Copy That pacing effortlessly during his heat at today’s Pukekohe workouts.
Copy That strips fitter for Friday’s free-for-all and right on target for next month’s Grins
By Barry Lichter • 18 March 2023
Copy That showed he was right on target for next month’s $1 million Race by Grins with a smart workout win at Pukekohe today.
Driven by Lincoln Farms’ stable foreman Andrew Drake, Copy That trailed throughout and, despite being hampered turning for home, finished on well without being asked for his best to hold off the late-closing Old Town Road by a head.
Drake didn’t pull the plugs and told trainer Ray Green that Copy That was powerful at the finish of the 2050 metre heat, the last 800 metres in 56.7 and 400 in 27.4. The overall time was 2:30.9, a mile rate of 1:58.4.
“He’s just a different animal with that mini bit,” Drake said. “He was so relaxed on the back of Bach. Usually he’d have his head hard on the helmet in front.
“When I asked him at the 600 he grabbed the bit and I came off.”
Andrew Drake takes Copy That’s heart rate which was an excellent 79 after today’s workout.But Drake reported Copy That’s run was even better than it might have looked after leader Bach first hung in on the turn, then ran out, locking wheels with Copy That and taking away a lot of his momentum.
Green declared Copy That was on a nice improvement curve and with an excellent post race heart rate of 79 today, he would strip fitter for Friday night’s $45,000 City Of Auckland Free-for-all (mobile 2200m) at Auckland.
Only after that race, his second this prep, would Green decide if Copy That needs another race before his main mission, the $1 million slot race on April 14.
“We’ve got the $45,000 Waikato Flying Mile at Cambridge the week before the Grins race if we need it. Some of those races can be easy, you can get away with cheap fractionals, so it’s either that or a run at the trials, we’ll just play it by ear.”
Grins rival Old Town Road was also excellent, powering home from the back, a head in front of Bach, with a length to Simply Sam, and Chimichurri fifth.
Driver Andre Poutama said Simply Sam trialled in great style in his first run back from a spell.
“I ran home in 27 and he felt really good.”
Simply Sam hasn’t raced for more than three months, given a decent spell after losing a lot of condition after being gelded on his return from Australia.
It is expected Simply Sam will need at least one more trial before he is ready to race.
Neptune (Andre Poutama) is airborne as he leads Lincoln River (Monika Ranger) and Commander Lincoln (Zachary Butcher).Green will throw in a derby nomination on Monday for Lincoln River after he finished best from the trail to beat pacemaker Neptune a neck in their right-handed 2050 metre heat.
Lincoln River (Monika Ranger) clocked 2:35.3, closing in slick sectionals of 56.8 and 27.7.
While Lincoln River will be entered for the $135,000 Woodlands Stud Northern Derby (mobile 2700m) on Friday night, Neptune and Commander Lincoln, who dropped five lengths behind his stablemates, will be nominated for Cambridge on Thursday night.
Ideal Kingdom, outer, comes with the last run to pip Loutenant, centre, and Next To Me.Ideal Kingdom (Poutama) came with the last run to win his 2050 metre heat, run in a more casual 2:37.7, pipping Loutenant half a head with a neck to Next To Me and five and a half lengths to Riverboy Ben.
Onyx Shard didn’t win her mile qualifying heat but showed enough to earn a debut run in Friday night’s $63,000 Delightful Lady Classic at Auckland.
Onyx Shard trailed Brent Mangos’ winner Treacherous Love and was only one and a quarter lengths behind at the line, the mile run in 2:03.1, 800 in 58.2 and 400 in 29.8.
Green said the paucity of starters in the fillies’ Young Guns heats would see Onyx Shard gain a start in Friday’s final and he was sure she wouldn’t disgrace herself.
Onyx Shard (Poutama) trails Treacherous Love today.“She goes nicely and I’m sure she’ll win races. I can’t fault what she’s done.”
Onyx Shard, a Sweet Lou filly out of Delightful Shard, was a $30,000 yearling buy at Christchurch and will be raced by Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton and two of his mates Paul Humphries and Ian Harris.
The black filly is from the family of big winners Sly Flyin and Smiling Shard.
Lilly Lincoln, a distant fourth after an early gallop, and Lincoln Blue, who qualified in running fifth, will both go out for a break now, Green said.
More news in Harness
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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.”
