Rock of Gibraltar Heads European Shuttle Stallions

Published in the July 12 issue of The Blood-Horse
Rock of Gibraltar, a record breaker on Europe's racecourses before entering stud this year at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, will be calling Coolmore's Australian branch near Jerry Plains home for the next several months. Rock of Gibraltar's sire, deceased Coolmore stallion Danehill, achieved lasting fame during his many shuttling seasons to Australia, and Coolmore officials are confident that "The Rock" can do likewise.

Four-year-old Rock of Gibraltar, who was produced from the Be My Guest mare Offshore Boom, will stand Down Under for A$120,000 (approximately $81,000 in U.S. funds). The price is considerably higher than the fee of A$85,000 for U.S. shuttler co-leaders Fusaichi Pegasus and Giant's Causeway (The Blood-Horse of July 5, page 3581). Fusaichi Pegasus and Giant's Causeway are both Coolmore stallions.

As a racehorse, Rock of Gibraltar captured a record seven consecutive group I events, including the English and Irish Two Thousand Guineas, before his streak ended with a runner-up effort in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) last fall in what was his final start.

Another Coolmore stallion, Galileo, commands the second-highest fee among European shuttlers. His price, A$45,000 (approximately $30,000), is down A$5,000 from his first shuttle season last year when his fee was the highest among the 34 European shuttlers. Galileo (Sadler's Wells--Urban Sea, by Miswaki) was a champion in England and Ireland.

Overall, there are 34 stallions making the trip from Europe, including international champion Arazi. A son of Blushing Groom out of the Northern Dancer mare Danseur Fabuleux, Arazi stood the Northern Hemisphere season in Switzerland.

New Zealand's top price stallion among the European shuttlers is Montjeu. Based at Coolmore in Ireland, champion Montjeu (Sadler's Wells--Floripedes, by Top Ville) will stand for NZ$35,000 (approximately $20,000) at Windsor Park near Cambridge. The New Zealand newcomers list of 10 European stallions is two fewer than last year's number.

To Australia from Europe (34 Stallions)

Sire/European Location 2003, Fee/SH Location 2003, Fee

Agnes World/Darley-Dalham Hall, £15,000/Widden, A$22,700
Anabaa/Haras du Quesnay, FF45,000/Widden, A$36,300
Arazi/Sohrenhof, NA/Independent SS. A$10,000
Danehill Dancer/Coolmore-Kilsheelan, Ire30,000/Collingrove, A$25,000
Danetime/Tally-Ho, Ire6,500/Bellbridge Park, A$8,000
Desert Prince/Irish National, Ire30,000/Woodlands, A$25,000
Distant Music/Morristown, Ire9,500/Yallambee, A$15,000
Fantastic Light/Darley-Dalham Hall, £30,000/Darley, A$35,000
Fasliyev/Coolmore, Ire20,000/Coolmore, A$20,000
Galileo/Coolmore, Ire60.00/Coolmore, A$45,000
Golden Snake/English National, £4,000/Lynden Park, A$13,500
Grand Lodge/Coolmore, Ire64,000/Woodlands, A$35,000
Indian Danehill/Irish National, Ire8,000/Lindsay Park, A$9,000
Ishiguru/Tweenhills, £3,500/Baerami Thoroughbreds, A$6,500
Johan/Cruff-Gestut Isarland, M5,000/Eliza Park, A$7,500
Keltos/Airlie, Ire10,000/Alwyn Park, A$10,000
King Charlemagne/Coolmore, Ire8,000/Blue Gum, A$10,000
King's Best/Darley-Kildangan, Ire35,000/Darley, A$35,000
Lake Coniston/Collin, £2,750/Wyndholm Park, A$6,350
Lujain Darley/Dalham Hall, £5,000/Darley, A$7,500
Mull of Kintyre/Coolmore, Ire6,000/Coolmore, A$6,000
Noverre/Darley-Kildangan, Ire15,000/Darley, A$25,000
Orpen/Coolmore-Kilsheelan, eu6,000/Coolmore, A$7,000
Peintre Celebre/Coolmore, eu25,000/Coolmore, A$22,500
Primo Valentino/Bearstone, £3,500/High Lane, TBA
Rock of Gibraltar/Coolmore, Ire80,000/Coolmore, A$120,000
Second Empire/Coolmore, Ire5,000/Heytesbury, A$10,000
Shinko Forest/Rathbarry, Ire7,500/Glenlogan Park, A$12,000
Spinning World/Coolmore, Ire35,000/Coolmore, A$15,000
Testa Rossa/du Petit Tellier, FF10,000/Yallambee, A$20,000
Tobougg/Darley-Dalham Hall, £5,000/Darley, A$10,000
Val Royal/Oak Lodge, Ire8,500/Eliza Park, A$16,000
Xaar/Darley-Kildangan, Ire15,000/Darley, A$15,000
Zaha/Collin Stud, £3,500/Clear Mountain, NA

To New Zealand from Europe (10 Stallions)

Sire/European Location , 2003 Fee/SH Location 2003, Fee

Bertolini/Overbury, £4,000/Rich Hill, NZ$10,000
Cape Cross/Darley-Kildangan, eu10,000/Cambridge, NZ$12,000
City on a Hill/Ballyhane, eu4,000/Curraghmore, NZ$6,500
Daggers Drawn/Ballyhane, eu4,000/Curraghmore, NZ$5,000
Generous/Plantation, £8,000/Glenmorgan, NZ$21,000
Golan/Coolmore, eu20,000/Windsor Park, NZ$12,500
King's Theatre/Ballylinch, eu6,500/Java Lodge, NZ$9,000
Montjeu/Coolmore, NA/Windsor Park, NZ$35,000
Rossini/Ballyhane, NA/Glenmorgan, NZ$6,000
Traditionally/Ballylinch, Ire12,700/Ashwell, NZ$17,500

NA -- Not Available