Birthday celebrations for Rock

Birthday Party (2f Rock Of Gibraltar-Jubilant Lady, by Aptitude) marked herself at the forefront of Italy’s juvenile crop with a Listed success in Milan on Sunday.

The Rock Of Gibraltar filly accelerated in the final stages of the Listed Premio Merano to win under Dario Vargiu.

“She is a baby and she will relish a longer trip. When I asked her to run she gave me the right answer. She is pretty much in the same mould of her half-sister,” said Vargiu. The half-sister he referred to was Flower Party, who was placed in both the Italian Oaks and Italian Derby.

Birthday Party, trained by the Botti family for Scuderia Effevi, was bred in Ireland by Gary and Lesley Middlebrook.