Top season for Rock ‘n’ Pop’s son Surely Sacred

The home-bred Surely Sacred has been a flagship performer this season for Rock ‘n’ Pop, who is showing a propensity to produce classic and staying performers.

The Tony Pike-trained three-year-old made impressive progress to win at Group Two level in the Auckland Guineas and the Avondale Guineas.

After a solid run for fifth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby, he went to Sydney and finished fifth in the G1 Randwick Guineas and third in the Gr.1 Australian Derby.

“The Waikato Stud-bred Surely Sacred has been a great ambassador for Rock ‘n’ Pop and following his performances this season, we look forward to following his career in Hong Kong,” Mark Chittick said.

The potential for Rock ‘n’ Pop to sire high-quality middle-distance and staying types emerged last season in the form of The Mayor (The Lord Mayor in Australia), who finished a desperately unlucky fourth in the Gr.1 NZ Derby.

Twice a winner in Sydney at Rosehill and Randwick over 2000 metres, The Lord Mayor this past autumn consecutively won the Toowoomba Cup (2000m) and Gold Coast Cup (2400m).

A great looking individual, Rock ‘n’ Pop left the Karaka sale ring in 2010 with a $1 million price tag and he went on to win the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the Listed Karaka Mile and was an unlucky second to Silent Achiever in the 2012 Gr.1 NZ Derby, in which he was checked three times in the running.

Rock ‘n’ Pop, who has also produced stakes performers Go Dixie, Gold Spice, and Rock ‘n’ Affair, stamps his yearlings on type and imparts quality bone.

His yearlings have fetched up to $220,000 off a four-figure service fee and his two-year-olds up to $110,000 at the Karaka Ready to Run Sale.