Copy That is in no danger of losing the Gammalite Free-for-all at Melton.
Copy That won despite having virus last start so what’s he going to do to them on Saturday?
By Barry Lichter • 27 September 2022
Copy That was carrying a few unwanted passengers when he smashed his rivals at Melton 10 days ago.
You wouldn’t have known it the way the star pacer ran away from his rivals in the Gammalite Free-for-all but trainer Ray Green revealed today Copy That had a virus that night.
“I thought he looked a bit flat at the finish so we took a blood off him and his white cell count was elevated.
“That explained why he didn’t finish it off as well as I thought he should have.”
Even though Copy That spurted away from his rivals turning for home, at the line he held only a 3.6 metre margin over runner-up Crime Writer, Green originally putting that down to his habit of knocking off when in front.
“But we’ve rectified that problem and he seems fine now so I’m expecting a big run from him on Saturday night.”
Copy That has come up with a sweet front row draw of three in the A$50,000 Smoken Up Sprint (mobile 1720m) with one of his main dangers Bondi Lockdown on the second row.
His three main Victoria Cup challengers are missing on Saturday but 1:47.6 Chariots Of Fire winner Better Eclipse resumes, drawn immediately inside Copy That.
Argyle and Simply Sam both have good front row draws in their Victoria Derby heats, Argyle drawn three in the first 2760 metre heat and Simply Sam four in the second.
Argyle was an all-the-way winner at Melton in his first start in Victoria.Hitting sulky wheels
Argyle’s heat is stacked with talented three-year-olds boasting winning formlines but Green says the eighth in Argyle’s ruined formline was not his fault.
“It was a bit worrying watching him stop like that but he basically beat himself up
“Nathan (Jack) said you can forget he went around as he was hitting the wheels.”
Jack told Green that Argyle left the gate well to lead but after that he was mostly just a runaway. With claiming junior driver Abby Sanderson outside and running him on Ozzie Playboy, Argyle got pulling and half choked down.
“The more he pulled, the more he hit the wheels. He had a different sulky on and was too far forward in the cart.
“Nathan used his own cart the start before and he’ll bring it again on Saturday night.”
Green said he’s not sure if it contributed to Argyle’s problem, but he’d also been told that horses trained on straight line tracks can stretch out more in races. Argyle has done some of his work in a straight line since being stabled at Yabby Dam Farm in Ballarat.
Simply Sam has the best of the draws in the second Victoria Derby heat, with winning machines Captain Ravishing and Leap To Fame both on the second row and Green is expecting further improvement from the horse.
“If he beats those two it will be a top effort but he’s arriving at the right time. He’d had only two runs prior to last week, and they were both soft races, but Nathan said he felt so much better.
“He wasn’t beaten for speed, he just got tired the last bit.”
Green said with the Withers Classic run at such a hectic tempo, it wasn’t surprising Sam ran out of gas, finishing a 22 metre third.
“Captain Ravishing broke the Kilmore track record (running the 2180 metres in a 1:54.6 mile rate) and Sam would have gone under it as well. He just flattened out the last bit otherwise he could have run second.
“That should tighten him up for the heat on Saturday. That was the idea of coming over here early to get races to fit him. It’s worked out well.”
Green said while Captain Ravishing looked something special, he believed the draws had given Lincoln Farms’ pair the chance to show their stuff.
“We’ll just need a bit of luck in the run and if we’re good enough, we’re good enough, if not, we’re not.”
Argyle races at 10.58pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
Simply Sam races at 11.28pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
Copy That races at 11.58pm NZ time at Melton on Saturday night.
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.”
