Rock’s Relation Wins Hobart Cup

11th February 2008

Improving stayer Offenbach (5g Danehill x Push a Venture, by Shirley Heights) , a three-quarter brother-in-blood to champion racehorse and successful sire Rock of Gibraltar, claimed his own five minutes of fame in Tasmania on Monday when waltzing to a commanding win in the Group Three TRC Hobart Cup.

Sent out favourite with leading Victorian jockey Craig Williams in the saddle, Offenbach never gave punters a moments worry as he strode clear in the straight to score by five and a half lengths.

A full brother by champion sire Danehill to stakes-placed fillies Isle of Gibraltar and Star of Gibraltar, Offenbach is from the Shirley Heights mare Push a Venture, a half-sister to the dam of European Horse of the Year and seven-time Group One winner Rock of Gibraltar.

Offered at the 2004 NZB Premier Yearling Sale by Curraghmore Stud, Offenbach generated plenty of attention in fetching $1million to the bid of BBA Ireland to be the second highest priced yearling at the sale behind subsequent Group One winner Darci Brahma who made $1.1 million.

Sent to David Hayes at Lindsay Park, Offenbach managed a maiden win but generally failed to flatter and was subsequently gelded and on sold, joining the Ballarat stable of Darren Weir.

He has since struck form winning races at Donald, Terang, Ballarat and Warrnambool before graduating to metropolitan company with victories at Moonee Valley and a last start win in open event at Caulfield over 2000 metres.

Offenbach now has the more than respectable record of eight wins and four seconds from 18 starts with $377,720 in the bank.

As a Black Type winner, Offenbach has done his bit for his family, which could be on a real upswing in this part of the world with full sisters Star of Gibraltar and Isle of Gibraltar both now at stud and being given every opportunity along with another half--sister Kusha by King of Kings.

Then there is his two year-old half-sister Glowlamp, an Encosta de Lago filly that made $1.4 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year when secured by Dr Edmund Bateman.

Push a Venture has a yearling full sister to Glowlamp for this year and after missing in 2006, was returned to Encosta de Lago again last spring.

The family appears at Magic Millions this year with an Encosta de Lago colt from Isle of Gibraltar to be offered as Lot 824.