It was just a few weeks ago that the horse fondly known as "The Iron Horse" Giant's Causeway passed away aged 21 at Ashford Stud, Kentucky.
A remarkable galloper who was never out of the first two in 13 starts - winning nine races including five consecutive Group One races over a memorable 11 week period - Giant's Causeway continued on his great work at stud.
Represented by 179 stakes winners including 32 Group One winners, Giant's Causeway was a stallion who made his mark around the world with his progeny successful at stakes level in 18 different countries... including Australia and New Zealand.
And now one of his best, a horse who like his sire really knew how to find
the line, is relocating to Victoria... the Champion 3Y0 Colt Of Chile Giant's
Step (Arg) due to stand at Ridgeview Park Stud, Muskerry East.
Kicking off his career in New Zealand where his debut crop are just yearlings, the dual Group One winning Giant's Steps with his winning form over a variety of distances between 1200m and 2400m is a good fit for Victoria.
"We are excited to have been given this opportunity to stand a commercial stallion," said Ridgeview's Phil and Fiona Sloane.
"He arrived from New Zealand on Thursday and is always settling in nicely."
"What really appeals to us is that not only is he by a phenomenal stallion in Giant's Causeway, but that he was the Champion 3YO turf colt in Chile, competing in six Group One races and winning or placing in five of them!"
"And he was very versatile and looks the perfect cross for Danehill/Danzig line mares."
And what a family he hails from, his dam Hamsaat Hi Haat - a half-sister to the French dual stakes winner Cristobal - being a granddaughter of the wonderful mare Sacahuista.
One of the best mares of her generation, Sacahuista did not race outside of Group company, winning six of her 21 starts, three of which were Group One races including the prestigious Breeders' Cup Distaff.
Well and truly making her mark at stud, Sacahuista produced two successful stallions, the Group One galloper Ekraar (sire of four Group One winners) and the stakes placed Hussonet... outstanding sire of 97 stakes winners.
Hussonet, who was seven times crowned Chile's Champion Sire before proving very popular at Arrowfield Stud, sired 30 Group One winners with his best being the local star Weekend Hussler, winner at the elite level on seven occasions.
Last year's Sir Rupert Clark Stakes winner Santa Ana Lane also hails from this prolific family as do fellow big race winners Geri, Raging Fever, Meneval, Levee, Shuvee, Bayou, Free Eagle, Trusted Partner, Dress To Thrill and Vert de Grace ... as well as another successful stallion in Stormin Fever.
Giant's Causeway (who boasts an outstanding 9.7% stakes winner to runner ratio) has proven his worth as a sire of sires with six of his sons already siring Group One winners including the four times Group One winner Shamardal whose 19 Group One winners including emerging Hong Kong star Pakistan Star.
Giant's Steps' dam is by the Group One sprinter Hennessy, a highly successful sire of 71 stakes winners who is doing a great job as a broodmare sire with his daughters producing 62 stakes winners.
Giant's Steps is bred on a 2 X 3 cross of his own sire, the remarkable Storm Cat who broke numerous records at stud including service fee. A stallion of great influence, he sired 178 stakes winners including 36 Group One winners.
The first Group One winning son of Giant's Causeway to stand at stud in Victoria, Giant's Steps will stand at $5500 (incl gst). For further details contact Ridgeview on 0488 525 063
