Giant's Causeway notched up his 5th Group 1 victory with another power-packed
winning display under Mick Kinane in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Sent off at 8/11f, Aidan O'Brien's stable-star seized the initiative from stable companion Apollo Victoria rounding the home-turn before he shrugged off Best Of The Bests and then held the fast-finishing Greek Dance by a diminishing 1/2L.
'We're probably only at the tip of the iceberg with the ability this horse has,' said O'Brien.
O'Brien added, 'He's a brilliant horse and very easy to train. We'll have to think about the Queen Elizabeth at Ascot later this month (23th Sept.) and then maybe the Breeders Classic.'
Joint owner Michael Tabor was delighted after Giant's Causeway scooped the 5th round of the Emirates World Series. ' I'm over the moon. He is such a special horse and was some substitute for Montjeu!.'
Simon Crisford, the Godolphin Racing Manager, said of the 3rd Best Of The Bests, 'We are very pleased with that performance and he will stay in training next year.'
The Ballydoyle maestro started the meeting in good style when King Charlemagne (1/5-1/7f) scored in the opening 6f maiden.
O'Brien said, 'Michael said he was very green but he'll be a lovely horse next year. He has loads of speed but I'd say he'll get a mile. He's a possible for the Dewhurst.'
Naimid, only back in work for 7 weeks, booked his ticket for the Prix De L'Abaye
when narrowly landing the Tote Flying Five from British raider Tedburrow.
'He was operated on June 1st and had a small knee chip removed. I thought he'd need this run but his recent work was very good. He'll run at Lonchamp next providing everything is OK,' said John Oxx.
Tarakan and Niall McCullagh got up in the dying stride to pip Tushna in the valuable Tote Ireland Handicap over 7f while teenage sensation Tom Queally initiated a double on light-weight Kate Emily in the 1m6f handicap.
Queally (15), who hails from Dungarvan, continued his rich vein of form when teaming up with John Mulhern's Distinguished Cove for a narrow victory in the EBF Handicap.
Pat Shanhan oozed confidence throughout the 10f Palmers Golden Ball Stakes aboard Muakaad (9/4-3/1) before pressing the button on Dermot Weld's colt at the 2f pole to slam Dolydille by 6L.
'We've always held this horse in high regard and 1m2f is definitely his trip. We'll step him up to Group company next,' said Mark Weld, representing his father.
..
