Copy That pictured at his Woongoolba stable looking fit and ready for Saturday night. PHOTO: Brittany Graham.
Cards fall best for American Dealer on Saturday with Copy That drawn to need luck
By Barry Lichter • 1 July 2021
Barrier draws at Albion Park on Saturday point to American Dealer as Lincoln Farms’ best winning chance of the night.
Trainer Ray Green lines up Copy That from the inside of the second row in the fifth race, Tommy Lincoln from two on the second row in the ninth race and American Dealer, drawn four in a seven-horse field in the last, all to be driven by top horseman Anthony Butt.
“On that American Dealer looks our best shot,” says Green. “He trained well on Wednesday morning and I can’t imagine him not going better than last time.”
American Dealer came from the second row for fourth in his Queensland debut on June 22, finishing on well on a very fast 54.5 last half by the winner Ilikemebettor.
The horse had a little trouble pacing roughly on the bends that day but Green isn’t expecting any repetition of that on Saturday night.
“I’ve tightened up his gear a bit and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since. We also did a rebuild of the walls of his feet which were very thin, making it hard to nail a shoe on.
American Dealer … looks well placed in the last race at Albion Park on Saturday night.“They basically build on a layer of bog which makes the foot bigger so he should be a lot happier.”
Green said American Dealer’s blood test yesterday came back showing he was slightly dehydrated.
“But that’s nothing we can’t rectify.”
The only genuine rival he faces on Saturday, Talent To Spare, has the advantage of leaving from two on the gate, from where he’ll either lead or trial.
“I’ll leave it up to our driver to decide what to do from four,” says Green. “But I’m confident he’ll be hard to beat regardless of where he ends up.”
The same can’t be said for stable star Copy That in the A$25,000 Wondai’s Mate, the 1660 metre feature named after the former star pacer who retired in 1987 the winner of 73 races of his 121 races.
“We’re going to need a lot of luck from where he’s drawn. Spankem and Colt Thirty One aren’t slugs and have drawn the front row so should be on pace whereas we’ll be behind a bunch of horses which makes it a bit awkward for us.
“He’ll cop a lot of traffic. You can’t have a plan from there - Anthony will have to make the calls.”
But Green says with Saturday’s race only a lead-up to the A$250,000 The Rising Sun the following week, Copy That doesn’t need a gut buster.
“We’ll be driving him for a soft trip, with a hope and a prayer, but hopefully he’ll get a suck along and we can see him roar up the straight. He seems very good. His blood came back super yesterday.”
Tommy Lincoln, the subject of significant offers after his all-the-way opening 1:53.8 win at Albion Park, jumps from 1660 metres to 2138 metres on Saturday but will still be very well fancied to beat the McCarthy rep Ilikemebettor.
Green says he can’t fault the horse who needs only reasonable luck from the second row to be very hard to beat.
Copy That races at 8.43pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
Tommy Lincoln races at 10.40pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
American Dealer races at 11.35pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Tyson
5.06pm
“He hung badly all the way last time without a boring pole but that will be back on this week. And we’ve taken off his overcheck. He seemed to resent that. I trained him yesterday and he went really well. I expect him to go a lot better.”
Race 1: Sugar Ray Lincoln
5.06pm
“Fergie had to do an adjustment on the cart last week and the horse got fractious and just kicked out. I think he would have gone well but their policy is to scratch them if there’s any sign of blood. He’s certainly hard work but he trained well this week - he didn’t put a foot wrong and paced well.”
Race 2: The Rascal
5.46pm
“He still struggles on the corners going full out. He’s OK when they’re tootling along but when they sprint, he finds it difficult. The drivers just have to nurse him and, driven like that, he should be hard to beat.”
Race 4: Kevin Kline
6.58pm
“He never had a chance to get any money last time, when caught four back on the pegs - it was just one of those races. But he hit the line well and I’m pretty sure he’ll go well again. Mantra Blue is a good mare but she only fell in last time and she could be vulnerable from the 30 metre handicap.”
Race 4: Leo Lincoln
6.58pm
“He steps well and Fergie showed last time he really knows how to drive him. If he’s on the fence he doesn’t put a foot wrong, it’s only when he gets out wide that he can mix it up.”
Race 7: Lincoln Lover
8.46pm
“He’s as honest as they come but he’ll need a run or two to tighten him up. He hasn’t raced for a while and he’s a little fat guy.”
Race 7: Prince Lincoln
8.46pm
“He’s a lovely horse who been training really well and he won his recent workout in good time. He has a bit more lick than our other runner Lincoln Lover and he should go well this time in.”
