Rock of Gibraltar (horse)
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| Rock of Gibraltar | |
|---|---|
 Rock of Gibraltar |
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| 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) 2,000 Guineas (2002) Irish 2,000 Guineas (2002) St. James's Palace Stakes (2002) Sussex Stakes (2002) Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (2002) |
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| Awards | |
| European Horse of the Year (2002) European Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (2002) |
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| Infobox last updated on: June 28, 2007. | |
Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) (foaled March 8, 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).
He 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.
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 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.
Rock of Gibraltar and the dispute about his ownership was the subject of a little-known book by Scottish sportswriter Martin Hannan (Mainstream, 2004).
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[edit] Career as a sire
Retired to Coolmore Stud, Rock of Gibraltar and Sunline have produced a filly called Sunstrike, who has won a race. Sunline was a champion mare, winning two W.S Cox Plates. His best sons include Hong Kong Cup winner and Epsom Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain, as well as Group One winners Seventh Rock and Mount Nelson.
[edit] Race Record
| Date | Course | Distance | Race | Class | Position | Jockey | Odds |
| April 21 2001 | Curragh, IRE | 5 furlongs | First Flier E.B.F. Maiden | Maiden (2yo) | 1st of 6 | M J Kinane | 11/10F |
| June 19, 2001 | Ascot, GB | 6 furlongs | Coventry Stakes | Group 3 (2yo) | 6th of 20 | M J Kinane | 10/1 |
| July 1, 2001 | Curragh, IRE | 6 furlongs | Railway Stakes | Group 3 (2yo) | 1st of 7 | M J Kinane | 1/2F |
| August 22 2001 | York, GB | 6 furlongs | Gimcrack Stakes | Group 2 (2yo) | 1st of 9 | M J Kinane | 11/4 |
| September 14 2001 | Doncaster, GB | 7 furlongs | Champagne Stakes | Group 2 (2yo) | 2nd of 8 | M J Kinane | 11/10 |
| October 7 2001 | Longchamp, FR | 1400 meters | Grand Critérium | Group 1 (2yo) | 1st of 5 | M J Kinane | 4/5J |
| October 20 2001 | Newmarket, GB | 7 furlongs | Dewhurst Stakes | Group 1 (2yo) | 1st of 8 | M J Kinane | 4/6F |
| May 4 2002 | Newmarket, GB | 1 mile | 2,000 Guineas | Group 1 (3yo) | 1st of 22 | Johnny Murtagh | 9/1 |
| May 25 2002 | Curragh, IRE | 1 mile | Irish 2,000 Guineas | Group 1 (3yo) | 1st of 7 | M J Kinane | 4/7F |
| June 18 2002 | Ascot, GB | 1 mile | St. James's Palace Stakes | Group 1 (3yo) | 1st of 9 | M J Kinane | 4/5F |
| July 31 2002 | Goodwood, GB | 1 mile | Sussex Stakes | Group 1 (3yo+) | 1st of 5 | M J Kinane | 8/13F |
| September 8 2002 | Longchamp, FR | 1600 meters | Prix du Moulin de Longchamp | Group 1 (3yo+) | 1st of 7 | M J Kinane | 3/5J |
| October 26 2002 | Arlington Park, USA | 1 mile | Breeders' Cup Mile | Group 1 (3yo+) | 2nd of 14 | M J Kinane | 4/5F |
[edit] 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 |
