KZN breeding was given a timely boost when the Aiden O’Brien-trained Galileo filly Seventh Heaven, a half-sister to the Scott Brothers-based stallion Crusade, destroyed the field in the Gr 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks over a mile-and-a-half last Thursday to win by  2,75 lengths from her stablemate Found.

It was Seventh Heaven’s second Gr 1 victory as she also won the Irish Oaks by the same margin. To put the class of her victory on Thursday into perspective, the runner up Found was the filly who beat Golden Horn in last year’s Gr 1 Longines Breeders Cup Turf over a mile-and-a-half. Golden Horn was subsequently named Cartier Horse Of The Year.

It must be the influence of Galileo which has allowed Seventh Heaven to stay the Oaks trip considering the rest of her family, including Crusade, are all about speed.

SEVENTH HEAVEN – Racingpost.com

Crusade, who is by Mr. Greeley, won the Gr 1 Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket as a two-year-old for O’Brien and was retired after only one run as a three-year-old.

His dam La Traviata will be in line for Broodmare Of The Year because from her four foals to have raced to date she has produced two Gr 1 winners and a Gr 1-placed horse.

La Traviata had only four starts, all as a three-year-old, and won the first three of them from 5,5 furlongs to 6 furlongs by a combined margin of 27,5 lengths. In the last of those victories, in the Gr 3 Victory Ride Stakes over six furlongs at Saratoga, she stumbled at the start yet still won by 9,25 lengths.

She acquired her speed from her sire Johannesburg, whom Aiden O’Brien sent out seven times as a two-year-old and he finished the season unbeaten. His seven victories included four Gr 1s from six furlongs up to 8,5 furlongs. Johannesburg had an exceptional turn of foot.

Crusade has had full books every season to date and his first crop, who are now two-year-olds, have been the second highest-priced progeny at the Sales of South Africa’s current first season sires.

At the National Yearling Sale his 21 lots sold at an average of R162,380.

Robin Scott of Scott Brothers said the “big, strong” stallion had produced “very good looking” foals to date. He believes Crusade will produce horses with precocious speed, who would train on and perhaps stay further in time.

However, he expected them to predominantly be sprinters and Scott Brothers had planned their own matings with this in mind.

David Thiselton