Giant's Causeway demonstrated great toughness and determination to win the £275,000 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood yesterday when he out-pointed the French colt Dansili to secure his third Group One victory in just over six weeks.
His qualities should stand him in good stead for a potential setto in America's Breeders' Cup Classic with Godolphin star Dubai Millennium. Certainly trainer Aidan O'Brien and part-owner Michael Tabor are unconcerned about the prospects of pitting the colt against the horse rated the best in the world by Sheikh Mohammed.
"He really is very special and we would be happy to take on Dubai Millennium if we meet in the Breeders' Cup," said O'Brien.
Giant's Causeway, the 3 to 1 joint-favourite, had appeared in trouble as Dansili, the other market leader, ranged alongside him in the final furlong. But Michael Kinane's mount then knuckled down to his task and pulled away again to prevail by three-quarters of a length from Dansili.
Medicean justified the decision to supplement him for the race for £25,000 by finishing one and a half lengths further back in third.
"Giant's Causeway just doesn't know the meaning of defeat - and he seems to get better. For me this was his easiest win today," said Tabor, who owns the colt with Mrs John Magnier.
"He's due to run in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in three weeks but John Magnier said we might have to find another race in between!"
Kinane was only able to take the ride on Giant's Causeway after narrowly escaping injury when Bonnard unseated him when plunging in the stalls before the previous race. "My leg was trapped and if it wasn't for the handlers I wouldn't have been there for the next race," he said.
Johnny Murtagh was the subject of headlines for the right reasons as No Excuse Needed stormed to victory in the Vintage Stakes.
Murtagh had aroused controversy 24 hours earlier when appearing to ease off close home allowing stablemate Air Marshall to be pipped by a short head in the Gordon Stakes.
This time the jockey made no mistake pushing No Excuse Needed clear from the furlong pole to defeat Bonnard by one and three-quarter lengths in the Group Three contest.
Several four-figure bets went down the drain with the poor performance of Chianti. John Dunlop's charge dropped away tamely to finish sixth after making the running.
No Excuse Needed impressed bookmakers with both Victor Chandler and William Hill quoting 25 to 1 for the 2000 Guineas.
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