Copy That surprise entry for Auckland on Friday - but who’d want to take him on?

Copy That is a surprise entry for Friday’s Auckland meeting after trainer Ray Green elected to further delay taking the horse south.

Green originally intended floating the horse south yesterday and giving him his final New Zealand Cup lead-up in the Kaikoura Cup at Addington on Monday.

But when a flight became available on November 4, he jumped at the chance to avoid the gruelling two-day road trip, believing the horse would benefit more from a quick trip than another race.

“Putting him in on Friday was an after-thought,” Green said today.

“I know it’s not the traditional cup prep but it’s the best we can do under the circumstances.”

The Auckland Trotting Club left nominations open until 12.30pm today after only 64 horses were entered for the entire meeting, believed to be a record low. Only two nominated for the two-year-old pace, and only four for the fillies’ and mares’ maiden and four for the tight class trot.

Just 21 pacers are listed for three races in the rating 40 and faster band and being a mobile 2200 metres, the club might struggle to include Copy That off even marks.

Copy That is a rating 120 pacer, with his closest opposition Christianshavtime (R77), Brookies Jaffa (R65), Down The Hatch (R58), Ohoka Achilles (R55) and Hesashorething (R55).

Green says if Copy That doesn’t get to race on Friday, he’ll just have to trial the horse. But he’s happy with his condition just 14 days out from the 3200 metre Addington feature.

“I couldn’t fault what he did in the Holmes DG last Friday. If Maurice had gone a bit sooner he’d have won it.”

In finishing third to Major Jellis and Bad To The Bone, Copy That was credited with easily the fastest sectionals, pacing the last mile of the 2700 metre stand in 1:56 flat, 1.5 seconds faster than the winner, with his last 800 in 57.3 and 400 in 26.7.

Green believes Copy That is athletic enough to be ready for a hard 3200 metres on his limited two-race preparation, noting his residual fitness from racing four weeks on end at the Queensland winter carnival.

Green says he saw nothing in the Flying Stakes at Ashburton yesterday to worry him, cup hotpot Self Assured scrambling home by a nose after getting an easy lead.

“Self Assured didn’t put the fear of god into me yesterday. I’m not too worried about him.”

Self Assured, nevertheless, held his position on $1.90 at the top of the IRT Cup futures market, with South Coast Arden at $3.20 and Copy That out to an attractive $8, along with Pembrook Playboy.

Green says he’s much more comfortable overseeing Copy That’s final preparation himself, given he cannot accompany the horse south under Covid border restrictions.

By giving the horse his final fast work before flying out on the Thursday, it means Copy That will be ready when he arrives in Christchurch, five days before the cup.

Just 21 pacers are nominated for the three races for rating 40 and faster pacers at Alexandra Park on Friday night.