| New Sire Crusade(USA) Out Of Quarantine |
KZN’s new speedy Group 1 winning stallion acquisition, Crusade(USA), has been released from the quarantine facility and has been received by Vaughn Marshall, where he will stay until he can be released (due to African Horse Sickness restrictions) and arrive at the Scott Bros for the coming season.
Vaughn reports that Crusade has come out of quarantine in good condition. “I am happy with the way he is looking, horses don’t usually take to quarantine too well but Crusade came out looking well.”
Bruce Le Roux, owner of Spring Valley Stud in the Midlands, said at the KZN Breeders AGM that he was fortunate to see Crusade in quarantine and describes him as “everything Anton said he was – a black horse, big, strong, a good walk with nice legs, good hocks, lovely head and a rangy neck – a very nice individual.”
Crusade’s sire Mr Greeley achieved a double earlier in February at Aqueduct in the USA with the Correction Handicap Listed over 1200m on dirt, in fast going. The race was for three year old fillies and mares.
Mr Greeley was the paternal grand-sire of the winner, Cluster Of Stars (by Greeley’s Galaxy), who won by a head from Nicole H (by Mr Greeley out of a Victory Gallop mare). The horse that came third was left behind Nicole H by eight lengths. Cluster Of Stars remains unbeaten after three starts.
Nicole H was a winner of the Interborough Handicap Listed, once again at Aqueduct over the same distance on 1 January 2013. She beat Mildy Offensive by one and a half lengths. Nicole H is a previous Group 2 winner in the States, taking home the Distaff Handicap in 2011 over 1400m, which she won by two and half lengths from a daughter of Forest Wildcat.
To date, Nicole H has won a Group 2, seven Listed races and placed second in three Listed races, and finishing second in the Gr 1 Princess Rooney Handicap, the Vagrancy and Barbara Fritchie Handicap – both in Group 2 company. She was a $115 000 Keeneland September Yearling sale graduate, sold by Taylor Made Sales. She is out of a Victory Gallop mare in turn out of a daughter of Storm Cat.
Sire Mr Greeley has produced 14 Group 1 winners and almost 60 Stakes Winners.
Crusade’s half-brother is two year old Cristoforo Colombo(USA), by Henrythenavigator, a winner who has also run second in the Railway Stakes Gr 2, third in the Coventry Stakes Gr 2 and fourth in the Middle Park Stakes Gr 1, all over distances of 1200m. Cristoforo Colombo has been earmarked as one of the favourites for the 2013 2000 Guineas.
Crusade only raced at two years of age, winning twice including the Gr 1 Middle Park Stakes and placing from six starts. He retired with a back injury. Crusade will be the first son of Mr Greeley to stand in KZN, and we look forward to welcoming him soon to Scott Bros.
If you would like to find out more information regarding Crusade, please contact Stuart Crawford at greenhill@mweb.co.za