Rock N Roll Doo setting sights on the New Zealand Cup

Talented Victorian pacer Rock N Roll Doo (Rock N Roll Heaven) is set to reignite the Trans-Tasman harness racing rivalry with sights firmly set on targeting the New Zealand Cup later in the year.

Brendan James, owner of the 2022 Victoria Cup victor, had to make the joint decision with trainer-driver Michael Stanley to rule the pacer out of New Zealand’s million-dollar slot race,  The Race By Grins, earlier in the year.

“We have had some highs and lows with him,” James said. “The setbacks have happened at the wrong times (and) that was what happened with his trip for The Race By Grins in New Zealand. He got a foot abscess not long after arriving.

“It just took longer to come out than what we had hoped and it was a race against time. In the end, we decided to pull the pin.”

The gelding out of Long Live Lana has been staying at caretaker trainer Cran Dalgety’s property in preparation for a potential NZ Cup tilt.

“He is over there (New Zealand) and it’s the logical race (New Zealand Cup) for him. He is back in work and is in good order,” he said.

“I guess instead of bringing him back and racing him here, we left him there and are going to give him a traditional New Zealand Cup preparation.”

The standing start of the New Zealand Cup is the first major obstacle the six-year-old has to overcome.

“If he can step away and go through all that, we will go with the New Zealand Cup plan. Or we might look towards a plan B, whatever that might be,” James said.

A tilt at a second Victoria Cup triumph is not out of the question.

“Certainly (we would look at a Victoria Cup) and all those big races are on the horizon,” James said. ”I will just leave that decision to Cran at the time.”

Rock N Roll Doo has amassed over $592,000 in career earnings, achieving 14 wins from 49 starts.

by Lachlan Mitchell, for Harness Racing Victoria