Crusade Produces Double At Greyville

Crusade’s three year olds are flying and he produced his first double yesterday at Greyville for trainers Paul Lafferty and Dean Kannemeyer, whilst KZN breeder Mr Shakti Bunwarie enjoyed a double on the day.

Breeder Shakti Bunwarie and owners K and K Syndicate (Nom: Mrs K S Mahabeer) produced two winners with Crusade and Eightfold Path (both resident sires at Scott Bros) – both horses closely related out of Shakti’s Rathmor-based broodmares Bejewelled Beauty, and her daughter Awesome Beauty.

Exquisite Eight, by Crusade out of Bejewelled Beauty by Rambo Dancer, is  trained by Paul Lafferty. The three year old is a half-sister to Gr3 placed Awesome Beauty, and placed four times prior to her win yesterday over 1400m by almost two lengths.

Mr Bunwarie’s second winner of the day by Eightfold Path is Awesome Angel One – the first foal of Awesome Angel, trained by Frank Robinson. After placing twice previously, the handsome Eightfold Path colt won over 1400m. The Eightfold Path’s are finding their feet as three year olds and impressing with their good looks.

The aptly named Slightly Scottish, bred by Stewart MacGregor in partnership with Mr R Williams and owned by Stewart with Mr Ronnie Rowley, had placed twice previously to his impressive win on the turf by almost two lengths. A typical stamp of Crusade, Slightly Scottish is out of imported mare Lilly Pilly by Diesis.

Crusade’s half-sister by Galileo, Seventh Heaven, was not disgraced when she finished fifth in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Turf last week behind the boys Talismanic  and Highland Reel. The twice Gr1 winning mare has an impressive race record, defeating Found in one of her Gr1 victories and finishing second in Dubai to the boys in the Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner Crusade stands for a fee of R20 000 this season and has produced 13 winners this season.