9 May 2023
Photo scoopdyga.com
May 9, 2023, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise). - Big Rock (Rock of Gibraltar) was the evens favourite in the €80,000 Prix de Guiche (Gr3) after having easily won the Prix La Force (Gr3) on the same distance but at ParisLongchamp. Still unbeaten since he's trained by Christopher Head, the Yeguada Centurion-homebred irresistibly pulled away this time, leaving his rivals five lengths behind, without effort, on a turf rated as yielding which had led many trainers to withdraw their horses from other races that day. The second-placed Horizon Doré (Davirsim) himself beat Grey Tornado by more than four lengths, with the latter leaving the rest of the field at more than five lengths. Without prejudging the quality of the lot, it seems that the softening of the course lengthened the margins that are usually expected in this type of race. Big Rock is entered in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1) - his natural aim - and the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1), is the first foal out of a mare bred by the Aga Khan, Hardiyna (Sea the Stars), sold for 72,000 euros to Yeguada Centurion at the Goffs breeding sales in 2019, in foal with this colt. The mare is out of Harasiya (Pivotal), a winner and Group-placed and a sister to the Derby winner Harzand (Sea the Stars). A Ten Sovereigns colt was born in 2021.