Copy That’s Victorian campaign opens with a frustrating false start for Ray at the airport

The frustrations of flying in the Covid era hit home today when Copy That got away to Melbourne but his trainer didn’t.

Lincoln Farms trainer Ray Green thought he had done everything necessary to board his Air New Zealand flight this morning but he was turned back because the only evidence he had of returning a negative Covid test in the last 72 hours was in a text on his phone.

The upshot of the hiccup is that even with the correct documentation tomorrow morning the 24 hour delay means he will not be able to train or supervise the horse’s tilt at Saturday night’s A$75,000 Cranbourne Cup.

“I have to self-isolate for 72 hours without going anywhere so it means I won’t even be able to go to the races. If I’d been able to leave this morning I would have been out of jail the morning of the race.

“I’ve been a bit stressed out today but I’m mentally prepared for anything now, even a plane crash.”

Trainer Ray Green will have to wait until after Saturday night’s Cranbourne Cup to be reunited with Copy That.Nevertheless Green is happy that Copy That had no such hold-up and is expected to reach Chris Svanosio’s stable at Romsey, 45 minutes from Melton, by about 7.30pm Australian time.

“At least they’ll get a chance to know him over the next couple of days when he has a jog. He’ll scream and snort when he gets to the races but he’s not a difficult horse to drive.”

Green isn’t up on the gate speed of all the runners inside Copy That on Saturday night when he starts from six on the gate over the 2555 metre feature sponsored by Copy That’s owner Merv Butterworth.

But he knows the ability of star mare Amazing Dream, who is in three, and will ensure the race is no gimmee for Copy That.

“I hope he doesn’t end up having a hard trip - if he goes forward he might end up parked.

“But he’ll have plenty of time to recover afterwards as each of his races over there is well spaced.”

Green’s confidence that he has Copy That in a really good space was underlined when the horse made sbort work of his rivals at last Saturday’s Pukekohe workouts.

After starting from 30 metres behind, driver Maurice McKendry had Copy That in the trail behind Bad To The Bone over the 2500 metre trip and easly reeled in his rival in the run home to score by a head with two and a half lengths to Cruzee Mach.

His time of 3:15.8 represented a casual mile rate of 2:06, with the closing splits in 57.5 and a slick 26.5. “Maurice said he felt super. His last two starts have been exceptional so I think he’s right on his game. “None of his races over there will be easy but he’s ready to go a good one.”

At least Green won’t have to shack up in some pokey roadside motel while he recovers from his disrupted travel. Butterworth has organised his digs during the campaign at the luxury Cleveland Winery Resort just 10 minutes from where the horse is stabled.

The pan fried Barramundi fillet with Spanish chorizo, roasted potato and spicy spring vegetable broth sounds like just the job Ray. And don’t forget the chilled Cleveland chardonnay.

Copy That races at Cranbourne at 11.17pm NZ time on Saturday night.