Coolmore is always open to the right offer for the right stallion.
The industry leader sold Lion Heart and Dehere to the Turkish National Stud earlier this year even though both stallions were lucrative money-spinners on the shuttle circuit from Kentucky to the Hunter Valley.
It was a sound business decision for the Irishmen. The Turks will be back for more bearing in mind its broodmare population has grown nearly threefold in the last decade. And they would have been thrilled when Lion Heart colt Dangerous Midge won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs last Sunday.
If Coolmore ever get an offer for Rock Of Gibraltar, it will probably come from a South African stud.
The Irish bred son of Danehill has built up a tremendous strike-rate with 41 wins in the Republic. The Group 1 Scottsville Gold Medallion winner Seventh Rock has been his best to date but there was a significant changing of the guard at Turffontein on Friday night.
Gibraltar Blue (Ire) scored by four lengths in the Listed Gardenia Handicap (1000m) before her stablemate Perana (Aus) produced a sensational performance in the G2 Victory Moon Stakes (1800m).
Gibraltar Blue (4f Rock Of Gibraltar – Holly Blue by Bluebird) started her career in Ireland with a maiden win at Fairyhouse. She was sold to South African owner-breeder John Koster and won the G2 KRA Fillies Guineas and G2 Tibouchina Stakes at Greyville in June. She was also narrowly beaten by Captain’s Gal in the G1 South African Fillies Sprint at Scottsville.
Trainer Mike de Kock predicated a bright future for the filly last time in and the sky’s the limit after her first-up runaway on Friday night.
If anything, Perana was even more impressive at Turffontein. It was only his fourth start and, with an 8.5kg pull in the weights, was too good for his Group 1 winning stablemate Mother Russia.
Perana (3c Rock Of Gibraltar – Scribbling by Palace Music) led the Victory Moon field and travelled comfortably until he unaccountably propped and almost unseated Anthony Delpech at the top of the straight.
He looked a lost cause when visiting hoop Christophe Soumillon sooled Mother Russia to the lead at the furlong. The mare appeared to have done enough until Perana recovered and ranged up to win by a half-length running away.
Delpech dismounted and told de Kock he had never sat aboard such a talented three year-old!
Perana was a $200,000 buy for South African owners Larry Nestadt and Bernard Kantor at the 2009 Inglis Easter yearling sale. He is from an unraced half-sister to Champion South African filly Tracy’s Element (Last Tycoon) who is the dam of Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom).
Perana will head to Kenilworth for the summer season and options open to de Kock include the G1 Summer Cup and/or G1 Cape Guineas.
HOOFNOTE
Alinga is another talented Aussie bred Rock of Gibraltar in South Africa. She has won 4 times in 8 races, the last of them at Durbanville on October 16.
Alinga (4f Rock Of Gibraltar – Star Of Broadway by Quest for Fame) cost $90,000 out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2008 Inglis Easter yearling sale. Her dam is a half-sister to Champion galloper Naturalism and G1 Queensland Oaks winner Crystal Palace.