Quidura stays unbeaten in U.S. with soft turf win in Valley View

Quidura improved her stateside record to two-for-two and gave trainer Graham Motion his fourth stakes win of the Keeneland fall meet in Friday's $150,000 Valley View (G3).

The 7-2 third choice in a field of 12 three-year-old fillies, Quidura tracked in fourth under Junior Alvarado as Sky My Sky set a modest pace of :24.36 and :49.70 while closely followed by second choice My Impression on the soft turf. My Impression poked her head in front after six furlongs in 1:14.94, but Quidura had plenty of run to wear her down in the stretch despite drifting out approaching the wire.

Quidura won by 1 1/4 lengths, finished up 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.86 and paid $9.80, with 9-1 chance Linda rallying to grab the place from My Impression by two lengths. Azaelia, the 5-2 favorite coming off a fourth in the French Oaks (G1), finished a disappointing ninth.

"They had high hopes for her in Europe, but she bled in one of her races," said trainer Graham Motion, who was referring to her last-place finish in a Group 3 at Cologne in April. "(The owners) might keep her in training, but she might not run again this year. We'll see how things shake out."

Bred in Great Britain by owner Gestut Fahrhof, Quidura won at first asking in September 2015 at the prestigious Baden-Baden meet in Germany. She did not start again until the aforementioned stakes debut at Cologne, but made a favorable impression in her U.S. debut at Belmont on September 18, winning a first-level allowance by a length while earning a 91 BRIS Speed rating. Her record now stands at 4-3-0-0, $141,777.

By Dubawi and out of the Acatenango mare Quetena, Quidura is a half-sister to German highweights Querari and Quasillo. Her second dam was another German highweight, Quebrada, and her third dam was Grade 1 winner Queen to Conquer. This is also the family of German Oaks (G1) winner Silvester Lady.

(Coady Photography)