GIBRALTAR BLUE, tested over the toughest mile in the country in Saturday’s Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes at Turffontein, used her blistering pace to get away from her field with 500m to run, then held on well to win from Jet Trail.

“It was a tough task, ” said Mike de Kock.  “She probably didn’t need to do that. We’ll review the tactics and she could probably stay with the field a little longer. I gave Anton the confidence – I told him to go to the front and let her bowl. I think she always just does enough to win, she allows them to get there at the end.”

Mike said that on this run he believes that Gibraltar Blue would give a good account of herself in the Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth, but that he would discuss her programme with her owners, Markus Jooste and John  Koster of Klawervlei Stud.

 “She quickened very well between the 600m and 200m and must have gone five or six lengths clear, but she’s probably stretched at the mile. She’s a brilliant sprinter, we may decide to bypass the Queen’s Plate and bring her back down the straight in a suitable feature sprint.”

Irish-bred by Rock Of Gibraltar from Holly Blue, Gibraltar Blue has won five of eight starts (four victories including three Grade 2s  in South Africa), with career earnings approaching R900 000.