Seventh Rock Strikes in South Africa
24th February 2008
Classy Aussie bred colt Seventh Rock (3c Rock of Gibraltar x Rubu Clipper , by Rubiton) gave his rivals a galloping lesson at Turffontein in South Africa on Saturday when he bolted away to win the Group Three Tommy Hotspur Handicap by three and a half lengths.The Charles Laird trained colt scorched over the 1000 metre journey in 56.22 in a highly impressive performance that has taken his overall record to five wins and two seconds from seven starts.
By Rock of Gibraltar from the former champion South African filly Ruby Clipper, Seventh Rock was a Group One winner last season at two in taking the Gold Medallion and looks every chance of claiming further Group One success judging by this dominant victory against the older horses.
Bred and offered for sale by Strawberry Hill Stud, Seventh Rock made $1,025,000 to the bid of Charles Laird on behalf of his major client Marcus Jooste.
He is the second foal of the Rubiton mare Ruby Clipper, a winner of 10 races including the Group One Allan Robertson Fillies Championship at Scottville, before being retired and sold back to Australia to commence a career at stud.
Seventh Rock was the most expensive Rock of Gibraltar yearling colt sold at Australasian sales in 2006, a figure that was eclipsed in 2007 when his colt from L’On Vite made $3million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Rock of Gibraltar was also represented by three smart maiden winners in Australia at the weekend in the Gai Waterhouse trained gelding Rockwood (3g Rock of Gibraltar x Foxwood, by Centaine) successful at Canterbury, the Peter Snowden trained Imvula (3c Rock of Gibraltar x African Rain, by Woodman) , who scored at Kembla and the John Sadler trained Domain (3g Rock of Gibraltar x One Under, by Volksraad) , an easy winner at Bendigo on Sunday.
Three year-old Rockwood was resuming from a spell after being gelded and showed the benefit with a fast finishing win in the 1200 metre maiden at just his second race start.
Purchased by Gai Waterhouse from the Coolmore draft at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $325,000, Rockwood is from the dual Group One winner Foxwood.
The Woodlands Stud owned colt Imvula appreciated a step up to 1500 metres to score his maiden victory. Bred and offered for sale by Tyreel Stud at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale the colt was knocked down to the Inghams for $750,000.
Improving gelding Domain scored over 1400 metres at the second time of asking for leviathan Melbourne based owner Lloyd Williams. A $300,000 purchase for Graeme Rogerson Bloodstock at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Kia Ora Stud, Domain is from sual Group One winner and Champion NZ Two Year-Old, One Under.
Rock of Gibraltar has some outstanding yearlings for the Australian sales in 2008 with eight for Inglis Premier, 35 for Magic Millions and 36 for Inglis Easter.
