It was just a matter of time before Giant's Causeway reached the 100 mark by number of stakes winners. The son of Storm Cat, who topped the leading sires’ list by progeny earnings the past two years, began 2011 with 96 stakes winners.
Giant’s Causeway, whose influence has stretched across the globe for years, is represented once again by stakes winners in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. His big winner this year, Giant Oak , won the Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park and ran second in the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) at Fair Grounds. Giant Oak, who captured last year’s Clark Handicap (gr. I), has career earnings of nearly $1.3 million.
Giant’s Causeway’s other North American stakes winners this year are Worth Repeating, winner of the Tokyo City Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita, and Quiet Giant, a two-time stakes winner at Aqueduct and second in the historic Ladies Handicap at the track.
Overseas this year, Giant’s Causeway is represented by New Zealand group II winner Showcase; Saudi Arabian group winners Cloudy City and Flying Cloud; and South African stakes winner Illumiere.
Giant’s Causeway was an international star on the racetrack. He was a champion and group I winner in England and Ireland; a group I winner in France; and a near winner of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), beaten a neck.
He ranks second on this year’s sires’ list and stands for $85,000 at John Magnier and partners’ Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.