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Footstepsinthesand who, like his sire Giant's Causeway (TrueNicks,SRO) , stands under the Coolmore umbrella, was represented by his first black-type winner when the filly Sent From Heaven (TrueNicks A++) captured the Sweet Solera Stakes (gr. III). She is out of a mare by Danehill, as are Footstepsinthesand's other two stakes horses, Chachamaidee (group placed) and Walkingonthemoon. Sent From Heaven also has two crosses of Roberto and two of Nijinsky II (broodmare sire, three-quarters related to the granddam of Roberto). The double of Nijinsky II should also be good with the Blushing Groom double in Footstepsinthesand.

The other European freshman by Giant's Causeway, Sharmardal, already has two stakes winners, one of whom, Arctic, took the Round Tower Stakes (gr. III) at the weekend. Arctic (TrueNicks rated A) is out of a mare by Shareef Dancer, who is a Northern Dancer/Sir Gaylord cross, where Shamaradal's grandsire, Storm Cat, is a Northern Dancer/Secretariat (half-brother to Sir Gaylord) cross. Shakespearean (A++) is one of two stakes winners from three starters by Shamardal or his sire out of mares by Priolo. That horse is a son of Sovereign Dancer, who like Storm Cat is a Northern Dancer/Bold Ruler cross.