Giant’s Causeway Wins Juddmonte Battle

Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier’s Giant’s Causeway won a duel with the Aga Khan’s Kalanisi to win the Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-I) at York, England, on Tuesday. Ridden by Mick Kinane as the prohibitive favorite, Giant’s Causeway held the lead with slightly more than a quarter of a mile remaining but trailed his rival with a furlong to go. The winner of three previous group I races this year, Giant’s Causeway dug in gamely to retake the lead and a head separated the top two at the wire. It was another seven lengths back to Lear Spear (by Lear Fan) as the winner raced the distance of just over 10 furlongs in 2:09.13.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Giant’s Causeway has won eight of 10 career starts, with two seconds. The 3-year-old Storm Cat colt has won the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, Champagne Lanson Sussex Stakes, and St. James’s Palace Stakes--all English group Is--this year while finishing second in the Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas and Entemanns Irish Two Thousand Guineas, both group I events. Giant’s Causeway was also victorious in group III company this year was a multiple group winner in Europe last year.