Son Of Rock Of Gibraltar Confirms Class With Group 3 Win

The Jim Bolger-trained Ten Year Ticket (3g Rock Of Gibraltar - Bulrushes, by Byron) produced a late finish to win Tuesday’s Listed Trial Stakes at Leopardstown.

A debut winner of a Curragh maiden last October, Nicholas Teehan’s homebred remained over seven furlongs on his three-year-old return. Kevin Manning rode the chesnut to chase the leaders and asked him to quicken from halfway, his mount running on well inside the final furlong to lead close home. The winning margin was a neck, with King Of Athens claiming runners-up honours, a length and three quarters in front of Prince Of Naples (Holy Roman Emperor) in third.

There should be more to come from the winner according to Kevin Manning, who later said, “He did it well. He's a horse going in the right direction. He'll improve plenty I think, it's only his second start and he was still quite green.”

The son of Rock Of Gibraltar becomes the third Stakes winner out of the mare Bulrushes, herself a half-sister to Group 1 performer Tariq.