Rock of Gibraltar (horse)
Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) (foaled 8 March 1999 in Ireland) is a Champion racehorse and stallion owned by Coolmore. The horse stands in Ireland during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season, and Australia as a "shuttle stallion" during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.
| 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 and 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 | |
Name
Rock of Gibraltar is named after the Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory in Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. His name was inspired by that of his dam Offshore Boom. Because of its low-tax status, Gibraltar has become a popular offshore location for British and international companies to base their operations.
Racing career
Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle Stables in Co. Tipperary, Ireland trained Rock of Gibraltar during his two seasons in racing—2001 and 2002. 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. The dispute was 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 Samitar, Seventh Rock, Mount Nelson, Varenar and Society Rock.
Pedigree
| 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 |
- Rock of Gibraltar is inbred 3 x 3 to Northern Dancer. This also means that Rock of Gibraltar is inbred to Nearctic and Natalma 4 x 4, however like all of Danehill's offspring Rock of Gibraltar is inbred 4 x 4 to the mare Natalma. As a result of this Rock of Gibraltar is inbred 4 x 4 x 4 to Natalma.
External links
- Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart – Rock of Gibraltar