Group Three Victory for Rockwood
3rd May 2008
Rock of Gibraltar posted his 31st stakes-winner at Randwick on Saturday when progressive three year-old Rockwood (3g Rock of Gibraltar x Foxwood, by Centaine) defied all challengers to take the Group Three AJC Frank Packer Plate over 2000 metres in a driving finish.Ridden a treat by Nash Rawiller, Rockwood stalked the pace and then proved too good in the run home to beat fast finishing Moatize (3g Danehill Dancer x Shezabeel, by Zabeel) ) by a short neck with another neck back to Imvula (3c Rock of Gibraltar x African Rain, by Woodman) giving Coolmore sires the trifecta.
“He’s super tough, I thought he was going to run fifth at the 200 but he kept on finding and finding, he’s going to be even better next time,” said Nash Rawiller.
Second last Saturday in the Listed AJC Carbine Club Stakes over 1600 metres, Rockwood relished the step up in distance and the quick back up to produce his best performance to date, his overall record now standing at two wins and two seconds from six starts with prizemoney of $127,850.
Racing for a large group of owners, Rockwood was purchased by Gai Waterhouse at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore Stud for $325,000.
He is the fourth foal of dual Group One winning Centaine mare Foxwood, who comes from the family of outstanding gallopers Sovereign Red and Gurner’s Lane.
She also had a winner at Hastings in New Zealand on Friday when her four year-old Galileo daughter Sidereus Nuncius broke her maiden.
Foxwood produced a full brother to Rockwood last spring and was subsequently covered by Encosta de Lago.
Rock of Gibraltar is the leading second season sire in Australia by individual stakes-winners this season with an amazing seven stakes-winners to his credit - Rockwood, joining Book of Kells, Gamble Me, Musidora, Pillar of Hercules, Sliding Cube and Gibraltar Campion.
