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| |  Thursday, 1 August, 2002, 14:39 GMT 15:39 UK Rock on a roll Rock of Gibraltar cruises to victory in the Sussex Stakes
In truth, the three-year-old colt just had to pick his moment before cruising to his record-equalling sixth Group One win in a row. But how apt that his feat should come in the same week that Ian Balding, trainer of Mill Reef, whose record Rock of Gibraltar equalled, announced his impending retirement.
Thirty years on from Mill Reef's legend-establishing season, Balding is handing the reins of his Kingsclere training establishment over to his son Andrew. Meanwhile, Rock of Gibraltar has joined Balding's most famous charge in the history books - and has every chance of setting a new record of seven wins. Trainer Aidan O'Brien, who was a toddler when Mill Reef was in his prime, has hinted that Rock of Gibraltar may attempt that at York later this month, running in either the Nunthorpe Stakes or the Juddmonte International. That the former event is five furlongs long, the latter 10, shows the versatility of the horse and the confidence O'Brien has in him. So far Rock of Gibraltar has won at five furlongs, six furlongs, seven furlongs and a mile. He has been successful in nine of his 11 starts on going from good to firm to soft to heavy.
No wonder that jockey Mick Kinane, who has ridden him in five of the six Group One successes, should describe him as "the ultimate racehorse". But although it is no surprise that it should be O'Brien who is responsible for the most outstanding horse of this season, that it should be Rock of Gibraltar leading the way is a bit of a turn-up for the books. The son of Danehill had left it until late in his juvenile season to make an impression. Despite his two Group One wins in October, his success was overshadowed by that of stablemate Johannesburg. And coming into the first Classic of this season, another O'Brien horse, Hawk Wing, was making most of the headlines. Rock of Gibraltar edged out hot favourite Hawk Wing in the 2,000 Guineas but still did not get the acclaim he deserved. Many observers believed that Hawk Wing's race tactics were flawed and to blame for his defeat to his 9-1 shot stablemate. But any doubts as to just how brilliantly Rock of Gibraltar had developed were dispelled in the Irish 2,000 Guineas when he pulverised the opposition at the Curragh.
It was a similar story at Royal Ascot when the Rock beat another stablemate Landseer in convincing fashion in the St James' Palace Stakes. Landseer was one of only two horses to have beaten Rock of Gibraltar but the tables were now well and truly turned. The effortless victory in the Sussex Stakes, his first contest against older horses, has added to his reputation even further - and to his value at stud. The Coolmore operation, who own the colt, habitually retire their prize assets at three in order to maximise the horse's value in the breeding arena. Any subsequent defeats would tarnish Rock of Gibraltar's record and could lower his financial worth so it is likely that the colt's connections, who include Sir Alex Ferguson, will quit while they are ahead. Once again, it is all a matter of timing. | |
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