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
31 October 2026

Ardrossan’s Group 1-placed darling wins A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes

Second and fourth in 1600m Group 1 races in her two previous starts since being purchased privately by OTI Racing and stepping out in Australia under Chris Waller’s racing banner, De Armas (Ardrossan) stepped up in distance at Flemington on Saturday and opened her Australian account in style in the A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day.

Read More
30 October 2026

The Corner with Garry Chittick

The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.

Read More