Crusade conquers in Middle Park Aidan O'Brien's second string Crusade won a dramatic Emaar Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. With plenty of the fancied runners failing to give their running, O'Brien's Reply claimed third, just behind the supplemented Lilbourne Lad. Fourth on his last start in the Tattersall Stakes, Crusade was sent off at 25-1 under Seamie Heffernan and won by three-quarters of a length. The fancied Caspar Netscher looked an unlucky loser having been well behind with a furlong to run before flashing home to finish just behind the placed horses. The well-fancied Family One, Bapak Chinta and Burwaaz all failed to get involved Balty Boys and Michael Hills raced alone on the far side and finished fourth. Heffernan said: "He's improved from run to run. I'm never surprised (when outsiders win) any more. We have to make them good. It's grand. "His last race fitted in when he needed a run and it was a prep for this. "When it comes together, it's great but when it doesn't it's horrible. "He takes his races well and has plenty of scope and speed. They have to keep improving (to be a Classic contender) but he's in the right place."
