3 minute read

Michael Stanley and Rock N Roll Doo will tune up for an Inter Dominion campaign this Friday night at Bendigo.

The Burrumbeet trainer-driver's star has not raced for over a month, with the black gelding's last run on October 21 in the Geelong Pacing Cup.

The five-year-old finished third behind the Emma Stewart-trained Mach Dan in the Group 3 event.

The little break for the 2022 Victoria Cup winner has kept the pacer in good health, according to Stanley.

"He's really good, he obviously hasn't had a run for a month," Stanley said.

"He had a private hit-out between races at Ballarat last week. He is really healthy and fit, and starting to sharpen-up for the Inter Dominion."

Rock N Roll Doo has drawn gate one for Friday night's race, with Scott Ewen's Bulletproof Boy (three) and Mach Dan (four) among the fast beginners on the front row.

"They still have to cross me," Stanley said.

"We did lead the Victoria Cup. I know there's always a narrative around how he begins and his beginning is getting a lot better.

"At the end of the day, whether he leads or he doesn't, you don't knock back number one.

"He's going to get a nice economical run whichever way the start goes."

While it's at the forefront of his plans, Stanley isn't just using the Alabar Breeders Crown Graduate Pacers Free For All as a stepping stone for the Queensland Inter Dominion series.

"It's a $50,000 race in its own right. You still want to be treating it as a race you want to win because you know they're great races to win.

"The only thing we are really looking for is to top his fitness off. Getting that really good, hard race under his belt two weeks out is what we are wanting and hopefully that's winning it."

Rock N Roll Doo will hit the track in race six on Friday night at 8.33pm and is currently the $3.20 favourite ahead of 2023 Victoria Cup winner Act Now at $4.

The opening round of the Inter Dominion heats are at Albion Park on December 1.