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
| Rock of Gibraltar | |
|---|---|
 Rock of Gibraltar, 2005 | |
| Sire | Danehill |
| Grandsire | Danzig |
| Dam | Offshore Boom |
| Damsire | Be My Guest |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 8 March 1999 |
| Died | 23 October 2022 (aged 23) |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
Background
editRock 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
edit2001
editIn 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
editAs 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
editThe 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
editFor 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
editAmongst 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
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ "World champion racehorse and high-class sire Rock Of Gibraltar dies aged 23". Racing Post. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Rock of Gibralter". Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE)". Racing Post. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "History-making Rock Of Gibraltar dies at age of 23". Irish Racing. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ "Multiple Group One winner Rock Of Gibraltar dies at the age of 23". At The Races. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Multiple Group One winner Rock Of Gibraltar dies at the age of 23". Racing TV. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Cartier Awards: Rock of Gibraltar is European Horse of the Year". Blood Horse. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Rock of Gibraltar – the racehorse at the centre of Old Trafford split – has died". The42.ie. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Rock Of Gibraltar". Coolmore. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Rock Of Gibraltar" (PDF). Coolmore. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Danehill (USA)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 27 October 2022.