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Trainer Ray Green is looking for the real Copy That to stand up at Ballarat on Sunday.

Copy That in perfect health and will have a surprise outing at Ballarat on Sunday

Copy That will make a surprise appearance in the A$24,000 Sokyola Sprint (1710m) at Ballarat on Sunday after passing every vet check this week with flying colours.

Trainer Ray Green had the horse exhaustively tested after he weakened out to run a distant last in his campaign opener at Cranbourne last Saturday night.

“His blood is perfect, he scoped perfectly, I had his heart looked at and it’s perfect. Everything is perfect.

“He’s eating well and looks super, so why not race him instead of going round at the trials for no money? That’s what we’re here for.

“While you like to find a reason for a bad performance, the reason was he had such an awful trip.”

Caught five wide early then four wide and three wide round the first turn, Copy That made an aborted attack for the lead before briefly landing the one-one then sprinting round to sit parked for the rest of the 2555 metre cup.

Green confirmed Chris Svanosio would retain the drive on Copy That and this time he will have carte blanche to do what he likes.

“We shouldn’t have insisted he drive the horse aggressively at Cranbourne.

“I should have said ‘do your own thing’ which is what I normally do - let the drivers be drivers.

“Chris knows the other drivers and horses so there’s no point in me getting in my two pennies worth.”

Green says the timing of the Ballarat race is perfect for Copy That, giving him two weeks until his next target, the A$70,000 Bendigo Cup on January 8.

“He’ll draw the outside but that’s good as it means he’ll probably have to go back.

“They’re not expecting a stellar bunch so with his speed he should be able to get over the top of them.”

Green says the 1710 metre trip wouldn’t overly tax Copy That and should have him primed for his next start.

“But I really just want to see him go round properly and not stop like he did last time.”

The fields for Ballarat are expected to be posted tomorrow.

Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them

Mark Dux

Mark Dux’s comments

Saturday night at Albion Park

Race 4: Argyle
10.09pm NZ time

“Hell go into the race as one of the favourites for sure and he’ll get a nice trip whether we lead or trail and he should finish top three again. We’ll come off the gate well and hopefully be good enough to hold Alta Magacian beside us. But even if he crosses us, that’s not a bad scenario, as he’s a decent horse who should get us to the corner.”

Race Images - Harness