Rock of Gibraltar Gives O'Brien A Sweep of English, French, and Irish 2,000 Guineas

Rock of Gibraltar swept to the lead in the final furlong to easily win the Entenmann's Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) Saturday at The Curragh, giving the Aidan O'Brien-trained horse a sweep of the English and Irish Guineas. O'Brien sent out the top three finishers in Saturday's race, giving the trainer an unprecedented sweep of this year's French, English, and Irish 2,000 Guineas as he also sent out Landseer to win the French equivalent.

The win marks the seventh in nine career starts for Alex Ferguson and Mrs. John Magnier's bay son of Danehill, who made his 3-year-old debut in last month's Newmarket classic. Last year, he won the Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-I), the Grand Criterium (Fr-I), the Gimcrack Stakes (Eng-II), and the Railway Stakes (Ire-III), and finished second to Dubai Destination in the Champagne Stakes (Eng-I).

Under Michael Kinane, 4-7 favorite Rock of Gibraltar finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Century City, with Della Francesca third of seven, three lengths farther back.