Smart Winner for Rock of Gibraltar

Smart three year-old Pampelonne (3g Rock of Gibraltar x Jestajewel, by Rory's Jester) created a big impression when winning easily at Rosehill on Saturday. Former Racing NSW Chairman and well known Sydney owner Alan Bell has raced a lot of good horses over the years including the likes of Grand Armee, Schillaci, Primacy, Magic of Money, Dupain and Strada and he may well have another one judging by the performance of Pampelonne. By accomplished shuttle sire Rock of Gibraltar, the Tim Martin trained Pampelonne was resuming from a spell and powered home to win the Benchmark 80 event over 1200 metres, beating older horses by two and a half lengths. The lightly raced gelding has the overall record of two wins and two seconds from just four starts and will be heading for better company as his current preparation unfolds. "I’m not 100 percent sure of where we will immediately go, but the way he won it will be hard not to find a stakes race next for him,” Tim Martin said. "His grand final will be at Scone in May for the $500,000 Inglis Scone Guineas.” A big strong chestnut bred by Neil Werrett for Black Caviar fame, Pampelonne was purchased by Martin for $140,000 from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the second foal and second winner for stakes-placed Rory’s Jester mare Jestajewel, a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Marveen.