The record setting Rock of Gibraltar has been retired and will stand at Coolmore Stud next year. A fee has yet to be announced. Rock of Gibraltar beat the number of Group 1 races, winning seven, won consecutively - a record of six, set by the legendary Mill Reef. 

Trained by Aiden O’Brien, the son of Danehill ran unplaced just once in his admirably consistent career when unlucky in the Coventry Stakes behind Landseer. He bounced back to take the Gimcrack - also won by Mill Reef - in scintillating fashion. “The Rock”, as his legions of fans knew him, was then beaten by Dubai Destination in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, giving the winner weight. 

Rock of Gibraltar began his winning sequence in the Grand Criterium on Arc day. The neat colt waltzed away to beat a solid field which included Group 3 hero Dobby Road and Group 1 placed Imtiyaz. He followed this up by a game, nose win in the Dewhurst Stakes. In this classic trial, the Rock beat subsequent French 2000 Guineas hero, Landseer and another stable mate, Tendulkar. Overshadowed by another O’Brien star, Johannesburg, as a two year old it was Rock of Gibraltar who improved as a three year old. 

On his three year old debut, the son of Danehill was a game winner of the English 2000 Guineas over the much vaunted Hawk Wing. In a controversial finish, Rock of Gibraltar held off his stable mate by a head.

Ridden by substitute Johnny Murtagh, the Rock was partnered by stable jockey, Michael Kinane in his next five starts. 

He was an impressive winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, thrashed a field which included the winners of the French, Italian and German 2000 Guineas winners at Royal Ascot and then beat the older horses in the Sussex Stakes next time out. 

The Rock beat the champion filly, Banks Hill - also by Danehill, in the Prix de Moulin to beat Mill Reef’s record. 

On his last start, Rock of Gibraltar looked to be an unlucky loser of the Breeders Cup Mile when the unfancied Domedriver held the three year old off by a diminishing half length. Drawn wide, the colt looked to have been given too much to do. 

The Rock, whom his jockey, Michael Kinane said was the best he rode, is the likely Cartier Horse of the Year.

Rock of Gibraltar, from the family of Riverman, looks set to carry on the legacy of Danehill. Danehill, whose Group 1 winning sons Desert King and Danehill Dancer have both sired Group 1 winners in the first crops in Ireland, is second on the UK / IRE sires list to his mighty stud companion, Sadler’s Wells.