Aussie stars set for major overseas journeys

The Aussie influence on harness racing’s famed New Zealand Cup has been huge in recent years, but Michael Stanley wants to take it to another level.

It’s such a thrill to hear Stanley and his passionate owner Brendan James so excited about this NZ Cup raid with their rising star Rock N Roll Doo (Rock N Roll Heaven).

Arden Rooney’s famous and historic win for Kerryn Manning in 2015 is the only Aussie-trained winner of the NZ Cup since My Lightning Blue did it for Jimmy O’Sullivan back in 1987.

But Aussie owners have won the past three Cup with Copy That (Merv and Meg Butterworth), Self Assured (Jean Feiss) and Cruz Bromac (Danny Zavitsanos, Peter O’Shea and team).

First comes Saturday week’s Victoria Cup, but it’s not a “do or die” race, said Stanley.

“It’s such a barrier draw dependent race,” he said. “He could run a great fifth or sixth if he draws awfully. It’s more about us just being happy with how he goes.

“There is a flight to Auckland on the Thursday after the Victoria Cup and that’s the one he’ll go on.

“It gives him plenty of time to settle at Cran Dalgety’s place and we can go to the Ashburton Flying Stakes and the Cup Trial.

“By the time he’s had the Victoria Cup and Ashburton runs he’ll be primed so the Cup Trial will be more about just keeping him ticking along and get some more standing-start practice.”

Back to Kilmore and Stanley said last Friday night’s win eclipsed the joy of his previous win in the race with Soho Tribeca in 2018.

“That was a big thrill, but training and driving the winner is extra special. I’ve tried using outside drivers and some success, but it hasn’t really worked. To drive my own and win is amazing,” he said.

It’s fitting to mention Soho Tribeca because the injury-plagued star is the benchmark horse in Stanley’s training career.

“He was an amazing horse, but I didn’t have him all that long,” he said. “As far as a horse I’ve trained from the start, Rock N Roll Doo is the best. We’ve always loved him and he’s really putting it all together now.

“We thought long and hard and decided to skip the big races in Queensland (winter) with a view to now and we’re being rewarded for that patience.”

Lauren Tritton is the link behind Lochinvar Art’s (Modern Art) move to Team Tritton’s stables in upstate New York.

Tritton has known owner Kevin Gordon for more than a decade and it was Gordon who provided her – then known as Lauren Panella – with her first Saturday night Menangle winner in Our Crown Law.

Throw in the fact she’s a Novocastrian, like Gordon, and the deal was done.

“As much as we train in a partnership this one is Lauren’s ‘get’,” Shane Tritton said.

“I’ve known Kevin for a while, but he and Lauren go way back.”

Lochinvar Art is booked on a flight from Sydney to Chicago on October 5 and will join Team Tritton’s Pine Bush stables, about 80mins from The Meadowlands, soon after.

Shane Tritton is looking to recent history as inspiration for what Lochinvar Art could achieve in his new home.

“Look at what Bit Of A Legend and Let It Ride did over here. Both looked at the end of their careers in Australia and had enormous success here when they got a bit of help with Lasix,” he said.

“Bit Of A Legend won another 36 races in the US and almost $2 million.

“And Lochinvar Art is clearly a better horse than those two. He’s up there with Lazarus as the best horse to come across.”

by Adam Hamilton, for HRV