Montjeu and Giant's Causeway - A Sensational Start

MONTJEU

Northern Dancer would easily be one of the greatest sire and sire of sires in recent years. He was a fantastic race horse, a prepotent sire and has proven to be a great sire of sires. However, after his death in 1990 his legacy lives on through his sons, grandsons and great grandsons. There are hundreds of his sons.grandsons/great grandsons at stud worldwide, but worldover, the major stakes winners seem to be coming from only two branches, namely, Sadlers Wells and Storm Cat (by Storm Bird).

Sadlers Wells needs no introduction. He has sired 67 individual Gr.1. winners and over 200 Stakes winners incl. Montjeu, Galileo, High Chapparal, etc.This commands respect. With Montjeu siring the Epsom Derby winner Motivator and runner up Walk In The Park from his first crop, this freshman sire son of Sadlers Wells has certainly arrived. Montjeu has had 15 stakes horses from his very first crop and standing at a farm like Coolmore gives him that extra edge to establish himself as a frontline classic sire. He himself is a dual Derby(French & Irish) winner who also won the Arc and the King George and was rated 137.

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

On the other hand, there is this son of Storm Cat who can do NO wrong. In his racing days he won six Group 1 races. In his first crop has sired a Derby winner, a 2000 Guineas winner, a Group 1 Royal Ascot winner and 4 stakes winners and 8 stakes horses. He is ofcourse none other than the spectacular Giant's Causeway. Hi sire Storm Cat has become a legend. He is one of the most highly priced stallions in the world today and continues to justify his USD500000 covering fee. He has sired 30 Gr.1 and 86 Graded stakes winners of which many have retired to stud as stallions. His son Giant's Causeway from his first crop has sired the French 2000 Guineas and Derby winner Shamardal who also won The St. James Palace Stakes Gr.1 at Royal Ascot. Another Royal Ascot winner came when his daughter Maid's Causeway won the Coronation Stakes Gr.1.after running second in the English 1000 Guineas. He is also the sire of Footstepsinthesand, winner of the English 2000 Guineas Gr.1. Giant's Causeway stands at Ashford, KY for a fee of USD200000.
With Montjeu at Coolmore Ireland and Giant's Causeway at Ashford Kentucky(Coolmore America), Coolmore seems to have not one but two aces up their sleeve. Both have had a sensational start to their stud careers and are definitely bound for greater heights. These two seem the likely ones who will keep the Northern Dancer sire line flying.

Gautam Lala