Rock Of Gibraltar is “buy of the year” for 2012 - Oppenheim

Rock Of Gibraltar has enjoyed an excellent 2011 and in Wednesday’s TDN, top breeding analyst Bill Oppenheim has picked the son of Danehill as the best value European sire for 2012.

The Rock is standing for €17,500 next year and Oppenheim feels he is a stallion to follow after the performance of his first two-year-old crop since returning to Europe after a spell in Japan.

"Not only has Rock of Gibraltar come back, but he has achieved an almost unprecedented double: his first crop of 2-year-olds back ranks him third, behind only Holy Roman Emperor and Acclamation, on the list of leading European Sires of 2-Year-Olds by progeny earnings (per racingpost.com). It also includes five 2-year-old 2011 black-type winners," says Opennheim.

He continues: "At €17,500 for 2012, and considering his 2.11 APEX A Runner Index, he’s just about the buy of the year among proven European sires. There just aren’t that many of

them, and the rest seem to start around the €22,500 figure."