Rock N Roll Doo, inner, staves off the late challenge of Old Town Road at Addington today. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.
Aussie visitor Rock N Roll Doo lays down the gauntlet with sizzling cup trial at Addington
By Barry Lichter • 2 November 2022
Australian visitor Rock N Roll Doo served notice that not even a second row draw might stop him in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup with a staggering trial win at Addington this evening.
Rock N Roll Doo, who was slow away when beaten at Ashburton nine days ago, stepped safely from the 2600 metre stand start to lead the three-horse heat.
When Krug muffed the start it became a lead-trail affair with Old Town Road sitting behind the Aussie.
But Victorian trainer-driver Michael Stanley wasn’t there to muck around and he had his foot on the pedal throughout, running his last 800 metres in 54 and 400 in 27.1.
Mick Stanley brings back Rock N Roll Doo after his sterling trial. PHOTO: Ajay Berry/Race Images.Clocked over his last mile in a sizzling 1:53.5, he ran 3:11.8 for the 2600 metre trip to hold out Old Town Road and Zachary Butcher by half a head.
Veteran clockers could not remember the last time a horse went so fast in the traditional cup trial, the overall time only 2.9 seconds outside Classie Brigade’s New Zealand race record for entires and geldings.
Krug, driven by junior Carter Dalgety, finished four and three-quarter lengths astern of the leading pair.
Rock N Roll Doo, who beat Copy That into fourth in last month’s Victoria Cup after sitting parked, opened at $6 after he drew 13 earlier today.
With all three emergencies on the second row, it means if there are no scratchings he will start from two on the second row, following out fellow Australian Majestic Cruiser.
* Muscle Mountain won the 2600m trotters’ heat, coming from a 40 metre handicap to win by two and a quarter lengths from Charlie P and Royal Del.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Jessie Lincoln
5.25pm
“This is her first run back and first at the Park but I’m expecting her to be very competitive. She ran a nice trial and she seems pretty good. I think she’ll be in the money. She’s a much stronger individual after her break - the big ones tend to take a little longer to make. I like her. She’ll be winning races for sure.”
Race 4: Johnny Lincoln
6.16pm
“We’re testing the water with him but he’s a proper racehorse and, drawn one, he won’t be far off them. I can’t see him beating those others but he’s a little tradesman who is a worthy candidate for the race.”
Race 4: Lincoln Wave
6.19pm
“You just have to forget about his last start because of the puncture and assess him on the previous two runs. We’re not expecting a huge effort from him - he’s on his way back up after a five-week break and there’s a fair bit of improvement in him. But I think he’s a very nice horse and I’m not afraid to front up to the good ones with him. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he got into it, even from five. We still don’t really know what we’ve got with him. But whatever he does on Friday night will tidy him up for the next one.”
