Crusade Produces First Winner!
Miss Millionaire galloped home to an easy victory for her sire Crusade, winning her debut impressively by over a length from trainer Belinda Impey and owners Messrs P Gounden, J Jacobs & E H Seedat.
The filly, bred by Bruce Le Roux of Spring Valley Stud, sold for just R70 000 at the 2016 KZN Yearling Sale that took place at Sibaya.
She is out of Really Rich by Only A Pound, the latter a former sire of Scott Bros, who currently stand the Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner, Crusade. Winning over 1000m on the Polytrack at Greyville, Miss Millionaire is a half-sibling to six winners.
Crusade’s pedigree was further catapulted into the limelight in 2016 when his Galileo half-sister, the beautifully named Seventh Heaven, won two European Gr1’s for trainer Aiden O’ Brien – her victories including the Gr1 Irish Oaks and Gr1 York Oaks, including the defeat of the brilliant filly and Arc winner, Found. Their dam La Traviata also produced Gr2 and Gr1 Middle Park Stakes placed son of Henrythenavigator, Cristoforo Columbo.
Crusade stamps his progeny in no uncertain terms – all carrying their sires black coats and little to no markings, and his athleticsm and substance.
Their good looks did no go unnoticed at sales this year, and at the Nationals in April 2016, his 18 yearlings averaged a very impressive price of R160 000 each.
His top priced colt sold for R350 000 at the National Yearling Sale, a magnificent yearling from Clifton Stud. The colt not only topped the National sale for his sire, but at the CTS Ready To Run Sale later in the year Wheels Are Up again achieved the top price for Crusade, the handsome individual purchased by Mayfair Speculators for R700 000. His dam is a three parts sister to Gr1 winner, Captain America.
Crusade is owned by the KZN Breeders in a syndicate and he has been very well supported each year with full books since his arrival in South Africa. The Coolmore-owned colt by Mr Greeley had his career cut short due to a back injury, and he was Timeform Rated 114. His dam La Traviata is by Johannesburg, and in turn he is out of an Unbridled/Devil’s Bag mare.
Crusade’s first runners have been knocking on the door, with his first nine out having placed eight times – three of them in second place.
Congratulations to all concerned and it is exciting times ahead indeed for KZN!
Crusade stands at Scott Bros’ Highdown Stud for a fee of R20 000.
