The blog at Werk Thoroughbred Consultants
By Frances J. Karon It was a blow to the industry when the “Iron Horse†Giant’s Causeway passed away at Ashford Stud in April of 2018, and I was reminded of that when scrolling through the black-type stakes results from the past week, when Giant’s Causeway’s sire- and broodmare sire-lines were represented by stakes horses in … Continue reading Giant in stature
By Frances J. Karon One day after the first anniversary of the death of Giant’s Causeway, that stallion’s multiple G1-winning son Carpe Diem was represented by his first winner, Nayibeth, from his first starter, one of 124 registered 2yos from Carpe Diem’s first crop. Already prior to the fifth race at Keeneland on April 17th, Nayibeth … Continue reading Carpe Diem seizing his first opportunity
By Sid Fernando It seems there’s change afoot in the breeding and racing industries. After years of criticism from observers (including this one) leveled at breeders, owners, and racetracks that North American racing was too preoccupied with speed and two-year-old racing to the detriment of the sport’s and breed’s classic heritage, it appears, at least anecdotally, … Continue reading Turf sires showing the way
By Elaine Belval Call me strange. I’ll admit it. Nothing captivates me more than the great Cup races of Europe or Australia. And nothing epitomizes a great Cup race than the G1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup, run Thursday. After 19 furlongs, two horses battled head to head in the final furlong! Oh, to have races … Continue reading Rite of Passage for Giant’s Causeway
By Sid Fernando With Eskendereya firmly entrenched as favorite for the Kentucky Derby with the major Derby preps out of the way, his sire, the Ashford Stud-based Giant’s Causeway, is enjoying the spotlight that goes to those that can get live classic contenders. The son of Storm Cat was the leading sire in the US … Continue reading Giant’s Causeway as a broodmare sire
By Sid Fernando You know how dominant a sire line is when even the lesser members of the line, along with the well-raced representatives, come up with high-class racehorses, and that’s been the story of the 2010 classic-prep season for several sons and grandsons of sire of sires Storm Cat of various racing class. Eskendereya, … Continue reading Storm Cat influence on classic preps
By Sid Fernando Ashford Stud’s Giant’s Causeway, the leading US sire of 2009, hasn’t skipped a beat through the first seven weeks of 2010 and was the name of the game (along with trainer Todd Pletcher) in Saturday’s classic preps on both coasts. At Gulfstream Park in Florida, Zayat Stable’s Giant’s Causeway colt Eskendereya was … Continue reading Big Saturday for Giant’s Causeway
By Jack Werk The discussion of stud fees has been hot and heavy since mid-October. If haven’t read Sid Fernando’s recent column in Racing Post about stud fees, I think it’s well worth reading (click here). No, it’s not because I’m quoted in the article! Sid makes some important points about the reduction in stud … Continue reading A Giant with a Cause!