Crusade Half-Sister Adds Gr2 To Impeccable Race Record

Seventh Heaven, a dual Gr1 Oaks winner added to her record by winning the Gr2 Dunaden Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. The filly is a Galileo half-sister to KZN sire Crusade.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained four-year-old was held-up in a share of third in the five strong field as Pinzolo made the running from Galapiat, Ryan Moore asked the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks winner to close fully three furlongs from home.

Seventh Heaven hit the front with a quarter of a mile to run and kept on strongly to make a winning seasonal reappearance in the Group Two contest.

Sky Bet make Seventh Heaven 4/1 from 6/1 for the Coronation Cup and 7/1 from 10/1 for the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien: “She’s a lovely mare, she gets a mile and a half well and she loves good ground or better and is progressing all the time.

“Obviously she was a very good mare last year and physically she’s doing very well. She ran some very good races last year.

“We came here today with one eye on the Coronation Cup. We tried to get a run in between and this race might work for her. We were delighted with her in Dubai and this race was lovely. You’d have to be very happy for her.

“She’s a big high cruise and then when you drop her down, she takes a little time to get into gear; that’s the way she is. Hopefully, she’s a mare to look forward to this year.”

Her jockey Ryan Moore said: “That was very smooth. Quick ground is very important to her. She hasn’t had her conditions since the Yorkshire Oaks and she has done remarkably well from three to four.”

In addition to her two Gr1 wins, she placed second in the Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic and fourth in the Gr1 Breeders Cup for Fillies and Mares.

Crusade average just over R133 000 for 16 yearlings sold at Nationals – his top price R400 000 for the half-brother to Wild One and Save The Rhino.

His progeny have all placed 26 / 26 and have three early winners between them. Crusade himself is a Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner and stands at Scott Bros.