Our Giant captured a second Group 1 for Australian bred horses in South Africa this month when he won the Mercury Sprint by four lengths at Clairwood on Sunday.
The Mercury Sprint is South Africa’s top weight-for-age sprint of the season. It was Our Giant’s second G1 after his victory in the 2008 Horse Chestnut Stakes.
It completed a G1 double for his dam Macrosa who has also thrown Singapore star Rocket Man (Viscount). Both horses were bred by Tyreel Stud’s Dean Fleming. The mare’s latest foal is a rising two year-old filly by Dubawi.
Our Giant (5h Giant’s Causeway – Macrosa by McGinty) bounced back to form over 1200m at Clairwood on Sunday after running out of puff when seventh to Big City Life in the Durban July (2200m).
Australia’s other G1 winner in South Africa this month was on July day when Musir (Redoute’s Choice) won the Golden Horseshoe for owner-breeder Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
Our Giant has been most consistent at black-type level since trainer Charles Laird and major clients Marcus and Ingrid Jooste bought him for $480,000 at the 2005 Gold Coast Magic Millions. He was runner-up to South African legend Pocket Power in the 2008 J&B Met (G1) and the 2009 Queen’s Plate.
Laird plans another crack at the Queen’s Plate next season for Our Giant. “He’s a good horse, and good horses do rise to the occasion,” Laird said.
“Our plan was to run Warm White Night but he got a virus so we took a chance and brought Our Giant back to 1200m. He’s the first horse we bought in Australia and he started a big venture. It’s been fruitful.”