Copy That comes off the track after being pulled up mid-race.
Copy That became fired up after continually striking his sulky wheels
By Barry Lichter • 1 July 2020
Driver Maurice McKendry knew soon after the start of tonight’s feature race at Alexandra Park that he was in trouble with the favourite Copy That.
McKendry planned to drive the country’s top three-year-old quietly at the rear of the field in his first run back from a spell.
But the more McKendry tried to restrain the colt, the more he hit the sulky wheels with his hind legs and the more panicky he got.
Copy That raced so fiercely in the parked position that McKendry had no option but to pull pin 1200 metres out.
“He was just bolting on me and every time he nicked the cart he got worse.
“I couldn’t let him keep going round like that so I eased him out of the race and, as soon as he slowed up, he was all right again.”
Trainer Ray Green could quickly see something was wrong and said McKendry definitely did the right thing by the horse in pulling him out of the race.
“I’m just relieved he’s all right and the problem is easily rectified.”
Green said the sulky he used on Copy That was the same one he towed to success at Addington in March when he beat One Change in the Vero Flying Stakes.
But he would certainly have to let it out more when the horse returned to the Park in two weeks for his next start, which would be a 2200 metres mobile.
“The one positive we can take out of tonight is the way he stepped off from the stand. That was very encouraging and will set him up for future standing starts.”
The most famous case of a horse striking the sulky wheels was in the 2009 Interdominion Grand Final on the Gold Coast when it caused Auckland Reactor to get so fired up he choked down and tailed right off 500 metres from home.
“I know the punters will be hurting but at least it wasn’t a big race tonight,” Green said.
With Copy That out of play the race was won easily by the second favourite and back marker On The Cards who beat stablemate Major Jellis by four and a half lengths.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Angelic Copy
4.53pm
“She’s done everything right and trialled really nicely. I think she’s forward enough to give some cheek. She’s only small. You like to think when you get a good two-year-old like her that they’ll get stronger and transition into a nice three-year-old but she hasn’t grown an inch. But she tries hard and enjoys being out there.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.28pm
“I’m looking forward to seeing him. You never really know ’til you get to the races but he’s trialled well enough to start and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went a good race, despite the draw. He’s a nice sensible colt who’s done nothing wrong and he could develop into a really nice three-year-old.”
Race 6: Lincoln Wave
7.22pm
“He was starting to get into the habit of switching off so we trained him in blinds this week and he went pretty well. He was good from a standing start at the trials with shorteners in and Maurice was actually quite bullish about his standing start manners and thinks that, in time, he’ll end up being a quick beginner. If he steps well, and can land in the first one or two, he’ll definitely be hard to get round.”
Race 6: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.22pm
“He’s not spectacular from a stand but he will get away, albeit sometimes a bit slowly. Lincoln Wave has more speed than him but if it comes down to a slugfest he’d be too strong as he’s rock hard fit.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.23pm
“The blinds go back on this week and if he steps and leads like he did three starts ago that would make him the one to beat. He showed with that win that he’s above average and will be a serious chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.23pm
“You could argue she’s a Cambridge horse but sometimes when you throw them in with the bear cats they lift their game and I thought she was really good here last week. Tony (Cameron) said she’d have finished a bit closer too if he hadn’t had to take hold of her close to home (when he ran out of room and hit a marker pole).”
Race 8: Sammy Lincoln
8.23pm
“We’ve got blinds on him this week. Harry said he lost concentration a couple of times last week, including at the top of the straight, and thought he’d be a bit more on to it with blinds on. I still thought his was the run of the race last time - none of the others could have done what he did - and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him score.”
