25 Stakes-Winners for The Rock

22nd October 2007

You’d have to be living under a stone not to have noticed that over the last few weeks champion racehorse Rock of Gibraltar has flipped the switch to overdrive in his stud career as new stakes-winner after new stakes-winner has emerged.

He was at it again on Sunday in France where two year-old colt High Rock (2c High Rock - Hint of Silver, by Alysheba) claimed his first Black Type win in the Group Three Prix de Conde over 1800 metres to become the 25^th stakes-winner worldwide for his red hot young sire.

High Rock was having just his third race having finished third on debut and then breaking his maiden at Saint-Cloud on September 18.

“I had some good guidelines at home which indicated he had a serious chance today and I’m very pleased with the way he won,” said winning trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

“I really like this horse, and he’ll be one of our hopes for the G1 Prix du Jockey-Club next year, so we will now put him away for the rest of the season.”

Bred by Ecure Skymarc Farm, High Rock is raced by Robert Bousquet, and is a half-brother to Group Three winner Homeland and stakes-winner Hideaway from the Alysheba mare Hint of Silver, whose next dam is by Nureyev.

Rock of Gibraltar has been a regular shuttler for Coolmore between Australia and Ireland since retiring to stud in 2003, but took a detour to Japan this year where he covered 147 mares.

Currently at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley, Rock of Gibraltar is covering a full book of stellar mares including Shantha’s Choice, the dam of Redoute’s Choice and this season’s top three year-old filly Sliding Cube, who is also by Rock of Gibraltar.