Angelic Copy has not raced since beating stablemate Lincoln Linda in March. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Cloud over Angelic Copy again - bug threatens to force her out on Friday night at Auckland
By Barry Lichter • 23 April 2025
Blood tests on Thursday will determine whether Angelic Copy starts in Friday night’s second Young Guns heat for fillies at Alexandra Park.
Co-trainer Ray Green was forced to scratch the unbeaten filly from her last scheduled start on April 11 when tests showed she had not fully recovered from a tie-up episode.
And now he and training partner Nathan Delany are faced with the prospect of having to withdraw Angelic Copy again, the filly having been under a cloud with a bug.
“We eliminated the tie-up problem but after she trained below par this week we took a blood and it showed she had a virus. There’s quite a bit of it going around.
“There is some doubt over whether she will start but we’re taking blood tomorrow morning to see how she is.”
From the second row, Angelic Copy ($17, $3.30) will have a tough job on Friday night even if she does make it to the start line.
She has not raced now since winning the first Young Guns heat on March 21 when, in a four-horse field, she beat stablemate Lincoln Linda in a 2:00.4 mile rate for the 1700 metres.
Compare that with the 1:53.9 mile rate that Emma Stewart’s unbeaten filly Ripples ran when winning the Gold Tiara Final (1730m) at Bathurst and the 1:56.6 rate that Purdon Racing’s Alecto clocked when sitting parked in the Leonard Memorial (1980m) and you appreciate the challenge.
Even though Angelic Copy has missed some work, Green is still hoping she will be fit enough to contest the $70,000 Young Guns Delightful Lady Classic on May 2.
Green says Lincoln Linda ($27, $4.50) will need a lot of luck from the outside of the second row to get into the placings.
Intractable in her racing so far, she again raced a bit too fiercely last time, but Green is hoping the likely faster pace on Friday will suit her.
The opposition is also likely to be too strong for Lincoln Farms’ pair Lincoln Lover ($27, $4.20) and Prince Lincoln ($27, $4.20) in the colts’ and geldings’ Young Guns heat.
“If I had to choose between them I’d say Prince Lincoln. He’s training very well and he’d be a chance of getting some of it with luck from his wide gate.
“Lincoln Lover isn’t training as well but he has the inside draw to help him. And he’s a tough little bugger who’s not one to shirk his responsibilities.”
Both horses have been set for the $100,000 Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes on May 2.
Green says he’s not holding his breath with Sugar Ray Lincoln ($91, $8.50) in the $200,000 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby.
“He’s gone some handy races against the very best but he’s not in career best form. I’m just hoping the 2700 metres might suit him better.
“I think he might need a decent break after the derby.”
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Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Manawatu
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.25pm
“She won well on the first day but pulled very hard - Harry said his arms were that tired afterwards he couldn’t have lifted a 1kg dumb bell. She’s meeting a few nice ones here, up in grade, but she’s drawn better so you can’t count her out. She tries hard and really digs in.”
Race 7: Lincoln Downs
7.50pm
“She did everything right on Tuesday but she blew heavily afterwards and I think the heat got to her. She’s a place chance if she recovers OK.”
Race 8: Lincoln Maree
8.22pm
“She was jumping shadows on Tuesday and moves to the last race this time but she’s not the most genuine so I’m not holding my breath.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.28pm
“He hasn’t raced for three months but trialled really well. I pick he’s going to win one pretty quickly and, given he’s been running against the best two-year-olds in his previous preps, it should really be on Friday night. This lot of maidens aren’t in the same class and he’s as honest as they come, a tough little trier.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.09pm
“She’s really up against it from the outside of the second line, with all the favourites drawn well. She has to be the unluckest animal on the planet. With her, what can go wrong will. Even at the best of times you need a reasonable draw to figure but drawn in the bondocks here she’ll need incredible luck.”
Race 8: Sugar Ray Lincoln
9.09pm
“He had a short break while some vet work was done but is in good trim. Yes, there are a few in here that are vastly higher rated but his formline says it all - it’s not often he doesn’t get a cheque.”
Race 8: Tyson
9.09pm
“He was a bit unlucky last week that he didn’t get to them a bit sooner otherwise I think he would have won. Maurice said he thought they’d come back to him more, going 2:39 speed, but his closing sectionals were easily the best in the race.”
Race 10: Prince Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s grown into a beautiful horse, a quality looking colt, and who knows what he could be. He’ll obviously improve with the run but I still expect him to run well from his good draw. He trialled very well behind a good one.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
10.09pm
“He’s drawn a bit awkwardly in seven, which gives Prince Lincoln the edge, but he too was making good ground in the workout.”
