A large band of well performed young sires will be represented by their first crop of two-year-olds this season.

Among them is the brilliant, but tragically ill-fated Await The Dawn (Giant’s Causeway), who died after just one whole season at stud.
Await The Dawn, who spent his brief stud career at Summerhill Stud, had a freak accident while covering a mare which cost him his life.

Stud manager Greig Muir was shocked by the loss of the sire, which happened in 2014, saying at the time of his death, “You spend your life looking for a horse like Await The Dawn, who pulverised top-class opposition with uncommon ease. He was booked to capacity on the strength of both his own great appeal and a fantastic first crop of foals. He was as fertile a horse as I worked with, and I guess his unusually large heart was a contributing factor to a stellar career. There’s no replacing an Await The Dawn, but at least we’ll have some terrific foals to remember him by.”

One of more than 160 stakes winners sired by triple US champion sire Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat), Await The Dawn won six of his 13 outings, with his victories ranging from a mile to 2400m.
His victories included six Group victories –headed by the Gr2 Hardwicke Stakes, Gr3 Kilternan Stakes and Gr3 Betfair Huxley Stakes.

Await The Dawn also ran third, as favourite (he was subsequently found to be ill), in the 2011 Gr1 Juddemonte International –behind Twice Over (Observatory) –another young sire whose first two-year-olds are set to debut in South Africa this season.

Timeform said of Await The Dawn, “he will surely win a Group 1, be it at a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half....lengthy, good-bodied Await The Dawn.”

Out of the stakes placed Dixieland Band mare Valentine Band, Await The Dawn’s second dam Shirley Valentine (Shirley Heights) is a full sister to Gr1 Irish Derby runner up Deploy –broodmare sire of world leading sire Dubawi (Dubai Millennium). This is also the family of Gr1 Epsom Derby winner Commander In Chief (Dancing Brave) and champions and top sires Rainbow Quest (Blushing Groom) and Warning (Known Fact).

Await The Dawn’s first crop, which includes a colt who fetched R650 000 at this year’s Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale, includes siblings to such high class performers as multiple Gr1 winner Rabada (Brave Tin Soldier) and G1 filly Lisa Anne (Rambo Dancer), as well as daughters out of the high class race mares Hot Reception (Muhtafal) and Ithala (Albarahin) respectively.