Gibraltar faces defining moment

THOSE truly defining moments in sport are rare gifts, burned into the memory by their achievement or standing as a monument to marvel for those too young to recall the instant.

They are the stuff of legend. Perhaps the day Bob Beamon jumped out of the pit in Mexico, Mark Spitz swam away with seven golds in Munich and Nadia Comaneci was awarded a perfect 10 in Montreal; or Gareth Edwards scoring that try for the Barbarians in Cardiff, Manchester United securing their treble in Barcelona; even Packie Bonner’s penalty save and David O’Leary’s conversion at Italia ‘90, if you like.

At Goodwood today, it is odds-on that a horse will equal a feat not seen in 30 years. Victory for Rock Of Gibraltar in the Group One Sussex Stakes will provide the colt, trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien, with his sixth successive win at the highest level of competition, mirroring that attained by Mill Reef over a 12 month period from June 1971.