racing_news/

Crusade Takes Shock Victory for Team O'Brien
08/10/11

1 Crusade 25/1
2 Lilbourne Lad 8/1
3 Reply 9/1
16 ran Distances: ¾l, hd, hd
TIME 1m 10.75s (slow by 0.75s)
Jockey: Seamie Heffernan
Trainer: A P O'Brien

Aidan O’Brien trained the Group One Emaar Middle Park Stakes for a fourth time thanks to 25/1 shot Crusade.

Crusade
© Racehorse Photos

He became the longest-priced winner of the race since Fard scored at 33/1 under Willie Carson in 1994, and he was the fifth Emaar Middle Park Stakes winner in which owner Sue Magnier had a share. She owns Crusade with Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

O’Brien said: “He won his maiden very easily at the Curragh and then got a little bit tired when he came here [last month] and ran over seven furlongs. We weren’t sure whether it was the trip that beat him - he has a very fast pedigree.

“Today Seamus [Heffernan] rode him forward and said he travelled well into the dip and showed loads of speed and got home well, so we’re delighted.

“The boys [his owners] will speak about plans, but the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on dirt is a possibility. Johannesburg won this race on the way to the [Breeders’ Cup] Juvenile [on turf] and this one [who is by US-based sire Mr Greeley] is very fast and his mother was very good in the US.”

O’Brien added that So You Think remains in contention to run in the QIPCO Champions Stakes at Ascot a week today, adding that the horse had returned from the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in good form.

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Crusade A P O'Brien	J A Heffernan 8st 12lbs	25 - 1 Winner
2	Lilbourne Lad R Hannon	R Hughes 8st 12lbs	8 - 1 3/4 length
3	Reply A P O'Brien	R L Moore 8st 12lbs	9 - 1 Head
4	Balty Boys C Hills	M Hills 8st 12lbs	40 - 1 Head
5	Caspar Netscher A J McCabe	R Winston 8st 12lbs	5 - 1 Head
6	Saigon J A R Toller	J P Murtagh 8st 12lbs	10 - 1 Short Head
7	West Leake Diman C Hills	L Dettori 8st 12lbs	66 - 1 1 length
8	B Fifty Two J W Hills	S Sanders 8st 12lbs	40 - 1 1 length
9	Tough As Nails Michael Mulvany	G F Carroll 8st 12lbs	25 - 1 Neck
10	Family One Y Barberot	O Peslier 8st 12lbs	5 - 1 1/2 length
11	Justineo W J Haggas	K Fallon 8st 12lbs	25 - 1 Head
12	Samminder P W Chapple-Hyam	William Buick 8st 12lbs	20 - 1 1 3/4 length
13	Rebellious Guest G G Margarson	T P Queally 8st 12lbs	8 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
14	Arnold Lane M R Channon	S Hitchcott 8st 12lbs	80 - 1 Neck
15	Burwaaz E A L Dunlop	R Hills 8st 12lbs	12 - 1 Head
16	Bapak Chinta K A Ryan	P Makin 8st 12lbs	11 - 2 18 lengths

LILBOURNE LAD TAKES SECOND AS STUD DUTIES BECKON

Lilbourne Lad (8/1) could be the latest horse to take up stallion duties at the conclusion of his juvenile career after finishing three quarters of a length second to Crusade in the Group One Emaar Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs.

Lilbourne Lad (R Hughes, black) finishes 2nd ahead of Reply (R Moore, right) & Caspar Netscher (R Winston, yellow cap)
© Racehorse Photos

The Richard Hannon-trained Acclamation colt was having his eighth start in a campaign that began in April and has included a Group Two triumph in the Railway Stakes over the distance at the Curragh in June.

Hannon said: “He ran a good race - Richard (Hughes - jockey) said he wished that the horse that was in the middle had been over by him. He has run his race, he’s very fit and a tough horse - he’s been on the go a long time.”

Earlier this week at Book One of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, bloodstock agent Peter Doyle mooted the possibility that the colt could join his sire next year at Rathbarry Stud in Ireland.

Hannon confirmed: “I don’‘t think we will have him next year. He might just go off to stud to stand alongside his daddy. It’s not a done deal yet but I think he will probably end up at Rathbarry Stud because Acclamation can’t fulfill all his commitments - in other words, he’s got too many mares.

“He’s a great horse to train and it’s a shame really.”

HILLS HAPPY WITH BALTY

Balty Boys, who ploughed a lone furrow up the far side of the Rowley Mile, came home a creditable fourth in the Emaar Middle Park Stakes.

Charlie Hills, trainer of the Cape Cross colt, said afterwards:

“It was the plan to go up the far side. We thought we would take the chance, but Michael (Hills) said he wished another one had come with him for company.

“He’s run a pretty good solid race and we will put him away now. We will be looking at something like the European Free Handicap next year.”