RACING: Rock Of Gibraltar entered racing's record books with his most impressive performance yet as he destroyed his rivals in the £265,000 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood yesterday.

Completing his sixth successive Group One victory, a feat matched before by only the great Mill Reef, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt was easy to back at 8 to 13 before the start of the one-mile contest.

But fears that any of the illness that has hit O'Brien's Ballydoyle squad so hard in the last few days had reached Rock Of Gibraltar's stable door were dispelled in emphatic fashion.

Ridden with supreme confidence by Michael Kinane, Rock Of Gibraltar was always hacking along led just inside the final furlong and eased clear by two lengths to beat Noverre, although the winning margin might just as easily have been 22.

Reel Buddy was the same distance back in third with No Excuse Needed, who patently failed to handle the rain-softened conditions, well held in fourth.

Living in the stable next door to Rock Of Gibraltar, Hawk Wing had already succumbed to the cough that has affected the majority of O'Brien's three-year-olds.

And in the circumstances the trainer admitted that connections had taken "a big chance" on running their charge. "All the tests were good, his lungs had scoped clean but that didn't mean he wasn't harbouring something - we just didn't know," said O'Brien.

"The chances are, the way things are going at present, that it would be just a matter of days before he has it to so we can't make any plans.

"He is entered in two races at York - over a mile and a quarter (the Juddmonte International Stakes) and over five furlongs (the Nunthorpe Stakes). He is an unusual kind of horse, with enough speed to run at that short a trip. When we first tried him at a mile we thought we were stretching him.

"But with things as they are, we are just taking it a day at a time." One of the youngest of his profession, O'Brien wasn't around in the days of Mill Reef but was still able to realise the magnitude of Rock Of Gibraltar's efforts. "I've seen the videos and read all about him and it is a great thing to do," he reflected.

"This is a serious horse, a real solid sort of horse and his class won the race. He'd had a break and he wouldn't have been 100 per cent today so it was a good effort. He wouldn't have too many flaws."

Kinane hailed his mount as "the ultimate racehorse. I was amazed when he was going down to the start, he wanted to have a buck and a kick," he said. "He was just full of himself and so happy to be here. It is very hard to find that quality in horses, he loves to come and do his work. No matter how quick the others go, Rock Of Gibraltar is always in control.

"He just lost his concentration pulling up and slipped a bit but we got it together." Owned by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, several of Rock Of Gibraltar's possible engagements later this season would potentially lead to a clash of sports.

But Ferguson smiled and said: "I think I am due a couple of sick days after 28 years!" Despite finishing second, Noverre - no mean customer himself - was thrown completely into the shade. "Any horse that wins six Group ones has got to be brilliant - we are really pleased with Noverre, he ran a good race and we will look at the Juddmonte International," said Godolphin's Simon Crisford.

Mark Johnston has virtually cornered the market on top-class stayers in recent years and today's JPMorgan Private Bank Goodwood Cup should prove no different.

Although Johnston is without his Gold Cup winner Royal Rebel, he has two more than capable substitutes in And Beyond and Double Honour and it is the latter who should be backed to get on the scoresheet.

The four-year-old was a close second to Persian Punch in last year's race but he can reverse placings with the old stager this time round.

Double Honour has produced a mixed bag of performances this season but he showed he was returning to his best last time out when winning a Listed event over two miles at Hamburg in July.

This Highest Honour gelding did not face the cream of the stayers that day but his previous run in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot showed he can take on the best. He finished a narrow third to Cover Up in the marathon event and he meets his victor again here.

Double Honour was giving away 4lb to Michael Stoute's horse then but they meet on level weights here and that can help him turn the form around.

The step back to two miles will also work in Johnston's charge's favour as this would seem to be his preferred trip.

Kevin Darley has elected to ride And Beyond but youngster Keith Dalgleish is a fine substitute and the pair can be on the mark here.