Racing's ?Iron Horse', Giant's Causeway, proved he was anything but a second rate stand-in for Montjeu, when producing another typically determined run to deny Godolphin their third consecutive victory in the Esat Digifone Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown today.
One must admire the arsenal many of today's top owners have at their disposal. To ?substitute' the world's best racehorse, Montjeu, with the world's most improved racehorse, Giant's Causeway, really says something.
At Leopardstown today, Giant's Causeway's never say die attitude was the crucial factor in securing his fifth consecutive Group 1 victory, a feat only bettered, since the introduction of European Pattern in 1971, by the great Mill Reef, who won six in-a-row.
Giant Causeway's other Group 1 victories were the: St James's Palace Stakes, Coral-Eclipse, Sussex Stakes and the Juddmonte International.
Jumping smartly from the stalls, jockey Mick Kinane settled the son of Storm Cat on the heelsof stablemate and pacemaker Apollo Victoria. Paul Scallan set a fast early pace on Apollo Victoria and had the field of seven evenly stretched out as they approached the straight.
Best Of The Bests, bidding to emulate stablemate Daylami's victory last year, had settled comfortably on the shoulder of Giant's Causeway, before Frankie Dettori called for an effort rounding the home turn.
Levelling out, Giant's Causeway hugged the rails while the Godolphin raider, under strong driving from Dettori, challenged on the stand side. Greek Dance, who did not feature early on, was improving from the back with every stride.
After briefly heading Mick Kinane's mount, Best Of The Bests relinquished his lead, gifting the Group 1 specialist the advantage on the inner.
Having found himself in this position on numerous occasions this year, Kinane's mount knew exactly what was expected and continued to stick the head out and battle gamely to the line.
Despite the desperatechallenge of the fast finishing Greek Dance, Giant's Causeway had done enough to secure the #486,200 first prize by half-a-length.
Joint winning owner Michael Tabor said: 'I am over the moon. He is just such a special horse. He didn't see the other horse but if he did he would have quickened again.'
He added: 'I am just going to take one race at time and enjoy the moment.'
Trainer Aidan O'Brien was quick to acknowledge the crucial role his other stable jockeys played in the race tactics. 'The lads [Paul Scallan and Seamus Heffernan] did a perfect job.'
'Michael [Kinane] was very happy with him. He is a brilliant horse and we are only at the tip of the iceberg with him. He was at his heaviest today after his week off. He was only playing with the other horses,' continued the jubilant trainer.
When questioned on future plans for the horse, O'Brien explained: 'We will definitely have to think about the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot towards the end of the month. He's a great traveler and I don't anticipate going to the Breeders' Cup will be a problem.'
Mick Kinane thought Giant's Causeway was a bit 'vulnerable' today but felt reassured when seeing how 'fantastic' the colt looked in the parade ring.
On the race itself, Kinane said: 'When Giant's Causeway got close to the finishing line, there was a photographer that caught his eye and he just pulled himself up.'
Kinane added: 'He's won five Group 1 races and that puts him right up there with the greats. He is actually getting better. He will never win by two lengths but he is a marvelous individual who just gets into a terrific rhythm.'
Simon Crisford, racing manager of the Godolphin outfit, said of the third Best Of The Bests: 'We were very pleased. He is a good horse and will stay in training. Time is on his side and he will be stronger next year.'
Johnny Murtagh, who rode the second placed Greek Dance said: 'We didn't have the clearest of runs. He ran on very well considering the ground was quicker than he likes.'
