Early careers (2003–2005) Pop Rock made his debut on the 2000 metres races at
Hanshin Racecourse, where he won the race by half a length over Tamamo Yamato. Then he was winless for the next six races where his best finishes was third place in four races. He managed to score his second win at the Kakitsubata Sho in 2004, winning over Silk Trigger by a neck after surging from the back at the third corner. Then his winless streak continues with three times finishing in third place. His best result in the graded race so far is only in eighth place at the
St. Lite Kinen.
Popping on form, Australian journey and back to back Meguro Kinen title (2006–2007) In 2006, Pop Rock won his first race after three third-place finish streak in a 2200 metres races at the
Hanshin Racecourse. He stayed on the front pack mostly at the top four position before bursting to the front on fourth corner to win the race by five lengths over Sakura Kingdom. From this race, he continued to win two races after which were Shirasagi Tokubetsu and Shirakawa Tokubetsu before running in the
Meguro Kinen, his first G2 races since that St. Lite Kinen in 2004. In this race with a heavy track, he was tracking mostly in the middle of the pack before accelerating at the end and win the race against the 2nd favourite, Eye Popper by a neck. This great form encouraged an excursion journey for the horse in Australia. His first race there was the
Caulfield Cup. In this race, he started slowly and roamed in the middle field but failed to gain any improvement throughout the races. He finished in seventh-place in the end, one and a quarter length behind the winner, Tawqeet. The next venture would be the
Melbourne Cup. He was the first favourite of the race at 5/1 odds alongside Tawqeet. When the race began, Pop Rock positioned himself in 12th before surging up to ninth position when approaching the straight. Then, he accelerated towards the outside of track and had a final duel for last 100 yards with fellow compatriot,
Delta Blues. He finished second at the line just by a shoulder against Delta Blues. This was a one-two finishes from Japanese horse and the third time that the race was won by a foreign horse. After the race, he would returned to Japan and participated in the
Arima Kinen. For this race, Pop Rock was not favoured as much by the voters as he only managed to accumulate 13,380 votes, enough for the 20th-place in the standings. Despite that, he ran a great race under
Olivier Peslier and finished in second place, three lengths behind
Deep Impact. Pop Rock started his 2007 season by racing in the
Kyoto Kinen 17 February. On this day, Pop Rock tried to chase
Admire Moon as he made he final spurt right after the fourth corner but failed. Pop Rock ended up finishing in second place by a neck. This is his third straight second place finish in three races. He returned back to Japan and ran in the race he won the previous year which was the Meguro Kinen. This time ridden by
Yutaka Take, Pop Rock made a breakaway from the inside track at the final straight and held off Coconut Punch at the line to win by a neck. He joined the
Takarazuka Kinen next when he became the tenth most voted horse at 28,866 votes from the public. He ended up in third place behind the winner Admire Moon and
Meisho Samson. For the autumn campaign, there were plans by the trainer, Sumii to sent both him and Delta Blues back for a second going in the Melbourne Cup. This plan was scrapped as the equine influenza was hitting both horses during their resting time. He returned on the
Kyoto Daishoten where he lost the duel against Inti Raimi at the final homestretch and finished in second place by a neck. Next, he started at the
Tenno Sho (Autumn). He finished fourth for this race. Peslier who returned on his saddle explained that he tried to maneuver Pop Rock into a good position but a barge of horses came from the outside prevented it. Pop Rock tried to extend more than he could but the distance just not enough. For the next race in the
Japan Cup, the competition would be at its peak. From the final stretch, Pop Rock, Meisho Samson, Admire Moon and
Vodka rallied for the win with Vodka fading out before the line and the other three hit the line in three-way photo finish. Pop Rock ended up in second place again behind Admire Moon by a head. He finished the season with a run at the Arima Kinen for the second successive year. In this year with full of upset finishes without top-3 favourite on the podium, Pop Rock who was the 2nd favourite finished fifth, five lengths behind the winner
Matsurida Gogh.
Final podium, decline in form, moving to Ireland and retirement (2008–2010) Instead of going on another Dubai trip, Pop Rock started the season at the
Hanshin Daishoten in March. For this race, Pop Rock tracked mostly on the front group but failed to rally for the lead and finished in third place, two and half lengths behind Admire Jupiter and a neck behind second place, Eye Popper. This race turned out to be his final good performance in Japan as he missed the podium for his next eight start from 2008 until 2010. He did well under
Fran Berry when he won his debut Guinness Races at the
Galway Racecourse by two and half lengths over Caesar's Song. Then, he ran in the
Irish St. Leger next. This race was disastrous for Pop Rock as Berry slowed him down on the final straight due to discomfort for the horse as he finished last in the race, 49 lengths behind the winner. The post race examination found that Pop Rock developed superficial digital flexor tendonitis in his right foreleg, and it was decided that he would retire from racing and going to stud. ==Racing form==