“IT is with great sadness that we announce the death of ‘The Iron Horse’ Giant’s Causeway, who passed away last night [Monday, April 16th] aged 21 at his Kentucky birthplace Ashford Stud, after a brief illness.”

With these words the Coolmore organisation informed the world that one of their stalwarts had gone. The sire of 31 Group or Grade 1 winners, and the broodmare sire of 16 winners at the highest level, the stallions’ impact will be felt for many years to come. This year he stood for a fee of $75,000, having once commanded $300,000 after the start made by his first runners.