Stanley thinks he can rock the boat

Mick Stanley thinks his stable harness racing star Rock N Roll Doo (Rock N Roll Heaven) is being disrespected going into the Brisbane Inter Dominion.

Stanley joined fellow Victorian Greg Sugars, declaring it would be “more than a two-horse race.”

Big guns and half-brothers Leap To Fame and Swayzee dominated pre-post markets for the pacing final, but Stanley is adamant Rock N Roll Doo is a serious winning chance, and Sugars feels the same way with Better Eclipse.

“I just don’t understand why people have dropped off my horse,” Stanley said.

“If you look at the Victoria Cup run (fourth), sure he led, but it’s the first time he’s been really burned off the gate, and he was beaten by less than a metre.”

“I’ve been really happy with his two runs since, where it’s been tricky to get into the right spot.”

“I think he’s gone well in all this preparation, and I’m really looking forward to this series.”

While Swayzee’s inclusion in the Inter Dominion adds plenty to the class of the series, Stanley thinks it will actually help Rock N Roll Doo’s cause.

“I was disappointed when I heard he was in doubt,” he said. “I want him in the series. He and Leap To Fame are tough, and while my horse can do some work, I’d love the chance to sit off them and have the last crack at them.”

“I think I’ve got the fastest horse in the series, and I’d love the chance to drive him that way in the final.”

“You’d think at some stage in the final, Swayzee and Leap To Fame will be going at each other, and they haven’t had a horse as good as Rock N Roll Doo stalking them yet.”

Rock N Roll Doo doesn’t have Leap To Fame or Swayzee to deal with in tomorrow night’s opening round of heats, but he does have a wide draw (gate seven, outside front row) to overcome.

“There’s not a lot of depth in the heat, so I’ll be putting him into the race and trying to control it, whether that’s in front or outside the leader,” he said.

“He’s settled in really well since he got up here early in the week, and he’s raring to go.”

Rock N Roll Doo is $2.70 second favourite behind likely leader Future Assured tomorrow night, and he is $9 third favourite behind Leap To Fame ($2) and Swayzee ($3.50) in early markets for the pacing final.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia