Copy That now cup co-favourite after hotshots flop - blood tests for lethargic Self Assured
By Barry Lichter • 24 October 2022
Bookies turned the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup futures market upside down tonight after the hotshots failed in today’s Flying Stakes, with Copy That promoted to equal favourite.
Lincoln Farms’ flagbearer is now a $4.60 top elect, along with Australian visitor Rock N Roll Do, who eased slightly after completely muffing the start at Ashburton, looping the field to sit parked then battling away for sixth, two and a half lengths from winner B D Joe.
Long time co-favourite Self Assured has slipped dramatically to fifth favourite at $7.50 after he could finish only seventh, three lengths from the winner.
While driver Mark Purdon had to take a strong hold of Self Assured 50 metres from the post when sandwiched between runners, he later told stewards the horse felt lethargic in the running and he would be getting blood tests done.
Self Assured could not go with new-kid-on-the-block Old Town Road when they started their runs in the home stretch, John Dickie’s charge the real eye-catcher in the race, coming from last 250 metres out to earn fourth cup favouritism, in from $21 last week to $6.
B D Joe was initially credited with a closing half of 53.4, but stewards later reviewed the time and amended it to 55.3. Old Town Road was privately timed to clock 54 flat,home in 25.4.
Old Town Road’s sprint was the undoubted highlight, his finishing burst carrying him to within a neck of the winner, with another neck to Spankem, a nose to Alta Wiseguy and half a length to Pembrook Playboy.
Old Town Road lay in and had to be straightened by driver Zachary Butcher passing the 50m, hampering Self Assured, and again lay in near the finish, Butcher later advised to make a greater effort to maintain a straight course. He told stewards he would be recommending gear changes.
Stonewall Stud’s B D Joe is now the third cup fancy on $5 after winning his third race on end with another electric beginning to lead. His effort to stave off all challengers had plenty of merit though driver Ben Butcher will be spoken to in the coming days over his use of the whip in the run home.
Natalie Rasmussen … told to exercise more care after trying to extricate the unlucky Spankem.Spankem holds sixth favouritism at $13 after being held up in the middle stages of the run home. Driver Natalie Rasmussen was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground after angling out near the 50m in search of clear racing room.
Alta Wiseguy, who was less than a length from the winner, is next best fancied at $15.
Before authorising the OK for his fourth placing, stewards checked that the gelding had not gained an advantage when racing inside the final track marker just before the start of the passing lane.
When issued with a warning, driver Tim Williams said he would be recommending gear changes.
South Coast Arden, who broke at the start today and only battled into eighth, 5.3 lengths from the winner, continues to drift in the cup market, now on $41.
More news in Harness
Forget the form line, Nemo is in Saturday’s race at Albion Park ‘right up to his ears’
Fine Cambridge double but Ray’s packing Lincoln Cove off to Matamata for scintigraphy
34 more meetings in the north next season as Auckland reclaims Friday nights
No way to sugar coat it - it’s tricky to predict what Sugar Ray will do on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Major Achievement
5.19pm
“It’s his first race for a while and he hasn’t been setting the world on fire at the workouts. But he’s been racing better animals and this isn’t a stellar bunch. He’s a chance if things go his way. I’ve given Mathew Salaivao the drive.”
Race 1: Commander Lincoln
5.19pm
“He’s an average horse but the last time he raced here in amateur company he all but won. He’ll need luck from the second row but, while I couldn’t label him, he’s a runner’s chance.”
Race 5: Onyx Shard
6.59pm
“She got a bit sick for a while with a virus and I had to back off her. She seems over that now but I’m picking she’ll need a race. This will be like a glorified trial for her.”
Race 8: My Copy
8.14pm
“He came to the end of it so I gave him a little freshen-up and he seems in good shape again. It will be interesting to see how he goes fresh - he may need a race but he’ll appreciate the step-down in class. I’m running him here so he doesn’t come up against any bear cats first-up.”
Race 9: Lincoln Cove
8.47pm
“Hopefully he’s getting better but you’ve just got to take him on trust. He has ability but the desire has been sadly lacking. Zac will have to sit quietly on him as he broke when given only one tap with the stick last time. The small field will suit him as he won’t be too far off them. If he doesn’t make any mistakes, he’ll give them a fright.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Leo Lincoln
6.43pm
“Maurice said he would have finished a lot closer last time than sixth (fourth or even third) had he not locked wheels at the 100. That took all his momentum away. He’s been holding his form well and he gets out well enough to use the inside draw. He’s a chance to get some of the money.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.39pm
“He did have marks on his boot after his last run and trying a spreader on him has helped. But he’s a real baby. He has real ability but he’s still developing mentally and physically and we’re still finding our way with him.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.39pm
“He’s racing well but he’ll find it tough from the outside draw.”
Race 6: Debbie Lincoln
8.07pm
“I can’t see her improving enough to give the Purdon/Phelan trio a fright. She can go (fast) enough but still has a lot to learn. The main thing for her is getting round safely. She’s put two in a row now so hopefully she’ll start improving.”
Race 10: Lincoln La Moose
9.59pm
“He had an excuse last time - he got wiped out on the first corner and that was the end of his race. I like him, he’s a nice horse, just not quite as experienced as Frisco Bay.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.59pm
“I lean towards Frisky as the better chance of our two. You can’t fault what he did the other night at Cambridge, and he seems to be on the improve. He’s more reliable than Lincoln La Moose.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 6: Captain Nemo
9.40pm NZ time
“I rate him a good top three chance. I’m really happy with the horse. It’s a decent drop in grade for him and I think maybe we roll the dice, go forward, and take our chances. As long as he doesn’t have to burn stupidly off the gate, if he can find the top, they’ll know he’s in the race.”
