Rockfel

Rockfel
Sire	Felstead
Grandsire	Spion Kop
Dam	Rockliffe
Damsire	Santorb
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1935
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Brown
Breeder	Weir Bank Stud
Owner	Hugo Cunliffe-Owen
Trainer	Ossie Bell
Record	13: 8–0–2
Major wins
Princess Elizabeth Stakes (1938) 1000 Guineas (1938) Epsom Oaks (1938) Champion Stakes (1938)
Honours
Top-rated British three-year-old (1938) Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket

Rockfel (1935–November 1941) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare, best known for winning two Classics in 1938. In a career which lasted from July 1937 until May 1939 she ran thirteen times and won eight races. Rockfel began her career at the lowest level, being beaten in a selling race, but improved to become recognised as one of the best British racemares of the 20th century. In 1938 she was the dominant three-year-old in England, winning the 1000 Guineas over one mile at Newmarket and the Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom. In the autumn she defeated colts in the Champion Stakes and the Aintree Derby and was retired after winning her only race as a four-year-old. She produced one foal before dying in November 1941.

Rockfel was a brown mare with a white blaze and three white socks, and was described in her prime as having "a very plain head and a light neck". She was sired by the Epsom Derby winner Felstead out of the mare Rockliffe who won ten minor races for her owner Lord Londonderry. The mating of Felstead and Rockliffe was arranged by Londonderry, who then sold the pregnant mare for 3,000 guineas to Felstead's owner Sir Hugo Cunliffe-Owen. The resulting filly was therefore officially bred by Cunliffe-Owen's Weir Park Stud.

Rockfel was sent into training with the Australian Oswald Marmaduke Dalby "Ossie" Bell at his Delamere House stable in Lambourn Berkshire. According to the Bloodstock Breeders' Review, Rockfel was an unusually intelligent and independent horse, leading to her being nicknamed "the old lady", by Bell's stable staff.

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