Special Duty

Special Duty
French racing colours of Khalid Abdullah
Sire	Hennessy
Grandsire	Storm Cat
Dam	Quest to Peak
Damsire	Distant View
Sex	Mare
Foaled	12 February 2007
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Juddmonte Farms
Owner	Khalid Abdulla
Trainer	Criquette Head-Maarek
Record	10: 4-2-1
Earnings	£722,059
Major wins
Prix Robert Papin (2009) Cheveley Park Stakes (2009) 1000 Guineas (2010) Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (2010)
Awards
European Champion Two-year-old Filly (2009)

Special Duty (foaled 12 February 2007) is a British-bred, French-trained champion Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She won two of her four starts as a two-year-old including the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes and the Group Two Prix Robert Papin and was named European Champion Two-year old Filly at the Cartier Racing Awards. As a three-year-old she recorded a rare double when taking the British Classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and its French equivalent, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp. What made the achievement more unusual was that in both classics she crossed the line in second place and was awarded the victory following a disqualification.

Special Duty is a chestnut mare with a white blaze bred in Britain by her owner, Khalid Abdulla's Juddmonte Farms. She was sired by the American stallion Hennessy, whose other progeny included Johannesburg, Grand Armee and Henny Hughes. Special Duty's dam, the Kentucky-bred Quest to Peak, made no impression as a racehorse, but was a sister of Sightseek and a half-sister of Tates Creek (Yellow Ribbon Stakes). As a descendant of the British mare Rosary, Special Duty came from the same branch of Thoroughbred Family 23-b which produced Tim Tam, Winning Colors and Chief's Crown. The filly was sent into training with Criquette Head-Maarek at Chantilly and was ridden in all her wins by Stephane Pasquier.