Ferguson spends €300,000 on son of ‘the Rock’
Ferguson had a spectacular falling out with John Magnier last year over the ownership of ‘the Rock’. Although the prize stallion raced in Ferguson’s colours, it was part-owned by the Coolmore operation.
The friendship between the two is one of the reasons Magnier and JP McManus became major shareholders in Manchester United.
The row over the breeding rights to the horse, possibly worth up to €50 million, degenerated into a major personal battle with the dealings of Ferguson’s family and Manchester United being dragged up.
The dirty fight looked set to go all the way to the courts but for the intervention of businessman and Celtic chairman Dermot Desmond.
A settlement was reached with Ferguson getting a payment of €3m.
Earlier this month, Ferguson paid out almost €300,000 for a son of the horse at the Newmarket sales. The unnamed stallion will be trained at the Gainsborough Stables.
The figure is considered a bargain in breeding circles, though none of Rock of Gibraltar’s progeny have set a hoof on a racetrack to prove they are worth the fees.
Rock of Gibraltar racked up 10 wins in his short career, including the Irish and English 2,000 Guineas. On each of his major victories the horse was led into the winners’ enclosure by Ferguson and Magnier’s wife.
“It is interesting he [Ferguson] has now bought one of the horse’s son,” a friend of veteran manager said.
