NZB Standardbred graduates ready to make an impact

NZB Standardbred harness racing graduates will compete in the $600,000 Group One New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Addington on Tuesday for the first time and they are ready to make an almighty impact in the time-honoured race.

Rock N Roll Doo (Rock N Roll Heaven), Akuta (Bettor’s Delight), Krug (Bettor’s Delight) B D Joe (Roll With Joe), Alta Wiseguy (Mach Three) and The Falcon (Bettor’s Delight) will make history as the first group of National Yearling Sale purchases starting in New Zealand’s greatest race.

Judging by their outstanding lead up form and where they are rated in the New Zealand Cup’s betting markets, the Open Slass stars are set to show their class.

Rock N Roll Doo comes into the New Zealand Cup following a brilliant win in the New Zealand Cup Trial.

Trainer-driver Michael Stanley has returned the New Zealand-bred to his homeland for the first time since his purchase at the 2019 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch by Brendan and Anne James of BFJ Bloodstock for just $14,000.

Rock N Roll Doo has compiled an outstanding resume under Stanley’s care and if he replicates his epic winning performance in the Group One Victoria Cup, the pacer will be very hard to beat.

With a solid trial effort under his belt, the pacer goes into the New Zealand Cup just where Stanley wants him.

“I’ve got a lot of work into him over the past week and seen the improvement in him, so the strong trial didn’t surprise me,” Stanley told HRNZ.

“He felt great, but there’s more to come, he’ll be right where I want him to come race time.”

Akuta will also be out to make even more history in the Group One New Zealand Cup in his attempt to win the great race as a three-year-old.

The outstanding pacer was purchased for $170,000 by the All Stars Racing Stable from breeder-vendors Paul and Pauline Renwick at the 2020 Christchurch National Yearling Sale.

Mark Purdon confirmed Akuta would take on older pacers in the New Zealand Cup after his hard-fought third in the Group Two Kaikoura Cup.

Stablemates B D Joe and Alta Wiseguy have been in outstanding form leading into Tuesday’s feature for the Steve and Amanda Telfer barn.

B D Joe was purchased for $65,000 at the 2019 National Yearling Sale in Christchurch by Stonewall Stud, when offered by breeder-vendor Brent Smith.

The four-year-old was a strong winner of the New Zealand Cup’s most noted lead up race, the Group Two NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes.

Alta Wiseguy has finished in the top four in all of his outings this season, including winning the Group Three Avon City Ford New Brighton Cup (2600m) at Addington.

The pacer was purchased for $30,000 by Stonewall Stables from Alta Dream Lodge’s 2019 Auckland National Yearling Sale draft.

Krug brings a stunning resume to the New Zealand Cup on Tuesday. With two Group One Derby wins to his name, there is little doubt the Cran and Chrissie Dalgety-trained pacer has the staying power to handle the 3200 metre distance.

The Falcon also brings a proven record in staying events to the New Zealand Cup. The pacer who is trained by Geoff and James Dunn won the Listed New Zealand Country Championship Final at Addington over 3200 metres earlier this year.

The Falcon was purchased for $95,000 by Bob Sandford at the 2019 Christchurch National Yearling Sale when offered by breeder-vendor Taffy Ltd.

The five-strong representation of NZB Standardbred graduates will make history in the New Zealand Cup when it gets underway at 5.36pm on Tuesday, November 8.

From NZB Standardbred