Victoria's Ridgeview Stud (just 30km north-east of Bendigo in the thoroughbred heart of the state) has a dynamic new acquisition to its already exciting stallion brigade this season.
Joining the triple stakes-producing son of Red Ransom in Onemorenomore is Giant's Steps, an exceptional grandson of breed-shaping sire Storm Cat. By European Horse of the Year and Champion GB/Irish 3YO Colt Giant's Causeway, Giant's Steps offers a world class top line. Not only was Giant's Causeway a 6-time Gr1 winners and one of the best gallopers of the past two decades, but his sons have also proven successful in the sire barn. Certainly, the Darley-owned Shamardal is the highlight in this discussion with the Champion European 2YO already the sire of 20 individual Gr1 winners. Add to that elite gallopers the ilk of Able Friend, Dan Excel, Pakistan Star, Lope de Vega (also an exceptional sire), Faint Perfume and Puissance de Lune.
The distaff line of Giant's Steps is also laden with black type. Dam Hamsaat High Haat (by Gr1 winning sire Hennessy) is a half-sister to French/US stakes winner Cristobal. Meanwhile, 3rd dam Sacahuista was simply exceptional from 1200m to 2000m, winning the Gr1 Breeders' Cup Distaff and two further Gr1s. Her son Ekraar was also a Gr1 winner and elite sire, his 4 Gr1 winners including the freakish Habibi and fellow NZ top liners Shez Sensational, Ekstreme and Rising Romance. Another highly proven sire from this family is Hussonet (sire of 6 individual Gr1 winners in Australia).
Gr1-placed at 2, Giant's Steps is the only Storm Cat line stallion in Victoria who was a Champion 3YO Colt (ON TURF).
In fact, Giant's Steps is the only stallion from the Storm Cat line at stud in Victoria who won a Group 1 as a 3YO and the only Storm Cat-line stallion at stud in Australia to win 2 Gr1 contests as a 3YO. As a Gr1 winner at 3 he is in the same bracket as the highly touted Coolmore-owned Caravaggio.
Of definite additional interest is that recent US Triple Crown winner Justify also hails from the Storm Cat sireline which is the the perfect outcross for the plethora of Danehill line mares in the studbook. This cross has yielded 56 stakes-winners to date (including 11 Gr1 winners).
In a nutshell, Giant's Steps has it all. He offers the quintessential triple requirement for a young stallion - Performance, Pedigree and Physique. Add price for good measure, with his introductory freshman fee set at only $5,500 inc GST.
GIANTS CAUSEWAY (USA) ch. 1997 | STORM CAT (USA) br. 1983 | STORM BIRD b. 1978 | NORTHERN DANCER |
SOUTH OCEAN | |||
TERLINGUA ch. 1976 | SECRETARIAT | ||
CRIMSON SAINT | |||
MARIAH'S STORM (USA) b. 1991 | RAHY ch. 1985 | BLUSHING GROOM | |
GLORIOUS SONG | |||
IMMENSE b. 1979 | ROBERTO | ||
IMSODEAR | |||
HAMSAAT HI HAAT (USA) b. 1998 | HENNESSY (USA) ch. 1993 | STORM CAT br. 1983 | STORM BIRD |
TERLINGUA | |||
ISLAND KITTY ch. 1976 | HAWAII | ||
T.C. KITTEN | |||
BALENCIAGA (USA) dkb/br. 1992 | GULCH b. 1984 | MR. PROSPECTOR | |
JAMEELA | |||
SACAHUISTA b. 1984 | RAJA BABA | ||
NALEES FLYING FLAG |