Copy That ‘huge’ but kind natured Tommy takes the honours in big upset at the Park

Copy That was “huge” in defeat in tonight’s Summer Cup at Auckland but it was his lesser stablemate Tommy Lincoln who took the honours in a result that shocked even their closest connections.

Punters sent out Copy That a $1.60 fixed odds favourite and shunned Tommy Lincoln at $21 but when the tapes were released the first Auckland Cup lead-up race was turned on its head.

While Tommy made a flyer from the front mark, Copy That, on the 20 metre back mark, balked and swung sideways as South Coast Arden first danced in front of him then swerved in a costly gallop.

And it wasn’t long into the race that Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green realised an upset was on the cards as he saw his second stringer in his favourite role, flying along in front, while Copy That was second last in the strung out field.

The alarm bells really started to go off when Maurice McKendry on Copy That was pushed out three wide by Tony Herlihy on Gambit round the stables bend with 900 metres to run.

Ray Green … now has to decide whether to try Tommy Lincoln over 2700 metres next week in the Lincoln Farms’ Franklin Cup.Copy That was three wide with no cover from there on and, despite mounting a powerful finish, and laying in 100 metres out, he was still 1.8 lengths behind Tommy Lincoln at the post.

McKendry summed up Copy That’s run in one word to Green when he came back to the stable.

“Huge.”

“He sat out there (three wide) doing it and still kept coming, and he did it all himself.”

Tommy Lincoln clocked a slick 2:41.5 for the 2200 metre stand but the enormity of Copy That’s run is evidenced by the fact his 2:40.3 clocking was only six tenths of a second outside Star Galleria’s 2018 national record of 2:39.7.

“I thought if anything was going to beat Copy That it would be South Coast Arden or Tommy Lincoln,” Green said.

“And when I saw Tommy step well and get the front I knew he’d be hard to get past, he always is.”

An excited Shannon Flay in the winner’s circle.Dilemma

Green now faces the dilemma of whether to run Tommy Lincoln in next Friday night’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup knowing that the horse has previously struggled to last 2700 metres.

“I’ll talk it over with John (Street) but I’m happy to have a dab. He’s on top of his game and fitness wise he could probably cope. It’s also good money at $47,500.

“With the way he races he should really be in America where he’d excel at hard miles.”

With Tommy Lincoln’s options limited in the next few weeks, Green also took the precaution of entering the horse for the $200,000 Auckland Cup (3200m) on New Year’s Eve.

Running in either of the next two big races would be a dream come true for the big bunch of owners in Tommy Lincoln whose bankroll reached $92,565 tonight from just 25 starts.

Debbie Sparks wth the prized dress rug won by Tommy Lincoln.Street’s niece Debbie Sparks was visibly excited at Tommy’s unexpected eighth win - the only way she thought they were going to visit the winner’s circle tonight was as Lincoln Farms supporters for a Copy That win.

To Sparks and her fellow members of the Sparks and Parkinson syndicate, half the fun though is visiting the horse in the stables before and after the race, win or lose.

Tonight they again admired the way the gentle natured horse lowered his head for them to pat him, while in the neighbouring stall Copy That continually kicked out.

Shannon Flay, who accepted the trophy on behalf of her sister Brenda, rated the Summer Cup win even more exciting than Northview Hustler’s Spring Cup win of 2018.

The emotion of winning a Group III race with a horse she and her late dad picked out was obvious. Arthur died three weeks before Tommy’s first win and Flay still carries his ring on race night as a good luck charm.

Juices running

Earlier, American Dealer had Green’s juices running after he staved off a strong late challenge from Shan Noble to win the Northern Three-Year-Old Stakes.

American Dealer and driver David Butcher were gifted a dream run in front, allowed to get away with two opening quarters of 32 but he was still impressive in the run up the straight.

“He’s a little beauty, the absolute consummate professional,” Green enthused.

Butcher, who did not even have to activate the removable hood, said the horse did well to close in 55.2 while punching into a wind.

American Dealer has Shan Noble well covered at the finish of the Northern Stakes.“He’s having a bit of a blow and will be better next week,” Green said. “There’s a lot of money up for grabs and it’s looking good for us.”

On the menu for American Dealer is the $47,500 Group II Alabar Classic on December 11 and $200,000 Harness Million on December 31.

And with no Krug or It’s All About Faith to tackle, the chances of Miami owners Gordon Banks and Marc Hanover picking up some nice cheques are high.

The All Stars’ trio failed to run up to expectations, the favourite First Class losing his chance with an early gallop and running last, Riveered second last after pacing awkwardly in his first start right-handed and Shan Noble coming up a length short after losing his near front shoe in the preliminary then having the off side shoe removed before the start.