Written May 2008
Rock Of Gibraltar is from the family of elite sire influence, RIVERMAN. His second dam Push A Button is a half sister to Riverman. Mares carrying Riverman create highly desirable reinforcement of this family. This pattern is already working, with Franch Gr.3 winner Utrecht, Irish Listed winner Anna’s Rock and South African Listed winner Uber Rock bred on this cross. Broodmare sires such as BRIEF TRUCE, CAPTAIN’S GOLD, IRISH RIVER, RIVOTIOUS and DIATRIBE supply a line to Riverman.
As Rock Of Gibraltar in inbred to Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector line mares are particularly appealing. He has already produced stakes winners Gamble Me, Fashion Rocks and Maria Gabriella from mares carrying Mr. Prospector. Australasian broodmare sires such as RHYTHM, HUSSONET, WOODMAN, STRAIGHT STRIKE, UMATILLA, GEIGER COUNTER, BELLOTTO, EL MOXIE, JADE ROBBERY, distorted humor, END SWEEP, INFLATE, VETTORI, THUNDER GULCH and SECRET SAVINGS are good candidates.
Another terrific outcross for Rock Of Gibraltar will be STAR KINGDOM. Stakes winners Pillar of Hercules, Sliding Cube, Superfly and I Have No Fear are all from mares carrying Star Kingdom. MARSCAY, BLETCHINGLY, LUSKIN STAR and canny lad in particular have had great success with Danehill.
HALO line broodmares are great candidates for mating with Rock Of Gibraltar. A close relation to Northern Dancer (to which Rock Of Gibraltar is inbred) as well as Danehill, he can be sourced via DON’T SAY HALO, FUJI KISEKI, MORE THAN READY, irgunand SUNDAY SILENCE. VRC Australian Guineas winner Al Maher is by Danehill out of a Don’t Say Halo mare.
The presence of four individuals with a recognised affinity; Bold Ruler, Prince John, Eight Thirty and War Admiral (twice) in Rock Of Gibraltar may respond well to further reinforcement of any of these four in broodmares. Dam sires such as SUCCESS EXPRESS, SALIERI, PALACE MUSIC, BROCCO, BLUEBIRD and ROYAL ACADEMY are examples.
Mares by RANCHER and his sons will create a desirable sex balanced duplication of Bold Lad with Rock Of Gibraltar.
Group One winner Seventh Rock is from a mare by RUBITON, a son of CENTURY. This is also the sireline of Group 3 winner, Rockwood (damsire CENTAINE).
Group 3 winner Murtajill is out of an AT TALAQ mare.
The SADLER’S WELLS line is also doing well with Rock Of Gibraltar. Group 2 winners Book of Kells (dam by SCENIC) and Kitty Matcham (SADLER’S WELLS) and Listed winners Uber Rock (SADLER’S WELLS) and Truly Mine (BARATHEA) are examples.
