Rock Back To Doo It Again

Rock N Roll Doo. Photo by Stuart McCormick.

REIGNING Victoria Cup hero Rock N Roll Doo launches a campaign aimed at defending his title when he tackles a cracking Westburn Grant free-for-all (2240m) at Melton on Saturday night.

The gifted gelding has been winless in seven starts since his powerhouse win in the Group 1 Victoria Cup at Melton on October 8, last year, but trainer-driver Michael Stanley is buzzing about his stable star again.

Rock N Roll Doo travelled to NZ after last year’s Victoria Cup win,  but bad manners and some tough runs limited his impact. He hasn’t raced since finishing 11th in the Hunter Cup on February 4.

“We’re extremely happy with him. It’s been a long slow build-up and it’s great to have him going back to the races,” Stanley said.

Stanley added it was “unlikely” Rock N Roll Doo would travel to Sydney for the Group 1 Len Smith on September 2 with the focus being on his Victoria Cup defence at Melton on October 14.

Despite Saturday night’s race being at the same track and distance as the Victoria Cup, it will be a serious first-up test for Rock N Roll Doo from gate five against many of Victoria’s best pacers, including five from the Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin stable.

Stewart said at least three of their runners – Encipher (gate two), Mach Dan (three) and Hurricane Harley (nine) – were Sydney-bound.

“Mach Dan and Hurricane Harley will go to the Len Smith Mile and we’re thrilled Encipher has a slot in the TAB Eureka on the same night,” she said. “Act Now is back from a long break this week, but we’re not sure about Sydney with him.”

Act Now ran third as favourite in the Inter Dominion final last December 10 and hasn’t raced since finishing second in the Group 1 Vicbred 4YO final on New Year’s Eve,

Kate Gath confirmed she would drive Encipher ahead of stable runner Yambukian on Saturday, but with Gath committed to Catch A Wave in the TAB Eureka, Luke McCarthy has been booked for Encipher in that race.

Jodi Quinlan will drive Act Now, while the stable Mark Pitt will be on either Mach Dan or Hurricane Harley.

Adding further to the depth of the Westburn Grant free-for-all is Jess Tubbs’ dual Group 1 winner, Better Eclipse.

The five-year-old, who resumed with a terrific Melton win two weeks ago, is another headed for the Len Smith Mile at Menangle on September 2.

In other news, just one of the 10 TAB Eureka slots remain open after Wayne Loader confirmed his own pacer Ripp would fill his “Western Jewel” slot.

Commanding $1.80 TAB Eureka favourite Leap To Fame will cap his preparation for the feature in a free-for-all at Albion Park on Friday night.

• Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.