breednet.com.au

Maiden Stakes Success for Rock Of Gibraltar's Rock 'n' Gold

Mark Smith - Saturday January 20

Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra had three of the eight starters in Saturday's $120,000 Listed VRC Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington and it was the outsider of the field, Rock 'n' Gold that saluted.

Chris Symons had Rock 'n' Gold camped on the speed set by Amber Sky and Lord of the Sky before finishing the best to win by a half-head over Husson Eagle (Husson) with Adelaide visitor Itz Invincible (I Am Invincible) edging out the luckless Flamberge for third. (photo Darryl Sherer )

It was the first stakes win for the 7yo son of Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE), advancing his record to 7 wins, 8 seconds and 9 thirds from 40 starts with earnings of $404,900.


"He heads down to Danny O'Brien's farm a fair bit and they do a bit of work with him and he always races well fresh, Zahra said.

"His jump out on Monday indicated he could run a cheeky race but we thought the class of the other two would get there.

"We bought him to stay, he is from the family of Fawkner and Tanby so we went to the Ready To Runs and bought him because of that.

"He used to pull too hard but now needs plenty speed on, gets back and runs on.

"We send him to the farm when he looks tired. This is his first start at the big time and he has performed well.

"He has been a little bit frustrating but a fantastic horse to the stable but we'll keep him fresh and find another race in the next three or four weeks."

A half-brother to Listed stakes-winner Antidotes, Rock 'n' Gold first went through the ring at the 2012 Inglis Premier Yearling sale where he made just $12,000. He was then was onsold later in the year for $55,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale.

He is the eighth foal and fourth winner out of the winning Geiger Counter mare Goldberg, a daughter of the Group 1 VRC Oaks heroine Tay Eclipse, and a half-sister to the dam of Group III winner and VRC Oaks runner-up Dane Belltar (Danewin), the dam of triple Group 1 winner Fawkner and Group II Adelaide Cup winner Tamby.

Goldberg was pensioned in 2015. Her final foal is an unraced 3yo Written Tycoon colt named Mister Mogul.

Rock 'n' Gold becomes the 122nd stakes-winner for Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) who shuttled to Coolmore Stud for eight seasons, the last in 2010.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Back to Back Stakes Wins for Almanzor Stayer
After going into the New Zealand Cup Carnival without any black-type victories to her name, Mehzebeen leaves Riccarton with two of them including Saturday’s time-honoured Gr.3 Martin Collins 161st New Zealand Cup (3200m).
Proisir Stayer Wins $300,000 Beauford
Former Kiwi galloper Nikau Spur continues to provide Toowoomba trainers Corey and Kylie Geran with huge thrills and the momentum continued when scoring a last-stride victory in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Beauford (2300m) at Newcastle on Saturday. 
New SW for Ocean Park
Riccarton’s Listed Lindauer Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) is a special race on the calendar for local trainers Michael and Matthew Pitman, who won the $140,000 sprint showpiece again on Saturday with a remarkable performance from a rising star.
Swiss Ace Mare Goes from Strength to Strength
Classy sprinting  mare Niance has proved a revelation since crossing the Tasman and joining the  stable of Cranbourne trainer Grahame Begg.
Rising Star Briasa Leads Home a Smart Missile Quinella in The Hunter
The exciting Briasa led home a Smart Missile quinella in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Group II The Newcastle Herald Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.
Overshare Filly Storyville from Last to First in G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes
The Overshare filly Storyville came from last on the turn under a rails-hugging ride by Willie Pike to capture Saturday’s Group III Tabtouch - WA Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.
Tarzino Gelding Wins $500,000 Country Cups Final
The Paul Preusker-trained Torranzino has come from near last to score a narrow victory in the A$500,000 Hyland Victorian Country Cups Final (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
First G1 Winner for Brave Smash
The Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday produced a first G1 winner for Yarraman Park based sire Hellbent last year when four year-old mare Magic Time took the prize and this year it was another Yarraman sire in Brave Smash (Jpn) taking the honours with his high class four year-old daughter Kimochi saluting for Yulong.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 16
Here is the full list of 107 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ropes Them In Captures G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes
Second in the Listed Fairetha Stakes twelve months ago, Rope Them In cracked it for a Group III win in Saturday’s Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) at Ascot.