Stakes Double for Giant
4th August 2008
Outstanding sire Giant’s Causeway featured with a stakes double in the US on Sunday with a Group Two victory for Red Giant (4h Giant’s Causeway x Beyond the Sun, by Kingmambo) at Saratoga and a win in the Jersey Derby for Mr Maccool (3c Giant’s Causeway x Glory’s Light, by Halo) at Monmouth.Talented four year-old Red Giant returned to peak form after an injury enforced layoff to claim a neck victory in the Group Two Fourstardave Handicap over 1 and 1/16 mile on turf.
Winner of the Group Two Colonial Virginia Derby last season at three, the Todd Pletcher trained colt was sidelined after that with an ankle issue, but is now right back at the top of his game.
“I thought he sat a perfect trip by saving ground on both turns,” said Pletcher.
“He was kind of anxious looking for a spot at the top of the stretch. When he finally found a seam to run through, he put in a big run.”
Raced by the Peachtree Stable, Red Giant was a $350,000 purchase from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale having been bred by Edward and Marilyn Seltzer, his overall record now standing at five wins and four placings from 11 starts with prizemoney of $942,210.
A half-brother to stakes-winner Carnera, Red Giant is from the Kingmambo mare Beyond the Sun, whose extended family features legendary broodmare Korveya, the dam of champions Hetcor Protector and Bosra Sham.
A home bred for Donamire Farm, Mr Maccool did best in a driving finish to take the Jersey Derby over 1 and 1/16 mile on turf by a head over the Fusaichi Pegasus gelding Atwell.
Trained by David Fawkes, Mr Maccool is a half-brother to multiple Group Three winner Twilight Road and has put together the overall record of three wins and two placings from just six starts.
Giant’s Causeway has been on fire in the past week with four stakes-winners since July 30, Red Giant and Mr Maccool joining Carriage Trail and Joffe’s Run.
