Aussie star confirmed for $1 million Race by Grins

The Rock N Roll Doo (Rock N Roll Heaven) harness racing team feel they have unfinished business in New Zealand and now they’ve found a partner to help them tackle it.

Owner Brendan James declared his intent to chase the $1 million Race by Grins a few weeks back and now “Aussie Lads” has teamed-up with the star pacer for its slot in the April 14 race at Cambridge.

“We said after NZ Cup Week we wanted to go back to NZ,” James said.

“As much as we’d have loved things to go better in Christchurch, the biggest reason for the trip was to help ‘Hendo’s’ (Rock N Roll Doo) development and give him some experience travelling with a view to the future.

“Now we can’t wait to get back and it’s great it is all official now with this deal.

“We love the thought of a Trans-Tasman race and the Race by Grins will certainly be that. It’s great to be an Aussie going over to take on the Kiwis.

Rock N Roll Doo will step-out in the Group 2 Bendigo Cup on Saturday night.

It’s just his second run since that NZ Cup Week raid.

“We were happy with his first run back at Cranbourne. He did the work and wasn’t far away at the finish,” James said.

“He’s got a busy few months ahead so he wasn’t fully wound-up at Cranbourne.

“Michael (Stanley, trainer-driver) is very, very happy with him. I’m sure he’ll run a big race this week.

“It’s the second of his longer distance lead-up races to the Hunter Cup. He’ll go to Ballarat on January 21 and then the Hunter Cup (February 4).”

James said plans also included a Sydney trip for the Miracle Mile (March 4) before crossing the Tasman again.

“We missed the Inter Dominion with him because we knew he had all these big races early this year,” James said.

“It’ll be a really exciting few months and he’s ready for it.”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand