Battle Song was a son of Spion Kop who was among the last of his stakes winners. He was a quality galloper who won the Irish St Leger by eight lengths and the Irish Champion Stakes. His full brother Hill Song was also to win the St Leger. Battle Song was also to run second in the Irish Derby and 2000 Guineas. Bred by Major E Shirley, Battle Song was sold to Mr G Kain of South Canterbury for stud duties in NZ. Battle Song was out of a Hurry On mare called Cradle Song who in turn was out of Verve by Velocity. Verve was a half-sister to Vauclase by Dark Ronald who was the dam of Bongrace, one of Spion Kop’s most famous daughters as we have seen.
The stallion arrived in NZ shortly before the outbreak of WWII and Mr Kain mated Battle Song with many of his Musket line mares. His intention had been to reinstall the Musket sire line to dominance in NZ, but Kain was to pass away before any of his progeny even raced. Instead, Kain’s estate including Gladstone Park Stud was dispersed via
