Rock 'n' Pop, who was having his fourth start on Saturday at Riccarton, emulated the Jim Campin-trained Hero, who won the race at his fourth start in 1996. Neither horse raced at 2.
Jason Bridgman, the trainer of Rock 'n' Pop, is of a mind to spell the colt.
"He has probably done enough this preparation," Bridgman, who operates stables at Matamata and Rangiora, said.
Rock 'n' Pop began racing with a win at Riccarton seven weeks ago.
"He [Rock 'n' Pop] didn't race at 2 because he was shin sore," Bridgman said.
He praised the work done with Rock 'n' Pop by his Rangiora stable under the direction of Neill Ridley.
Rock 'n' Pop joined the stable in June.
Rock 'n' Pop gave Riccarton jockey Jamie Bullard his third group one win. Bullard (37) won the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas on Dorabella in 2006 and the 2004 Kelt Stakes at Hastings on Balmuse.
Frank Bebbington, a long-time harness racing owner-trainer-breeder from Ashburton, is in the ownership of Rock 'n' Pop.
Bebbington (79) is among the 30-strong Te Akau Rock 'n' Pop syndicate. Others include Hastings breeder Sam Kelt.
"I saw him advertised and thought he would be a good investment," Bebbington said. He paid $20,000 for a 2% share.
Rock 'n' Pop was syndicated by David Ellis, of Te Akau Thoroughbreds, Matamata. He paid $1 million for the Fastnet Rock-Popsy colt at the 2010 premier yearling sale.
The Australian-based Fastnet Rock left Mosheen, winner of the VRC Oaks on Wednesday.
Popsy won the New Zealand Derby. She is by Sir Tristram from Beks, a half-sister by In The Purple to Steely Dan (by Standaan), the winner of the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas in 1986.
Beks won 10 races when trained at Riccarton by Michael Pitman.
Ellis has been responsible for syndicating other Two Thousand Guineas winners, Darci Brahma (2005), King's Chapel (2003) and Tell A Tale (2008). They were prepared by Mark Walker, who was then trainer for Te Akau.
Walker also won a One Thousand Guineas with Insouciant and last year with Bridgman at the helm the stable won the fillies classic with King's Rose.
The filly Anabandana, who finished second, is set to start in the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas next Saturday.
"She pulled up good and we will see how she does," Don Sellwood, her trainer, said.
• The Canterbury Breeders' Stakes at Riccarton on Wednesday is an option for So Elusive, winner of the Pegasus Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday.
"She had four trials in two and a-half weeks before she won in Melbourne last year so I am not concerned about backing her up," Michael Pitman, her trainer, said.
"The other options are a listed 1200m at the Levin meeting or a fillies and mares at the Counties meeting."
Lisa Allpress, who rode So Elusive on Saturday, has retained the mount for the Breeders' Stakes. She felt So Elusive would improve considerably with the race.
Pitman and Allpress combined to win the Pegasus two years ago with Coup Align, who won the Stewards' Handicap four days later, both times with Allpress the rider.
Allpress rides El Chico for the Pitman stable in the Stewards' on Wednesday.
Zabene, a stablemate of Rock 'n' Pop, won the listed Metropolitan Handicap, continuing his good form for new owners, the Fortuna (No 24) syndicate managed by John Galvin.
They bought the horse six months ago and returned him to the Bridgman stable.
Zabene had been sold to clients of Stephen McKee after he finished third to Showcause and Titch in the NZ Cup last year. The Zabeel gelding ran second to My Scotsgrey in the 2009 New Zealand Cup when trained by Mark Walker.
• Daniel Stackhouse will miss the last day of the New Zealand Cup meeting after a suspension for careless riding on Saturday.
Stackhouse admitted shifting out at the 500m when riding Trilogy in the Metropolitan Handicap, causing a check to Six O'Clock News.
He was suspended from next Saturday until the following Saturday inclusive.
Stackhouse is now apprenticed to Melbourne trainer Peter Moody.
• Burgundy, the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas favourite, has been found to be suffering Thumps after his failure in the group one feature, The New Zealand Herald reports.
Matamata trainer Jason Bridgman confirmed the colt was suffering from the equine condition.
Bridgman says that it is an electrolyte imbalance which causes the horse's muscles to spasm around the diaphragm, dramatically affecting the breathing.
Bridgman says Burgundy was noticeably distressed after weakening to sixth on Saturday and the condition deteriorated by the time the horse returned to his tie-up stall.
