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 )

Advertisement

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...
Ones to Watch – Bendigo
At this time of year, you tend to take special notice of well-bred 3YO debut winners and three of them arrived at Bendigo on Sunday that were all interesting for different reasons and none more so than one who has a name that has become infamous this year.
Ka Ying Rising Straight to Everest Quarantine after Return Romp
Hong Kong Champion Ka Ying Rising was headed straight to quarantine to prepare for the Group I The Everest after another stunning performance when resuming for the new season on Sunday at Sha Tin.
Lightning Strikes at The Valley
It didn't carry Black Type, but the $200,000 MVRC So You Think Stakes (1500m) at Moonee Valley was packed with intrigue and G1 winners with spring aspirations.
Stakes Goals Ahead for Supido Mare
Astute trainer David Payne is no stranger to G1 success and has always held Supido mare Shohisha in high regard and she showed the potential of better things to come this spring when powering home to win the Benchmark 94 event over 1600m at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday September 6
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Stakes Success for Impending - Cool Memory Wins Listed Farnley
A son of Larneuk Stud's value Lonhro stallion Impending, five year old Cool Memory bolted in to claim his second stakes win and bring joy to favourite backers on a rain-drenched Saturday at Belmont Park.
Pericles Turns Back the Clock
Six year-old Street Boss (USA) gelding Pericles won the Group II ATC Tramway Stakes (1400m) two years ago in 2023 when trained by James Cummings and he repeated the effort at Randwick on Saturday, but this time he is in the care of Bjorn Baker.
Derby Dreaming for Crown of Russia
Danny O’Brien already has one promising winner by his former G1 star Russian Camelot (IRE) in the stable in Censori and on Sunday at Bendigo he unleased another.
G1 Haydock Sprint Cup Upset
Wathnan Racing were expecting to win the Group I Haydock Sprint Cup (6f) overnight with short priced race favourite Lazzat, but the best he could manage was fifth behind progressive three year-old colt Big Mojo.
Pedigree Watch – 3YO Plus That G1 Late Bloomer
Saturday delivered another exciting instalment of early spring racing with three stakes races for 3YO’s and once again all of them were won by new first time stakes-winners that were virtually unsighted at two and we also had a new G1 winner, whose path to the top has been anything but smooth.