Rock of Gibraltar (horse)

Rock of Gibraltar

Rock of Gibraltar
Sire Danehill
Grandsire Danzig
Dam Offshore Boom
Damsire Be My Guest
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1999
Country Ireland
Colour Bay
Breeder Joe Crowley, M/M Aidan P. O'Brien
Owner Sue Magnier & Alex Ferguson
Trainer Aidan O'Brien
Record 13: 10-2-0
Earnings £1,164,804
Major wins
Railway Stakes (2001)
Gimcrack Stakes (2001)
Grand Critérium (2001)
Dewhurst Stakes (2001)
2000 Guineas (2002)
Irish 2,000 Guineas (2002)
St. James's Palace Stakes (2002)
Sussex Stakes (2002)
Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (2002)
Awards
European Horse of the Year (2002)
European Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (2002)
Last updated on 28 June 2007

Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) (foaled 8 March 1999 in Ireland) is a Champion racehorse and stallion owned by Coolmore, for whom he currently stands in Ireland (during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season) and Australia (as a shuttle-stallion during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season).

Name

Rock of Gibraltar is named after the Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. His name was inspired by that of his dam Offshore Boom; due to its low-tax status, Gibraltar has become a popular offshore location for British and international companies to base their operations.

Racing career

During Rock of Gibraltar's two seasons in racing (2001–2002), he was trained by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle Stables in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. O'Brien also bred him in partnership with his wife Anne-Marie and father-in-law Joe Crowley. Over the course of two seasons, he set a world record of seven consecutive Grade/Group 1 wins before finishing second to Domedriver in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Mile. Rock of Gibraltar was voted the 2002 European Horse of the Year.

For much of his racing career, Rock of Gibraltar ran in the colours of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was named as a part-owner along with Susan Magnier, wife of Coolmore owner John Magnier. Upon Rock of Gibraltar's retirement, Ferguson and John Magnier were involved in a dispute over the exact nature of the ownership of the horse which was eventually settled out of court.

Race record

Date Course Distance Race Class Position Jockey Odds
21 April 2001 Curragh, IRE 5 furlongs First Flier E.B.F. Maiden Maiden (2yo) 1st of 6 M J Kinane 11/10F
19 June 2001 Ascot, GB 6 furlongs Coventry Stakes Group 3 (2yo) 6th of 20 M J Kinane 10/1
1 July 2001 Curragh, IRE 6 furlongs Railway Stakes Group 3 (2yo) 1st of 7 M J Kinane 1/2F
22 August 2001 York, GB 6 furlongs Gimcrack Stakes Group 2 (2yo) 1st of 9 M J Kinane 11/4
14 September 2001 Doncaster, GB 7 furlongs Champagne Stakes Group 2 (2yo) 2nd of 8 M J Kinane 11/10
7 October 2001 Longchamp, FR 1400 meters Grand Critérium Group 1 (2yo) 1st of 5 M J Kinane 4/5J
20 October 2001 Newmarket, GB 7 furlongs Dewhurst Stakes Group 1 (2yo) 1st of 8 M J Kinane 4/6F
4 May 2002 Newmarket, GB 1 mile 2000 Guineas Group 1 (3yo) 1st of 22 Johnny Murtagh 9/1
25 May 2002 Curragh, IRE 1 mile Irish 2,000 Guineas Group 1 (3yo) 1st of 7 M J Kinane 4/7F
18 June 2002 Ascot, GB 1 mile St. James's Palace Stakes Group 1 (3yo) 1st of 9 M J Kinane 4/5F
31 July 2002 Goodwood, GB 1 mile Sussex Stakes Group 1 (3yo+) 1st of 5 M J Kinane 8/13F
8 September 2002 Longchamp, FR 1600 meters Prix du Moulin de Longchamp Group 1 (3yo+) 1st of 7 M J Kinane 3/5J
26 October 2002 Arlington Park, USA 1 mile Breeders' Cup Mile Group 1 (3yo+) 2nd of 14 M J Kinane 4/5F

Stud career

His best sons include Hong Kong Cup winner and Epsom Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain, as well as Group One winners Seventh Rock, Mount Nelson, Varenar and Society Rock.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Rock of Gibraltar
Sire
Danehill
Danzig Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
Pas de Nom Admiral's Voyage
Petitioner
Razyana His Majesty Ribot
Flower Bowl
Spring Adieu Buckpasser
Natalma
Dam
Offshore Boom
Be My Guest Northern Dancer Nearctic
Natalma
What a Treat Tudor Minstrel
Rare Treat
Push a Button Bold Lad Bold Ruler
Barn Pride
River Lady Prince John
Nile Lady

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 3/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.