Giant's Causeway (USA)
February 14, 1997 – April 16, 2018
Storm Cat (USA) x Mariah's Storm (USA), by Rahy (USA)
Family 11
February 14, 1997 – April 16, 2018
Storm Cat (USA) x Mariah's Storm (USA), by Rahy (USA)
Family 11
The “Iron Horse” of European racing in 2000, Giant's Causeway ran in eight consecutive English or Irish Group 1 races that year, winning five and running second in the other three. He then came across the Atlantic to turn in a brilliant performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1), losing by only a neck to 2000 American Horse of the Year Tiznow in a thrilling stretch duel. Such performances combined with impeccable bloodlines and conformation naturally led to great expectations at stud, which Giant's Causeway fulfilled by leading the American general sire list three times.
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$3,077,960 (includes converted earnings from England, France and Ireland)
1999:
2000:
Honors
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 119 pounds as a 2-year-old.
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Giant's Causeway stood 16.1 hands. He was an attractive, muscular horse with a strong body and an excellent hind leg. He was a thoroughly game and genuine competitor on the race course although he tended to sweat up before his races.
As a stallion
Giant's Causeway led the American general sire list in 2009, 2010 and 2012 according to The Blood-Horse. He was second in 2008 and 2014; third in 2006 and 2013; fourth in 2007, 2011 and 2019; seventh in 2005 and 2015; and 10th in 2016. He also led the American juvenile sire list in 2005 and 2014. He was fifth on the French general sire list in 2005. He led the American broodmare sire list in 2018 and was third on that list in 2019, fifth in 2017 and ninth in 2016. Most of his best runners have competed on turf, but he has gotten some good dirt runners as well. His progeny tend to be later-maturing and more distance-loving than those by other sons of Storm Cat. As of November 2019, The Blood-Horse credited Giant's Causeway with 190 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Aragorn (IRE), Arcadius (USA), Blueridge Mountain (ARG), Book Review (USA), Brody's Cause (USA), Carpe Diem (USA), Carriage Trail (USA), Carrick (USA), Creative Cause (USA), Dalkala (USA), Eishin Apollon (USA), Eskendereya (USA), First Samurai (USA), Footstepsinthesand (GB), Frost Giant (USA), Ghanaati (USA), Giant Oak (USA), Giant's Steps (USA), Gustavian (USA), Heatseeker (IRE), Imagining (USA), Intense Focus (USA), Internallyflawless (USA), Juggling Act (AUS), Juste Momente (AUS), Kung Fu Mambo (ARG), Maids Causeway (IRE), My Typhoon (IRE), North Stream (USA), Penelopa (GB), Record Holder (USA), Red Giant (USA), Rite of Passage (GB), Shamardal (USA), Swift Temper (USA), Take Charge Brandi (USA), Velikiy Zevs (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Giant's Causeway was bred by Orpendale and Michael Tabor. He raced for Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien. He entered stud at Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary, Ireland, before moving to Ashford Stud in Kentucky. He shuttled to Australia and Argentina as well. Giant's Causeway died at Ashford in April 2018 after a brief illness.
Pedigree notes
Giant's Causeway is inbred 4x5 to Bold Ruler and Hail to Reason and 5x5 to Nasrullah. He is a full brother to English Group 2 winner You're So Thrilling, dam of 2014 Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Marvellous (dam of listed stakes winner Fort Myers, by War Front), 2015 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Gleneagles, 2017 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Happily, Australian Group 2 winner Taj Mahal and Irish Group 3 winner Coolmore, all by Galileo. He is also a full brother to Group 2-placed Tumblebrutus, a three-time champion sire in Chile; to Group 2-placed Freud, a successful regional sire in New York; and to Pearling, dam of multiple Group 1 winner Decorated Knight (by Galileo). In addition, Giant's Causeway is a half brother to Love Me Only (by Sadler's Wells), dam of English Group 2 winner Storm the Stars (by Sea the Stars).
Giant's Causeway and his siblings are out of multiple Grade 2 winner Mariah's Storm, a half sister to French Group 2 winner Panoramic (by Rainbow Quest) and Japanese stakes winner Air Zion (by Groom Dancer). Mariah's Storm is also a half sister to Sun Blush (by Ogygian), dam of restricted stakes winner Relinquish (by Rahy) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Guys Reward, and to Tinaca (by Manila), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Quest Star (by Broad Brush).
Mariah's Storm was produced from 1982 Little Silver Handicap (USA-G3) winner Immense (by Roberto), a half sister to 1975 American champion 2-year-old filly Dearly Precious (by Dr. Fager). Dearly Precious, in turn, is the dam of Grade 3 winner Mr. Modesty and stakes winner Dearly Too (both by Nijinsky II). The next dam in the tail-female line, multiple stakes winner Imsodear (by Chieftain), is out of the Intent mare Ironically, making her a half sister to Isatopper (by Rasper II), dam of Grade 3 winner I'm on Top (by Imasmartee) and second dam of 1982 Oaks d'Italia (ITY-G1) winner Ilenia.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait taken at Ashford Stud in 2007 by Jessica Morgan. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 27, 2020
Race record
13 starts, 9 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$3,077,960 (includes converted earnings from England, France and Ireland)
1999:
- Won Prix de la Salamandre (FR-G1, 1400mT, Longchamp)
- Won King of Kings EBF Futurity Stakes (IRE-G3, 7FT, The Curragh)
2000:
- Won St. James's Palace Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Ascot)
- Won Coral-Eclipse Stakes (ENG-G1, 10FT, Sandown)
- Won Champagne Lanson Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Goodwood)
- Won Juddmonte International Stakes (ENG-G1, about 10.5FT, York)
- Won Irish Champion Stakes (IRE-G1, 10FT, Leopardstown)
- Won Gladness Stakes (IRE-G3, 7FT, The Curragh)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (ENG-G1, 8FT, Ascot)
- 2nd Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1, 8FT, The Curragh)
- 2nd Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
Honors
- Cartier Award, European Horse of the Year (2000)
- Cartier Award, European champion 3-year-old male (2000)
- English highweight 3-year-old male, 9.5-11F (2000)
- Irish highweight 3-year-old male, 7-9F and 9.5-10.5F (2000)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 119 pounds as a 2-year-old.
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Giant's Causeway stood 16.1 hands. He was an attractive, muscular horse with a strong body and an excellent hind leg. He was a thoroughly game and genuine competitor on the race course although he tended to sweat up before his races.
As a stallion
Giant's Causeway led the American general sire list in 2009, 2010 and 2012 according to The Blood-Horse. He was second in 2008 and 2014; third in 2006 and 2013; fourth in 2007, 2011 and 2019; seventh in 2005 and 2015; and 10th in 2016. He also led the American juvenile sire list in 2005 and 2014. He was fifth on the French general sire list in 2005. He led the American broodmare sire list in 2018 and was third on that list in 2019, fifth in 2017 and ninth in 2016. Most of his best runners have competed on turf, but he has gotten some good dirt runners as well. His progeny tend to be later-maturing and more distance-loving than those by other sons of Storm Cat. As of November 2019, The Blood-Horse credited Giant's Causeway with 190 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Aragorn (IRE), Arcadius (USA), Blueridge Mountain (ARG), Book Review (USA), Brody's Cause (USA), Carpe Diem (USA), Carriage Trail (USA), Carrick (USA), Creative Cause (USA), Dalkala (USA), Eishin Apollon (USA), Eskendereya (USA), First Samurai (USA), Footstepsinthesand (GB), Frost Giant (USA), Ghanaati (USA), Giant Oak (USA), Giant's Steps (USA), Gustavian (USA), Heatseeker (IRE), Imagining (USA), Intense Focus (USA), Internallyflawless (USA), Juggling Act (AUS), Juste Momente (AUS), Kung Fu Mambo (ARG), Maids Causeway (IRE), My Typhoon (IRE), North Stream (USA), Penelopa (GB), Record Holder (USA), Red Giant (USA), Rite of Passage (GB), Shamardal (USA), Swift Temper (USA), Take Charge Brandi (USA), Velikiy Zevs (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Giant's Causeway was bred by Orpendale and Michael Tabor. He raced for Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor. He was trained by Aidan O'Brien. He entered stud at Coolmore Stud in County Tipperary, Ireland, before moving to Ashford Stud in Kentucky. He shuttled to Australia and Argentina as well. Giant's Causeway died at Ashford in April 2018 after a brief illness.
Pedigree notes
Giant's Causeway is inbred 4x5 to Bold Ruler and Hail to Reason and 5x5 to Nasrullah. He is a full brother to English Group 2 winner You're So Thrilling, dam of 2014 Irish One Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Marvellous (dam of listed stakes winner Fort Myers, by War Front), 2015 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (IRE-G1) winner Gleneagles, 2017 Moyglare Stud Stakes (IRE-G1) winner Happily, Australian Group 2 winner Taj Mahal and Irish Group 3 winner Coolmore, all by Galileo. He is also a full brother to Group 2-placed Tumblebrutus, a three-time champion sire in Chile; to Group 2-placed Freud, a successful regional sire in New York; and to Pearling, dam of multiple Group 1 winner Decorated Knight (by Galileo). In addition, Giant's Causeway is a half brother to Love Me Only (by Sadler's Wells), dam of English Group 2 winner Storm the Stars (by Sea the Stars).
Giant's Causeway and his siblings are out of multiple Grade 2 winner Mariah's Storm, a half sister to French Group 2 winner Panoramic (by Rainbow Quest) and Japanese stakes winner Air Zion (by Groom Dancer). Mariah's Storm is also a half sister to Sun Blush (by Ogygian), dam of restricted stakes winner Relinquish (by Rahy) and third dam of Grade 2 winner Guys Reward, and to Tinaca (by Manila), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Quest Star (by Broad Brush).
Mariah's Storm was produced from 1982 Little Silver Handicap (USA-G3) winner Immense (by Roberto), a half sister to 1975 American champion 2-year-old filly Dearly Precious (by Dr. Fager). Dearly Precious, in turn, is the dam of Grade 3 winner Mr. Modesty and stakes winner Dearly Too (both by Nijinsky II). The next dam in the tail-female line, multiple stakes winner Imsodear (by Chieftain), is out of the Intent mare Ironically, making her a half sister to Isatopper (by Rasper II), dam of Grade 3 winner I'm on Top (by Imasmartee) and second dam of 1982 Oaks d'Italia (ITY-G1) winner Ilenia.
Fun facts
- Giant's Causeway is named after the Giant's Causeway, a natural formation in County Antrim, Ireland. It consists of some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Irish legend, the Causeway was built by the Irish giant Fionn mac Cuimhaill so that he could meet the Scottish giant Benandonner in combat.
- The Giant's Causeway Stakes is a listed race at Keeneland for fillies and mares aged 4 and up. As of 2020, it is carded at 5.5 furlongs on turf.
- Giant's Causeway is the first Coolmore stallion based at Ashford Stud to be honored by a statue, although other stallions have had statues erected in their honor at Coolmore's Irish and Australian facilities. The life-sized bronze is the work of English artist Charlie Langford and was unveiled at Ashford in April 2016.
Photo credit
Portrait taken at Ashford Stud in 2007 by Jessica Morgan. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 27, 2020