First Aussie Juvenile Winner of Season for Rock
11th November 2007
Rock of Gibraltar produced his first Australian juvenile winner of the new season at Cranbourne on Sunday when two year-old filly Gibraltar Range (2f Rock of Gibraltar - Hancora, by Septieme Ciel) led throughout to win the 1000 metre maiden on debut.Prepared by Lee Freedman, Gibraltar Range was secured by Julian Blaxland’s Blue Sky Thoroughbreds for $320,000 at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and races for a syndicate of owners that includes Paul Whelan of Luskin Park Stud.
Bred and offered for sale by Kia Ora Stud, Gibraltar Range (pictured as a yearling) is the first foal of the French juvenile stakes-winner Hancora, by the Seattle Slew horse Septieme Ciel.
Hancora returned to Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) last spring and produced a colt on August 17.
Rock of Gibraltar enjoyed great success last season with his first Australian runners and has gone right on with the job since August 1, producing five stakes-winners in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand including the Kiwi filly Lovetrista, who finished third in the Group One NZ Thousand Guineas on Saturday.
Rock of Gibraltar is serving at Coolmore this spring and is due back in Ireland for the 2008 Northern Hemisphere breeding season.
