Red Rocks’ first winner strikes in Italy

Red Rocks, the Irish-bred winner of the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf and a freshman sire at Centro Equino Arcadia in Italy, was represented by his first winner in that country on Wednesday, when Crissolo took a 1,000-meter (about five furlong) maiden event at Milan.

Trained by the Grizzetti Galoppo stable, the 2-year-old bay colt romped by 15 lengths in his career debut. He is out of the winning Indian Danehill mare Pesach.

Red Rocks, a 10-year-old by European champion and leading international sire Galileo, won six of 24 starts over five seasons of racing. He won a Group 3 and a listed stakes in England but enjoyed his best success in the U.S. for owner Paul Reddam, taking the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs and defeating two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in the 2008 Man o' War at Belmont. Red Rocks earned $2,903,382.

Bred by Ballylinch Stud, Red Rocks is out of the stakes-winning Machiavellian mare Pharmacist. He is a half-brother to Czech Republic Horse of the Year Blue Coral and stakes winners Galvaun and Medicinal, and his second dam is Group 1 winner Pharaoh’s Delight.

Red Rocks stands at Centro Equino Arcadia for about $9,240 (7,000 euros).