Rock of Gibraltar (8 March 1999 – 23 October 2022) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who won seven consecutive Group 1 races, 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 during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season.
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.
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).
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. 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 , ensuring that he would be a sought-after stud.
Trainer The horse was trained by Aidan O'Brien at Ballydoyle Stables, 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, Rock of Gibraltar won seven consecutive Group 1 wins before finishing second to Domedriver in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Mile. He was voted the 2002 European Horse of the Year.
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. The dispute led to the Glazer family gaining overall ownership and control of Manchester United in 2005.
Stud career Among 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.
Race record DateCourseDistanceRaceClassPositionJockeyOdds21 April 2001Curragh, IRE5 furlongsFirst Flier E.B.F. MaidenMaiden (2yo)1st of 6M J Kinane11/10F19 June 2001Ascot, GB6 furlongsCoventry StakesGroup 3 (2yo)6th of 20M J Kinane10/11 July 2001Curragh, IRE6 furlongsRailway StakesGroup 3 (2yo)1st of 7M J Kinane1/2F22 August 2001York, GB6 furlongsGimcrack StakesGroup 2 (2yo)1st of 9M J Kinane11/414 September 2001Doncaster, GB7 furlongsChampagne StakesGroup 2 (2yo)2nd of 8M J Kinane11/107 October 2001Longchamp, FR1400 metersGrand CritériumGroup 1 (2yo)1st of 5M J Kinane4/5J20 October 2001Newmarket, GB7 furlongsDewhurst StakesGroup 1 (2yo)1st of 8M J Kinane4/6F4 May 2002Newmarket, GB1 mile2000 GuineasGroup 1 (3yo)1st of 22Johnny Murtagh9/125 May 2002Curragh, IRE1 mileIrish 2,000 GuineasGroup 1 (3yo)1st of 7M J Kinane4/7F18 June 2002Ascot, GB1 mileSt. James's Palace StakesGroup 1 (3yo)1st of 9M J Kinane4/5F31 July 2002Goodwood, GB1 mileSussex StakesGroup 1 (3yo+)1st of 5M J Kinane8/13F8 September 2002Longchamp, FR1600 metersPrix du Moulin de LongchampGroup 1 (3yo+)1st of 7M J Kinane3/5J26 October 2002Arlington Park, USA1 mileBreeders' Cup MileGroup 1 (3yo+)2nd of 14M J Kinane4/5F Source:
Pedigree
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.
References
Explanatory notes
External links Rock of Gibraltar Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart