Battleborn struck the first winning blow of his career at Bendigo on Friday afternoon.
Trained by Brent Stanley, the Rock ‘n’ Pop three-year-old was successful over 1400m for apprentice Mitchell Aitken.
Sent out a $3.30 favourite, Battleborn won at his seventh raceday start, having been runner-up on two occasions.
The grey gelding was bought from the draft of Waikato Stud at the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale for $210,000 by Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds and bloodstock agent Chris Blomley.
His dam Vanilla Sky won twice and the O’Reilly mare has also left the stakes winner and Group One performer Raid (Pins).
The Waikato Stud-based Rock ‘n’ Pop has now left 14 individual winners, including the black type performers Go Dixie and Gold Spice, while The Mayor finished fourth in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). – NZ Racing Desk.