Copy That (Andrew Drake) limbering up for the Ballarat Cup in a trial at Pukekohe 11 days ago.
Aussie bookies giving $4.20 for Copy That from good draw in Saturday’s Ballarat Cup
By Barry Lichter • 17 January 2023
Bookies opened Copy That a $4.20 second favourite for Saturday night’s A$150,000 Ballarat Pacing Cup (mobile 2710m) after he drew a good gate today.
Copy That will start from four on the front line should the emergency Interest Free come out, from where he will be nicely placed to be in the hunt throughout for driver Blair Orange.
Copy That has gate flyer Torrid Saint immediately inside him, as well as former Kiwi Cranbourne, who led all the way to win the Shepparton Cup at his Australian debut last Saturday night.
Leading Australian chance Rock N Roll Doo drew the pole, from where crack driver Anthony Butt is sure to try to hold as forward a position as possible.
Two of the next most favoured runners drew badly, Major Meister five on the second row and Mach Dan two on the second line.
The John Dickie-trained Old Town Road drew awkwardly on the inside of the second row for his Australian debut, with Zachary Butcher confirmed as his driver.
Interdominion winner I Cast No Shadow and Honolua Bay have opened up long in the market at $17 after drawing the outside of the gate.
More news in Harness
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Big-spending Mike Tanev snares The Rascal and he’s off to Canada next week
Dreams Of Eric goes from black and blue to blue and white, now for Harness 5000
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
