Gallant Battleborn another Rock ‘n’ Pop winner

Battleborn (McCarthy/Racing Photos)

Waikato Stud graduate Battleborn struck the first winning blow of his career at Bendigo this afternoon.

Trained by Brent Stanley, the Rock ‘n’ Pop three-year-old was successful over 1400m for apprentice Mitchell Aitken.

Battleborn’s victory was not unexpected as he had finished in the money in four of his previous six appearances.

He was bought out of the Matamata farm’s 2016 Premier Sale draft at Karaka for $210,000 by Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds and CB Bloodstock.

His dam Vanilla Sky won twice and the O’Reilly mare has also left the stakes winner and Group One performer Raid (Pins).

Battleborn’s pedigree page further features the dual Australian Group One winner Stratum Star.

The Waikato Stud-based Rock ‘n’ Pop has now left 14 individual winners, including the black type performers Go Dixie, Gold Spice, Paris Rock and The Lord Mayor.

Recent News
12 September 2026

Stakes-winning return for Banquo 3YO Justin Case

An inch-perfect ride from Sam Collett enabled Matamata raider Justin Case (Banquo ex Do Ra Mi) to claim the feature event at Hastings on Saturday, the Listed Timberspan Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m).

Read More
9 September 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

No Corner last week; this week the Annual Thoroughbred Racing Awards night certainly deserves acknowledgment. It is the second of two nights of measurement of Thoroughbred achievements for the year, with the first focussing on our Breeders’ awards.

Read More