Copy That checks out fine so it’s all systems go for Queensland on Friday
By Barry Lichter • 8 June 2021
It was with some relief for trainer Ray Green that blood and vet checks today gave Copy That and American Dealer a clean bill of health.
While discovering an issue might have explained why the pair raced flat at the Cambridge Jewels last Sunday, Green was anxious about what that might have meant for the pair’s imminent Australian campaign.
But the all clear means they will join stablemates Tommy Lincoln and Captain Nemo on a flight to Australia on Friday.
“The blood test was fine and they’ve checked out all good,” said Green.
“We’ll just have to put it down to a bad day and move on.”
Copy That, right, checks out who’s next door in the wash bay at Cambridge after his Jewels run.Green can only guess that Copy That might again have been troubled by his feet in the Four-Year-Old Emerald when driver Maurice McKendry reported he didn’t feel right even scoring up behind the mobile gate and showed none of his usual brilliant speed.
“We used to put pads on his feet, which were prone to getting sore, but when the farrier said he should be all right we took them off a month or so ago. I’m pretty sure that’s all that was making him uncomfortable on Sunday.
“I shouldn’t have taken them off but they’re back on now.”
Green said he and the team of four were leaving slightly earlier than anticipated to take advantage of a rare direct flight to Brisbane, meaning the horses wouldn’t be stressed by a 700km truck trip north from Sydney.
Green will be away with the team for about seven weeks, until the end of the winter carnival which climaxes on July 24 with the A$250,000 Blacks A Fake Queensland Championship.
Two weeks earlier Copy That will take up an invitation to contest the inaugural A$250,000 The Rising Sun, where he will meet fellow Kiwi Krug and a host of top Australian three and four-year-olds including Expensive Ego.
American Dealer’s main mission is the A$100,000 Queensland Derby on July 24.
Green will train from the south-east Queensland property of trainer Mark Dux at Woongoolba, 50km south east of Brisbane and 40km north of Surfers Paradise.
“It’s in the cane fields and he has a well appointed property with a 1000 metre track, new barns and plenty of paddocks.”
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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.”
