South African Stakes-Winner for Rock

14th October 2007

While smart filly Gamble Me (3f Rock of Gibraltar - Good Gamble, by Pleasant Tap) was busy giving Rock of Gibraltar his 20^th stakes-winner at Caulfield on Saturday, number 21 was not far behind with the Charles Laird trained Uber Rock (3f Rock of Gibraltar - Uberfrau, by Sadler's Wells) putting up an impressive performance to win the Listed Goldfields Stakes over 1160 metres at Turffontein in South Africa.

Uber Rock had not raced since finishing fifth on a heavy track in a Listed race back on June 2, but was way too good in this assignment settling back off the pace and zooming home to win by two lengths.

Group Three placed last season at two, Uber Rock is a talented type who has the smart overall record of two wins and two placings from five starts.

Purchased by Charles Laird for $825,000 from the Coolmore draft at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Uber Rock is the first foal of the Sadler’s Wells mare Uberfrau, an unraced daughter of Group One winner Houseproud.

Uberfrau has a yearling colt by Encosta de Lago but unfortunately slipped to Rock of Gibraltar this year.

Earlier in the day at Turffontein another Aussie bred Rock of Gibraltar three year-old filly in Gibraltar’s Secret was beaten half a length in finishing third in the fillies and mares maiden over 1000 metres.

Making her debut for the Charles Laird stable, Gibraltar’s Secret was a $220,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Coolmore draft and is a half-sister Chilean Group Two winner Pleasant Secret being from the Secretariat mare Secret Truth.