QEII Glory For Sensational Big Rock

[Wandering Eyes]

Leaving his G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. rivals strung out down Ascot's straight mile, Yeguada Centurion's Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}–Hardiyna {Ire}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}) produced a masterclass from the front under Aurelien Lemaitre in one of the great displays throughout the history of this prestigious affair. Quickly out on his own, the Christopher Head-trained 3-year-old who had not won since looking a force in the mud in the G3 Prix la Force and G3 Prix de Guiche this spring was always way beyond the reaches of the chasing pack and kept galloping remorselessly to the line to win by six lengths from compatriot Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), with Tahiyra (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) a neck behind in third. “He loved the ground today, it was easy,” Lemaitre said of the colt, whose last three starts had resulted in seconds in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Prix du Moulin.

 

BIG performance from BIG ROCK in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – leading from start to finish and galloping his rivals into submission at #Ascot congratulations to @lemaitre60LA, Christopher Head and Yeguada Centurion SL pic.twitter.com/nQap8GK41O

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) October 21, 2023

 

Saturday, Ascot, Britain
QUEEN ELIZABETH II S.-G1, £1,156,250, Ascot, 10-21, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:44.58, sf.
1–BIG ROCK (FR), 129, c, 3, by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)
1st Dam: Hardiyna (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Harasiya (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
3rd Dam: Hazariya (Ire), by Xaar (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Yeguada Centurion (FR); T-Christopher Head; J-Aurelien Lemaitre. £655,709. Lifetime Record: MGSW & MG1SP-Fr, 11-5-5-0, $1,672,570. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Facteur Cheval (Ire), 132, g, 4, Ribchester (Ire)–Jawlaat (Ire), by Shamardal. (145,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; €120,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Team Valor International LLC & Gary Barber; B-McCracken Farms (IRE); T-Jerome Reynier. £248,594.
3–Tahiyra (Ire), 126, f, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Tarana (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). O-H H Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. £124,413.
Margins: 6, NK, 9. Odds: 5.00, 14.00, 3.50.
Also Ran: Checkandchallenge (GB), Rogue Millennium (Ire), Nashwa (GB), Angel Bleu (Fr), Epictetus (Ire), Paddington (GB), Chaldean (GB), Hi Royal (Ire).

The post QEII Glory For Sensational Big Rock appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article