Rock of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar, 2005
SireDanehill
GrandsireDanzig
DamOffshore Boom
DamsireBe My Guest
SexStallion
Foaled8 March 1999
Died23 October 2022 (aged 23)
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederJoe Crowley, M/M Aidan P. O'Brien
OwnerSue Magnier and Alex Ferguson
TrainerAidan O'Brien
Record13: 10-2-0
Earnings£1,164,804
Major wins
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)
Timeform rating: 133
Last updated on 15 September 2022

Rock of Gibraltar (8 March 1999 – 23 October 2022)[1] was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won seven times at Group 1, including the 2000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2002. He was at stud in Ireland during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season and in Australia as a Shuttle stallion

Background

Rock of Gibraltar was sired by the leading sire Danehill. He was named after the Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory in Gibraltar on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula.[2]

Racing career

2001

In April 2001 he won on his first outing as a two-year-old at the Curragh in Ireland and followed up with a 6th place at Ascot in England in June followed by another first place at the Curragh in July. Later in the year he had four further outings – winning at York and Newmarket in England, Longchamp Racecourse in France and finishing second back in England at Doncaster. For the 2001 season he was partnered by Irish jockey M. J. Kinnane and had won six times (two Group 1, three Group 2 and a Maiden).[3]

2002

As a three-year-old he won his first race in 2002 at Newmarket, following up with four straight wins at the Curragh, Ascot, Goodwood and Longchamp. His final race was a second place in the United States at Arlington. The 2002 wins meant that he achieved the record of winning seven consecutive Group 1 races in the Northern Hemisphere.[4] Rock of Gibraltar retired to stud at the end of the 2002 season having collected five more Group 1 wins and lifetime prize winnings (at 2002 values) of £1,269,804, ensuring that he would be a sought-after stud.[3]

Trainer

The horse was trained by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle Stables, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.[5] O'Brien also bred him in partnership with his wife Anne-Marie and father-in-law Joe Crowley. Over the course of two seasons, Rock of Gibraltar won seven consecutive Group 1 wins before finishing second to Domedriver in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Mile.[6] He was voted the 2002 European Horse of the Year.[7]

Ownership

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.[8]

Stud career

Amongst Rock of Gibraltar's offspring were Hong Kong Cup winner and Epsom Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain, and Group One winners Samitar, Seventh Rock, Mount Nelson, Varenar, Society Rock and Big Rock.[3][9]

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

Source: "Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE)". The Racing Post.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Rock of Gibraltar[2]
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 × 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 × 4 to the mare Natalma. As a result of this Rock of Gibraltar is inbred 4 × 4 x 4 to Natalma.[10][11]

References

  1. ↑ "World champion racehorse and high-class sire Rock Of Gibraltar dies aged 23". Racing Post. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Rock of Gibralter". Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE)". Racing Post. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. ↑ "History-making Rock Of Gibraltar dies at age of 23". Irish Racing. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "Multiple Group One winner Rock Of Gibraltar dies at the age of 23". At The Races. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  6. ↑ "Multiple Group One winner Rock Of Gibraltar dies at the age of 23". Racing TV. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Cartier Awards: Rock of Gibraltar is European Horse of the Year". Blood Horse. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  8. ↑ "Rock of Gibraltar – the racehorse at the centre of Old Trafford split – has died". The42.ie. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Rock Of Gibraltar". Coolmore. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "Rock Of Gibraltar" (PDF). Coolmore. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Danehill (USA)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 27 October 2022.

Explanatory notes

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