Gibraltar wins Guineas for Ferguson

Alex Ferguson gained some compensation for what is likely to be a trophy-less season at Old Trafford when his horse, Rock Of Gibraltar (9-1), won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket today.

The Manchester United manager watched as the Danehill colt, that he owns along with Sue Magnier, took the first Classic of the season.

Aidan O`Brien saddled a one-two as 6-4 favourite Hawk Wing just failed to peg back his stable-mate, who had raced on the favoured far rail, by a neck.

Jamie Spencer, on Hawk Wing, opted to come down the middle as the field split into two groups and the decision seemed to backfire as his mount stretched well clear of his group but could not get on terms with Rock Of Gibraltar and Johnny Murtagh.

Redback, who cut out much of the early running on the far side, finished third at 25-1.

Sir Alex whose interest in racing began when he used to take bets to the local betting shop for his late father as a youngster in Glasgow, was delighted.

'I`m ecstatic,' he said.'I wish he (father) could have been here.

The Old Trafford boss admitted he had trouble in following Rock Of Gibraltar`s progress down the Rowley Mile.

'I actually didn`t know where it was in the race, I only knew it was on the far side.

'This is fantastic. It`s a great day for me and makes up for not being in the (FA Cup) final at Cardiff.'

O`Brien refused to accept that Hawk Wing had suffered by being drawn nearer the unfavoured stands side in stall 10 with his victorious stablemate on the far rail out of gate 22.

'I`d say it was probably a very good horse rather than the draw that beat him,' said the Ballydoyle trainer.

'Obviously, they are two very good colts and they were spread out and that`s just the way the race panned out for both of them.

'Both of them ran huge races and both of them thought they had won so mentally the two of them are going to be super after it.'

Winning jockey Murtagh was delighted with Rock Of Gibraltar`s performance and thought hecould have won by a bit further.

He said: 'It`s a great day for everyone involved and it`s a good result for racing.

'Sir Alex is a big name in the football world and now he`s a big name in the racing world.

'Everyone`s been sweet on him at Ballydoyle and he`s been working well and he`s won here well.

'He had a good turn of foot and quickened up well and I think he won cosily in the end.

'I made up my mind to go to the right and I told Aidan and he said to do my own thing, just get him relaxed as he has a good turn of foot.'