News

Auckland Cup to Aussie Bred Stayer

3rd Jan 2011

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 1 January 2011

The Group II Auckland Cup at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day was won by Australian bred stayer Showcause, who was raised on the lush paddocks of Coolmore at Jerry’s Plains.

A royally bred five year-old gelding by Giant’s Causeway (USA) from former stay stayer Showella, Showcause has taken time to find his best form, but Cambridge trainer Frank Ritchie certainly has him firing now.

A winner of the Group III New Zealand Cup over 3200 metres two starts back, Showcause bounced back from an eighth at his most recent run to score a head victory in this 2400 metre staying test.

A half-brother to stakes-winner Safwa, he is the second stakes-winner for his dual Group I winning dam Showella, a high class stayer, whose best wins included the ARC New Zealand Stakes and SAJC Derby in Australia.

Frank Ritchie also trained Showella, who died in 2008, so knows all about this family and what makes Showcause tick.

Passed in when offered at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Coolmore Stud, Showcause is raced by the Showcause Syndicate and has won four races and placed seven times from 20 starts earning $240,275 in prizemoney.

He is from the last of three Australian bred crops of foals by Giant’s Causeway, who has been in the news after being crowned Champion North American Sire by earnings for 2010.

The six-time Group I winning son of Storm Cat made it back to back titles having finished second in 2008, fourth in 2007 and third in 2006.

A dominant sire of the highest quality, Giant’s Causeway (pictured) has had 23 stakes-winners in 2010, whose combined earnings are in excess of $8.7 million with brilliant three year-old Eskendereya his highlight horse.

His year may have been considerably better if Eskendereya had not broken down before the Group I Kentucky Derby, a race for which he was the favourite.

Giant’s Causeway has also made his mark as a sire of sires in 2010 with his multiple Group I winning son Shamardal siring Group I winners in both hemispheres.

As a broodmare sire, Giant’s Causeway is also proving formidable with three stakes-winners to his credit including Group I winner Evening Jewel.

Giant’s Causeway stands this season at the Coolmore owned Ashford Stud in Kentucky a fee of $85,000.