class miler Trans Island, out of an unraced Bob Back mare, who has produced Fiesty Lass, a winner over hurdles for Gordon Elliott at Perth, back in 2013. Artic Quest made his debut in an Irish point to point at Oldcastle, in April 2016, he was a beaten third when falling at the last.He raced in a further two points in October, and November, but pulled up on both occasions
He made his rules debut for the County Wexford trainer J.A.Berry in a bumper at Wexford, in June 2017, weakening from two out, and coming home sixth of the seven runners.He made his hurdles debut 19 days later at Kilbeggan, but soon became detached and pulled up.Back in a bumper in July at Limerick, he raced keenly, weakening again, but running his best race yet by being beaten 19 lengths.
At Tramore in October, he showed his first real signs of ability when finishing forth in a maiden hurdle, staying on at one pace to be beaten nine and a half lengths, and earning a Racing Post Rating of 92.His final race of that season ended in disappointment later on that month, when pulling up at Wexford.
After his winter break he returned at Wexford in May 2018, but his jockey J. Moore pulled him up after the second jump, saying he had received a kick at the start, and was never travelling.He ran his best race to date, next time at Tramore, going down by just three and a half lengths, to finish forth, earning a best Racing Post Rating to date of 98.He raced a further three times in July, and August, tailing off twice, and pulling up.
Artic Quest raced twice more in 2019, finishing well behind at Wexford, on his seasonal debut in a novice hurdle, and then running in better class at Bellewstown, where he finished last of the five.
Artic Quest could make his stable debut for us at Cartmel this coming Sunday, in what would be his first ever appearance in handicap company.