Waikato Stud has placed a $12,000 (+ gst) service fee on its first-season sire Rock ‘N’ Pop.

Rock ‘N’ Pop (4h Fastnet Rock – Popsy by Sir Tristram) was a million-dollar yearling and showed ability from day one, winning on debut for the Te Akau Syndicate.  Emerging as the very best of his generation, he unleashed a scintillating turn of foot that left his rivals reeling in the G1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas (1600m).

And he lost no admirers with a gritty second on a slow track to outstanding O’Reilly filly Silent Achiever in the G1 NZ Derby (2400m).  “In the 27 years that we’ve been running Te Akau, we haven’t had a better miler,” syndicate manager David Ellis said.  “The 2000 Guineas was the easiest Group 1 win I have ever seen.”

There are just three Group 1 winning sons of Fastnet Rock at stud in Australasia – Wanted and Foxwedge are the others – and Waikato boss Mark Chittick believes he represents superb value for astute breeders.

“Selecting stallions for Waikato Stud is one of my most important jobs and Rock ‘N’ Pop certainly fits our strict criteria brilliantly.  Fastnet Rock continues to headline Australasia’s breeding, yearling and racing scene and when you consider Rock ‘n’ Pop’s owns Group 1 success, million dollar looks and Group 1 winning Sir Tristram dam Popsy, you really couldn’t ask for much more.

“He’s got an unbelievable temperament and has settled in seamlessly.  He’s a good 16 hands high and is going to let down into a magnificent stallion.  We very much welcome people coming to the farm and look forward to showing off Rock ‘n’ Pop.”