Things are shaping up for Mick Stanley’s New Zealand Trotting Cup chance, with Rock N Roll Doo streamlining towards a shot at next Tuesday’s Grand Circuit prize.
The Burrumbeet trainer caught up with Campbell’s Comment’s Paul Campbell after his hopeful won his trial yesterday, his second New Zealand hit-out after running sixth at Ashburton on October 24.
“I was rapt with his trial,” Stanley said. “Before Ashburton he was pretty fat and he’s that sort of kind of horse, he’s a cruisy lad, it doesn’t take him long to put on weight.
“After the Victoria Cup he had a couple of days off, upped his feed before the trip, and then he’s had the trip, obviously where he didn’t work, and then got here and jogged through to Ashburton.
“We were worried about him losing weight during the trip, but when we got here and got him off the truck I thought, ‘oh geez, that hasn’t really gone to plan, you’ve put on a little bit too much’.”
That need for a run could be seen in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, where Stanley gave the Victoria Cup champ a good workout, sending him to the breeze mid-race and he tired but boxed on admirably to run sixth, finishing ahead of NZ Cup rivals Self Assured and South Coast Arden.
“Good blow after Ashburton,” Stanley said. “Work’s been super since then. Got back into his normal routine. Licked his bin and is heading into the right direction. He was a lot better at the trials yesterday.
“I’m sure that hit-out yesterday will top him off and he will be ready to go.”
WATCH THE FULL CHAT BELOW:
