Kinanes Enjoy Further Success With Rock Of Gibraltar

The Ross O’Sullivan-trained Rocky Sky (3f Rock Of Gibraltar - Road Tosky, by Elusive City) followed up on a promising debut to land Friday’s mile maiden at Dundalk.

A fast-finishing third at the track last month, the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar subsequently switched stables and raced closer to the pace on her second start. Shaken up approaching two furlongs out, she produced a challenge over a furlong from home and kept on well to lead close home. She scored by half a length under Gary Halpin, as the favourite Devil’s Outlaw was forced to settle for second.

There may be more to come from Rocky Sky, with the winning trainer later commenting, “Rocky Sky had a good run the first day and I think she'll keep progressing. The extra furlong was no problem. She has a nice pedigree, she handled the surface well and you wouldn't be worried about dropping her back in trip either.”

Owned by Catherine Kinane and bred by the Kinane’s Eadling Farm, Rocky Sky becomes the first winner out of Stakes performer Road Tosky. Michael Kinane partnered Rock Of Gibraltar to six of the bay’s seven Group 1 wins.

After winning the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp, Kinane said, “I've never sat on a better miler and he's got so much speed. What gave me even more pleasure was the way all the other jockeys came up to congratulate me on riding such a great horse. The French riders call him 'The Monster',” while after winning the Sussex Stakes, he described Rock Of Gibraltar as “the ultimate racehorse.”

Rock Of Gibraltar is responsible for 16 Group 1 winners worldwide and is also proving a successful broodmare sires, with his daughters producing the likes of Kameko, Photo Call (Galileo), Mikki Isle, Land Force (No Nay Never) and Line Of Duty (Galileo).