Winning Rock Run Continues

21st October 2007

The remarkable winning run of Rock of Gibraltar continued in Britain at the weekend where his two year-old daughter Kitty Matcham (2f Rock of Gibraltar - Imagine, by Sadler's Wells) saluted in the Group Two Rockfel Stakes to become his 24th individual stakes-winner.

Her success follows hot on the heels of Pillar of Hercules, who claimed a Group Three victory at Caulfield on Saturday when he became stakes-winner 23.

The Aidan O’Brien trained filly Kitty Matcham scored by a neck and has won two of five starts, backing up form a maiden win at Naas to post this valuable Black Type success.

“We always thought she was very nice, but mentally she has been immature, being a late foal,” said O’Brien.

“She’s tough and travels and...with these Rock of Gibraltars, the more you throw at them, the better they get. We had to back up for a few runs with her, so I would imagine that would be it for this season, but she’s one to look forward to.”

Kitty Matcham was bred by Barronstown Stud and Tower Bloodstock and is raced by Diane Nagle and Susan Magnier.

A three-quarter sister to Group Two winner Horatio Nelson and full sister to Group One placed Red Rock Canyon, Kitty Matcham is from champion Sadler’s Wells filly Imagine, winner of the English Oaks and Irish 1,000 Guineas.

Kitty Matcham is the second stakes-winner for Rock of Gibraltar from a daughter of Sadler’s Wells, joining Aussie bred South African stakes-winner Uber Rock who is from the Sadler’s Wells mare Uberfrau.

Rock of Gibraltar also went within a short head of posting a Group One winner when three year-old colt Eagle Mountain failed by a short head in running second to Literato in the Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Newmarket.

A Group Two winner last season, Eagle Mountain has apparently been sold from the Aidan O'Brien stable and will do his future racing with leading South African trainer Mike de Kock.