Coolmore has announced the death of the 3 year old world champion and group 1 bull Rock of Gibraltar due to heart failure on October 23.
Danehill’s 23-year-old son, bred by Joe Crowley, Anne-Marie and Aidan O’Brien, made his name in the history books by becoming the first horse to win 7 consecutive pounds 1 in the Northern Hemisphere, Break Mill Reef’s 30-year record.
He won The Curragh in his first 2nd place debut for O’Brien and ended that season with successes in the Grand Criterium Lucien Barriere (G1) and Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1), also landed at Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes (G2) and Anheuser-Busch Railway Shares (G3) – the latter from stable friend Hawk Wing.
At the age of 3, he added Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas (G1), Entenmanns Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1), St. James’s Palace Stakes (G1), Sussex Stakes (G1) and NetJets Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) on his CV for owners Mrs. John Magnier and Sir Alex Ferguson.
He ended his career with three quarters of a second to Domedriver in NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1T).
Rock of Gibraltar retired with Coolmore for a private fee in 2003 and will shuttle to Australia, Japan, Chile and Brazil as well as continue to cover home pamphlets in Ireland in recent years.
Paddy Fleming, manager of Coolmore’s Castlehyde Stud said: “He was healthy and looked great until the last minute. He is a great racehorse and a very good stallion who will be missed by all the staff here.”
Rock of Gibraltar has selected 256 stake performers to date, including 77 group winners worldwide and 16 at the highest level.
They include Coral Eclipse Stakes (G1) and winner Criterium International (G1) Mount Nelson Golden Jubilee Stakes (G1) and Betfred Sprint Cup (G1) winners Society Rock plus Etihad Airways Irish heroine One Thousand Guineas (G1) and Garden City Stakes (G1T) Samitar and Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup Top Scorer (G1) Eagle Mountain .
Rock of Gibraltar has also become an influential breeder as his daughters have produced 2020 and 2021 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) winners in Kameko and Flare poetry .
Other star names besides his daughter include Breeders’ Cup Top Scorer Juvenile Turf (G1T) Quest Line Japanese star Mikki Islanddouble American won 1st prize Photo call , and the heroine of Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) Belvoir Bay .
