Rock of Gibraltar (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Rock of Gibraltar


caption = Rock of Gibraltar
sire = Danehill
grandsire = Danzig
dam = Offshore Boom
damsire = Be My Guest
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1999
country = Ireland flagicon|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
race = 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)
awards= European Horse of the Year (2002)
European Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt (2002)
honours =
updated= June 28, 2007

Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) (bay horse, born March 8, 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 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 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 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).

Career as a sire

Retired to Coolmore Stud, Rock of Gibraltar and Sunline have produced a filly called Sunstrike, who has had two starts without success.Sunline was a champion mare, winning two W.S Cox Plates. His best sons have been Group One winners Seventh Rock and Mount Nelson, and Epsom Derby runner-up Eagle Mountain.

Race Record

Pedigree

Pedigree
name = Rock of Gibraltar
f = Danehill
m = Offshore Boom
ff = Danzig
fm = Razyana
mf = Be My Guest
mm = Push a Button
fff = Northern Dancer
ffm = Pas de Nom
fmf = His Majesty
fmm = Spring Adieu
mff = Northern Dancer
mfm = What a Treat
mmf = Bold Lad
mmm = River Lady
ffff = Nearctic
fffm = Natalma
ffmf = Admiral's Voyage
ffmm = Petitioner
fmff = Ribot
fmfm = Flower Bowl
fmmf = Buckpasser
fmmm = Natalma
mfff = Nearctic
mffm = Natalma
mfmf = Tudor Minstrel
mfmm = Rare Treat
mmff = Bold Ruler
mmfm = Barn Pride
mmmf = Prince John
mmmm = Nile Lady|

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/rock+of+gibraltar2 Rock of Gibraltar's pedigree and partial racing stats]