Rock of Gibraltar (horse)
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Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) (bay horse, born 8 Mar 1999, Danehill (USA) - Offshore Boom (GB) Be My Guest (USA)) 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 seaason).
He is named after the 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 base for British and international companies to base their operations.
During his 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. He 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 his retirement, Ferguson and John Magnier were involved in a bitter dispute over the exact nature of the ownership of the horse which was eventually settled out of court.
[edit] Race Record
| Date | Course | Distance | Race | Class | Position | Jockey | Odds |
| April 21st 2001 | Curragh, IRE | 5 furlongs | First Flier E.B.F. Maiden | Maiden (2yo) | 1st of 6 | M J Kinane | 11/10F |
| June 19th 2001 | Ascot, GB | 6 furlongs | Coventry Stakes | Group 3 (2yo) | 6th of 20 | M J Kinane | 10/1 |
| July 1st 2001 | Curragh, IRE | 6 furlongs | Anheuser Busch Railway Stakes | Group 3 (2yo) | 1st of 7 | M J Kinane | 1/2F |
| August 22nd 2001 | York, GB | 6 furlongs | Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes | Group 2 (2yo) | 1st of 9 | M J Kinane | 11/4 |
| September 14th 2001 | Doncaster, GB | 7 furlongs | Rothmans Royals Champagne Stakes | Group 2 (2yo) | 2nd of 8 | M J Kinane | 11/10 |
| October 7th 2001 | Longchamp, FR | 1400 meters | Grand Critérium - Lucien Barriere | Group 1 (2yo) | 1st of 5 | M J Kinane | 4/5J |
| October 20th 2001 | Newmarket, GB | 7 furlongs | Darley Dewhurst Stakes | Group 1 (2yo) | 1st of 8 | M J Kinane | 4/6F |
| May 4th 2002 | Newmarket, GB | 1 mile | Sagitta 2,000 Guineas | Group 1 (3yo) | 1st of 22 | Johnny Murtagh | 9/1 |
| May 25th 2002 | Curragh, IRE | 1 mile | Entenmann's Irish 2,000 Guineas | Group 1 (3yo) | 1st of 7 | M J Kinane | 4/7F |
| June 18th 2002 | Ascot, GB | 1 mile | St. James's Palace Stakes | Group 1 (3yo) | 1st of 9 | M J Kinane | 4/5F |
| July 31st 2002 | Goodwood, GB | 1 mile | Sussex Stakes | Group 1 (3yo+) | 1st of 5 | M J Kinane | 8/13F |
| September 8th 2002 | Longchamp, FR | 1600 meters | Netjets Prix du Moulin de Longchamp | Group 1 (3yo+) | 1st of 7 | M J Kinane | 3/5J |
| October 26th 2002 | Arlington Park, USA | 1 mile | Netjets 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 |
