'He's a good recruit to the French breeding ranks' - Group 1 star Big Rock heading to Haras de Grandcamp in 2025

Yeguada Centurion's homebred Group 1 star Big Rock will begin his stallion career at Haras de Grandcamp in 2025.

The son of Rock Of Gibraltar is expected to appear in Sunday's Prix de la Foret, for which he was supplemented, and may make other appearances before his retirement.

Big Rock was a devastating winner of last year's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, adding to titles at Group 3 level as well as placings in the likes of the Prix du Jockey Club, Jacques le Marois and Prix du Moulin. He moved from Christopher Head to Maurizio Guarnieri this season and ran with most encouragement on his latest start when third in the Woodbine Mile.

Eric Lhermite, director of Grandcamp said:  "A tough customer, he’s a horse that loves to stretch his rivals from the front. He's a good recruit to the French breeding ranks, having repeatedly showed his best form against the top horses.

Big Rock at Maurizio Guarnieri's yard in Chantilly Credit: Edward Whitaker

"Monsieur Leopoldo Fernandez Pujals will retain his ownership of the horse and he intends to support him as a stallion via his excellent broodmare band. He also intends to race the progeny of the stallion with a view to upgrading his stock. Given that he doesn’t sell his yearlings, the market will not be saturated with the stallion's progeny at the sales.

"Big Rock is a solid, thick-set horse physically. He certainly has a few races pencilled in prior to his retirement to the breeding shed."

Hailing from a successful Aga Khan bloodline, Big Rock's grandam, Harasiya, was second in the Debutante Stakes and third in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. He hails from the family of Derby winner Harzand as well as the likes of Coronation Cup winner Emily Upjohn. His stud fee will be announced at a later date.

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