Copy That’s New Zealand Cup driver Blair Orange comes north to pilot the champ on Thursday night.
Blair coming north on Thursday night to drive Copy That who’s officially a millionaire!
By Barry Lichter • 19 October 2022
Leading reinsman Blair Orange will make a special trip north to drive New Zealand’s newest millionaire pacer at Auckland on Thursday night even though trainer Ray Green isn’t expecting Copy That to win.
Copy That has had an easy time since his four-start Victorian campaign when he slipped into the record books un-noticed, becoming the 57th Kiwi harness horse to win $1 million in stakes.
In four starts, Copy That banked A$32,180 which, when converted to New Zealand dollars, gives him $36,400 and a career tally of $1,004,976.
Green isn’t expecting to win the lion’s share of Thursday night’s $25,000 stake but he was forced to find another pilot for Copy That after his regular northern driver Maurice McKendry elected to stick with Hot And Treacherous.
“Maurice stuck to Bunty’s (Hughes) horse and I can understand that. He’s only the North Island driver of Copy That and they’ve got cup aspirations with Hot And Treacherous.
“We could be in the same situation next week as well if we run at Cambridge.”
Green said it was logical to ask Orange to trip north, considering he is the designated southern driver for Copy That and will handle him in the $600,000 IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 8.
“He’ll go well but I’m not expecting him to win, just finish it off nicely. The 55 metre handicap is daunting and we’re not going to gut the horse and send him on a search and destroy mission, things will have to fall into place.”
Green said Orange will obviously be trying to win but starting 15 metres behind Hot And Treacherous and 35 metres astern of Taipo over 2200 metres meant everything would have to go his way to score.
“You can’t predict how the race will be run. They might go like hell up front and try to make it hard for those off the pace or they may walk and sprint up the straight.”
Green fast worked Copy That on Tuesday and was pleased with how he felt.
“We didn’t go excessively fast but he did it well. He’s in good shape.”
It’s been just 11 days since Copy That last raced, when he ran a close fourth in the A$300,000 Victoria Cup (2240m) at Melton, running a faster closing sectional than the three who beat him home, Rock N Roll Doo, Honolua Bay and Better Eclipse.
Theres nothing in Thursday night’s field of that calibre, Copy That a rating 119 horse, Hot And Treacherous rating 90 and the next highest Last Tango In Heaven (R74). But Green knows how hard it is for horses off long back marks to win at Auckland over sprint trips so he’s not setting the bar too high this week.
“We’ll get round as best we can but do it in a professional way. We’ll certainly take the win if it comes.”
Bad draws
Most of the rest of Lincoln Farms’ runners on the night have had their chances reduced by bad barrier draws, most notably Frankie Major in race eight, the final northern Sires’ Stakes heat.
Frankie Major needs to win or run close to earn a spot in the $170,000 Woodlands NZ Sires Stakes Final at Addington on November 8, a race Green believes he deserves a crack at.
“Given the right circumstances in Christchurch he’s quite capable of getting money. He’s run Merlin close a couple of times.
“I wouldn’t expect him to beat Merlin or Mark’s (Purdon) horse Don’t Stop Dreaming but he would be competitive.”
Frankie Major tired to sixth in the Cambridge Sires’ Stakes heat three weeks ago when used up to lead by stand-in driver Todd Mitchell.
But Green tips an improved showing on Thursday when David Butcher’s more conservative style is expected to suit the horse better.
He will just need some luck drawn six, outside Seve and Miki Shan who beat him home at Cambridge.
My Copy … has drawn the outside of the gate in the opening race.My Copy is another who will need plenty of luck when Orange steers him from the outside of the gate in the opening race.
Copy That’s little half brother ran last in his October 7 outing after a mid-race move saw him stuck three wide, unable to reach the parked spot, then forced to ease.
That glitch spoiled his otherwise consistent form line but Green said he’d need a suck into the race to threaten this week.
“I can’t see him charging for the front from eight. His best chance will be to go back and hope for a nice run.”
Lady Luck has deserted Whiz On Bye in both his last two starts suggesting he’s at least some hope in the third race from a good front row draw of three.
“I wouldn’t read too much into his last two runs. He’s had genuine excuses. Last time he was hampered at the start by a breaker and three wide outside the speed for the last lap and the time before he was wiped out in a melee at the 400.
“He’s no star but he’s going to win a race.”
Major Grace, from four on the second row in the same race, will also need a big dose of luck.
“She’s an honest filly but the draw looks like it will have her measure on Thursday. We threw her in the deep end last time (against the top fillies in the Nevele R fillies heat) but before that she was a good third at Cambridge.”
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Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
