NOTE:  This article appeared in Pedlines prior to Giant's Causeway's stud career

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It has been our experience that very few good horses come about by chance.   Top European gun Giant's Causeway, who won five Group 1 stakes in succession prior to running second in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and the Breeders' Cup Classic, may well be the best-ever son of Storm Cat, and serves nicely to illustrate the point.

On the surface, the uniquely marked colt has a very simple 4 x 5 cross of half sisters Natalma and Cosmah, apart from the usual *Nasrullah/*Royal Charger lines and standard patterns.  But dig a little deeper, and he is so much more.

The beginning of the intrigue is a 7 x 7 cross of closely related Rowes Bud and Weno.  Rowes Bud is by Broomstick; Weno by Broomstick's son Whisk Broom II.   Rowes Bud is out of Cherokee Rose II, Weno is out of Rosie O'Grady, a daughter of Cherokee Rose II.

These two mares are, of course, members of the huge Bell Rose Clan, which spans more than a century of excellence, giving us such good ones as Ruffian, Intent, Crafty Admiral and of course Storm Cat himself.

Belle Rose's influence is woven throughout the pedigree of Giant's Causeway.  She appears via Storm Cat and Intent, of course, but also via Red God; and via multiples of Pink Domino within the pedigrees of Bold Ruler and Native Dancer.  In all, she is the single most important ancestor in Giant's Causeway's lineage.

Giant's Causeway's own family is an old one and we have included a chart of the family here in order to orient readers who are not familiar with the clan.  There are any number of good horses from this immediate family, and it is a versatile bunch.   Good American runners like Is Your Pleasure, I Enclose, Leroy S. and of course, Dearly Precious dominate the clan.

But when Epsom Derby winner Roberto was introduced into the mix, his bloodlines provided a bridge to Europe that produced champion Irish filly Sookera and Immense, dam of Prix d'Harcourt winner Panoramic and Mariah's Storm, the dam of Giant's Causeway.  Sookera and Immense both have Itsabet as their third dam.

For all his incredible popularity in the U. S., Storm Cat has never before had a runner like Giant's Causeway in Europe.   He now stands at stud there, but might he have been better off in the U. S.?  Probably.

One thing we do know is that all his excellence of overall lineage, Giant's Causeway does not come from a strong sire-producing family.   So the question becomes whether or not the Bell Rose influence can also dominate him as a sire.

There are those who feel this (the 8C) family is the best sire-producing family in the book.  We find that arguable, favoring the 16A family of Concertina who gave us Bahram, Bois Roussel, *Bull Dog, *Sir Gallahad III, Admiral Drake, Fappiano, Quiet American and most recently hot young sire Honour And Glory.

The 8C family has given us Intent, Bold Commander, Majestic Light, Green Forest, Irish Castle, Icecapade, Private Terms, Pine Bluff, Be My Guest, Jaipur, Storm Cat, Royal Academy, Crafty Admiral, Red God and young sires Hennessy, Friendly Lover and Coronado's Quest.  All of the established sires named are good sires, but none of them shine as bright as *Bull Dog or Fappiano.

The main branch of family 11,  from which Giant's Causeway descends, has produced good California sire Gummo, King's Bishop, German Chef-de-Race Gundomar and Rose Prince, who was responsible for the rebirth of St. Simon via *Princequillo, Prince Chevalier and Prince Bio.  Which will rule?

Will "Bull" Hancock's axiom that the family is stronger than the individual come back to haunt Giant's Causeway at stud, or will Belle Rose's enormous impact come to bear?

Given his excellence as a racehorse, this is one fellow who will be very well supported at stud.   We wouldn't bet against him.

JAYJEAN, b. f. 1940

By Rolled Stocking-Genevra M. by Percentage

Unraced

Itsbet, 1945 f. by *Heliopolis. Garden State S., etc.

        Iaround, 1961 f. by Round Table. Winner.

                I'm A Pleasure, 1971 f. by What A Pleasure.  Winner. 2nd Selima S., G1.

                        Is Your Pleasure, 1981 c. by Accipiter. Jerome H., G1.

                Irule, 1968 f. by *Young Emperor. Winner.

                        Sookera, 1975 f. by Roberto. Champion at 2 in Ireland.

                                Field Dancer, 1981 f. by Northfields. Hardwicke Cup.

                                So Factual, 1990 c. by Known Fact.  Cork And Orrery S.,G3.

                                Bold Fact, 1995 c. by Known Fact. King Charles 2nd S.

                I Encompass, 1970 f. by No Robbery. Winner.

                        I Enclose, 1980 c. by Cormorant. Nashua S., G3, etc.

                I'm Worldly, 1974 f. by Dr. Fager. Winner.

                        Leroy S., 1981 c. by Honest Pleasure.  Wood Memorial, G1, etc.

        Is Certain, 1966 f. by No Robbery. Winner.

                In True Form, 1978 f. by Imasmartee. Winner.  3rd Santa Monica H., G2.

                Surely Royal, 1971 g. by *Young Emperor. Riggs H., G3.

        Ironically, 1960 f. by Intent. Winner.

                Imsodear, 1967 f. by Chieftain. Rockette S., 2nd Apple Blossom S.

                        Dearly Precious, 1973 f. by Dr. Fager. Champion at 2 in U.S.

                                Mister Modesty, 1985 c. by Nijinsky II. Pennsylvania Governor's Cup, 

G3.,  2nd Laurel Futurity, G1.

                                Dearly Too, 1979 f. by Nijinsky II. Violet H.

                        Immense, 1979 f. by Roberto. Little Silver H., G3.

                                Mariah's Storm, 1991 f. by Rahy. Turfway Park Budweiser                     Breeders Cup S., G2.

                                                Giant's Causeway, 1997 c. by Storm Cat.  Irish Champion S.,

 Coral-Eclipse S., G1, etc.

                                Panoramic (GB), 1987 c. by Rainbow Quest.  Prix d'Harcourt, G2.

                Isatopper, 1965 f. by *Rasper II. Winner.

                        I'm On Top, 1971 c. by Imasmartee. Boardwalk H., G3.

        Iaway, 1959 f. by Intent. Winner.

                Cracker Bon Bon, 1978 f. by Kirrary. Susan B. Anthony H.

                        Peanut Butter Onit, 1986 g. by Bucksplasher. Pasterson H., G2.

                Forty Whacks, 1973 f. by The Axe II. Winner.

                        Minnie Whacks, 1973 f. by Minnesota Mac. 2nd Coronation S.

                                Natchez Bluebell, 1979 f. by Star Envoy. Winner.

                                        Outofthebluebell, 1985 f. by Red Ryder. Matt Winn H.

                                                Rings A Chime, 1997 f. by Metfield. Ashland S., G1.

Wrinkled Hose, 1951 f. by Requested. Winner.

        Watch Always, 1956 f. by Destino. Winner.

                Improver, 1971 c. by Proviso. Fair Play S.

        Whats This, 1958 f. by *Agitator II. Winner.

                Sunny David, 1964 f. by Sun David. Winner.

                        Rich Sun, 1972 c. by Richmond Grays. Dade Turf Classic, G3.

FAMILY 11