Rock of Gibraltar's Rock Boy Wins Djebel Tussle

Team Calas' 3-year-old colt Rock Boy (Fr) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), unbeaten in juvenile starts over a mile at Vichy and nine furlongs at Marseille-Borely last year, maintained his perfect record in Thursday's G3 Prix Djebel at Deauville and went by all six rivals inside the final quarter mile for a career high in the seven-furlong 2000 Guineas trial. Patiently ridden and settled at the tail of the field through halfway, the 15-2 chance inched closer when encouraged forward passing the two pole and kept on strongly under a drive once delivering his challenge with 150 metres remaining to outpoint last month's Listed Prix Montenica victor Loubeisien (Fr) (Kheleyf) by a length.

Rock Boy is the third of four foals and one of two scorers out of a winning half-sister to G3 Prix Thomas Bryon Makaan (Swain {Ire}) and stakes-winning G3 Prix du Lys placegetter Almail (Swain {Ire}). The February-foaled bay is a half-brother to G2 Derby Italiano third Alastor (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) and an unraced 2-year-old colt by Recorder (GB). His second dam Khassah (GB) (Green Desert), herself a full-sister to Listed Prix Casimir Delamarre third Awaamir (GB), ran second in the G1 Fillies' Mile and is a granddaughter of GI Yellow Ribbon Invitational heroine Castilla (Bold Reason).

Thursday, Deauville, France
PRIX DJEBEL-G3, €80,000, Deauville, 4-7, 3yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:29.30, hy.
1–ROCK BOY (FR), 128, c, 3, by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire)
1st Dam: Frasque (Ire), by Iffraaj (GB)
2nd Dam: Khassah (GB), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Kadwah, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€16,000 Ylg '20 AROCT). O-Serge Mayan, Guy-Roger Petit, Michel Perret, Ecurie Ascot, Christian Faure, Henry Salemme, Richard Olivier, Richard Chotard, Serge Tardy, Thierry Gagliano, Ecurie des Dragons & Mme Elisabeth Mezquita; B-Legendary Rent Club (FR); T-Richard Chotard; J-Mickael Barzalona. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, €61,500. *1/2 to Alastor (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), GSP-Ity & SP-Fr, $128,351. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Loubeisien (Fr), 128, c, 3, Kheleyf–Lolif (Fr), by Loup Breton (Ire). (€35,000 2yo '21 OSAMAY). O-Le Haras des Sens, Ecurie Maxime Moczulski, Ecurie Mill Reef SAS & Christophe Ferland; B-Martial Delaplace (FR); T-Christophe Ferland. €16,000.
3–My Fancy (Fr), 128, c, 3, Myboycharlie (Ire)–Fancy Green (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). O-Abdullah Saeed M Almaddah; B-Marbat LLC (FR); T-Pia & Joakim Brandt. €12,000.
Margins: 1, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 7.50, 3.50, 2.60.
Also Ran: Liyann (Fr), Nesr Shalghoda (GB), Kingentleman (GB), Zack Halo (Ire). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.