Rock N Roll Doo enjoying himself ahead of NZ debut

Michael Stanley says Rock N Roll Doo (Rock N Roll Heaven) has settled in well to his new surrounds and plans on stepping up the Victoria Cup champion’s work tomorrow ahead of Monday’s New Zealand harness racing debut.

The Burrumbeet trainer-driver has been in Christchurch with the four-year-old pacer for a few days now and spoke glowingly about how his charge had adapted to life on the other side of the Tasman.

“We got here late Sunday afternoon, so we’ve had a relatively quiet start to the week just to allow him to get over all the travel,” Stanley said in a video published by The Trots File on Twitter.

“He’s been eating and drinking really well, and he looks really bright in himself so far. But we don’t want to undo all that good travelling work by working him too hard too soon and flatten him a little bit.”

Stanley said he’d likely step-up Rock N Roll Doo’s work tomorrow ahead of his start in the Flying Stakes at Ashburton next week.

“We’ll look at probably chucking the hopples on him tomorrow – which will be Thursday morning – and doing a little bit of stride work,” he said.

“We’ll just tick him over until Ashburton and then we’ll have two weeks until the New Zealand Cup.

“After Ashburton, we’ll be able to really put the screws on him and get him to where we need to be for the Cup. So far the travel has gone really well and he’s really enjoying himself here…”

Rock N Roll Doo is the current $3.20 favourite for November 8’s New Zealand Cup with the TAB.

Michael Stanley has provided us with an update on ROCK N ROLL DOO as he settles into new surroundings in NZ for his NZ Cup campaign. Taking it easy with VIC Cup winner ahead of Monday’s G2 ASHBURTON FLYING STAKES @mickstanley80 pic.twitter.com/txcI1P6t8r

— The Trots File (@TheTrotsFile) October 19, 2022

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by Tim O’Connor for HRV