New Aussie Stakes-Winner for Rock of Gibraltar

Talented sprinter Pago Rock (5g Rock of Gibraltar x Dancing Pago, by Thunder Gulch) posted his first Black Type success at Caulfield on Saturday when reeling in classy mare Elite Elle to win the Listed MRC Sir John Monash Stakes. Owned and trained by David Hayes, Pago Rock has been in hot form since resuming from a spell in May and scored by a length in the 1100 metre sprint to take his overall record to 10 wins from 18 starts with prizemoney topping $350,000. The victory brought up a milestone for the David Hayes stable in being their 150^th win of the season and gave young rider Chad Schofield his second Black Type success. Previously trained by Peter Moody, the five year-old son of Rock of Gibraltar is racing in career best form and clearly has better wins in store. “Since the new ownership, DA Hayes, he has won three from four,” said stable representative Bruno Rouge-Serret. “David has picked out some of the early spring weight-for-age races for him and he’s shown today he’s right up to that mark.” A $125,000 NZB Premier purchase from the draft of Esker Lodge for John Chalmers Bloodstock, Pago Rock was bred in Australia by John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds and is a full brother to  stakes-winner Rock My Pago from stakes-winning Thunder Gulch mare Dancing Pago. Dancing Pago is now with WA based Geisel Park and had a yearling colt by Rock of Gibraltar sell earlier this year at the Perth Magic Millions for $55,000. She also has a weanling colt by Encosta de Lago. Pago Rock is the 84^th stakes-winner for Danehill stallion Rock of Gibraltar, who shuttled to Australia for eight seasons, his final crop of Australian foals to turn two on August 1.