Love De Cause is standing his first commercial season at Woodwinds @ Benwerrin this season.  After covering two private books, he was signed up by the Beaudesert based stud this year.

Love De Cause is an Australian-bred son of Giant’s Causeway and he comes from one of the best families in the NZ Stud Book.  His dam Love De Tor was a G1 winner of the Bayer Classic and third dam Burletta also won a Bayer Classic and the NZ 1000 Guineas among 12 principal victories.

Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) won the Juddmonte International, St James’s Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Eclipse Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes during a season of headlines in 2000.  His sire sons are led by Darley champion Shamardal.

A $250,000 purchase at the Magic Millions HIT Sale, Love De Cause was trained by Maryann Thexton for Jamaica Run Thoroughbreds and an Iranian client of Magic Millions.  He was the subject of heavy support on debut at Doomben in July 2008 and didn’t let his connections down.

Jockey Jim Byrne always had him travelling smoothly in the Jacobs Creek 2YO Hcp (1200m) before slipping clear of his rivals in the straight.  “Maryann has always considered Love De Cause among the most promising in her stable,” Magic Millions manager David Chester said.  “He was purchased from the HIT Sale with the view of becoming a stallion prospect.”

Love De Cause returned for a spring campaign that was curtailed after placings behind Express Air and Zero Rock.  Both those gallopers graduated to back-type victories but a sesamoid injury prevented Thexton’s colt from reaching his potential.

“He was retired after four starts and served a few mares for the owners,” Woodwinds owner Erica Bates said.  “The quality of those foals made the decision to stand him commercially an easy one.”

Woodwinds was based in the Numinbah Valley until two years ago when Shannon and Erica Bates transferred to Beaudesert.  Love De Cause stands alongside Tanabota (Redoute’s Choice) and both stallions are priced at $3,300 (inc gst).

– Karl Patterson

LOVE DE CAUSE